The Cornish Pirates sit pretty at the
top of Pool Six, and are looking to the Jersey double header to put distance
between themselves, Jersey and third placed Ulster. Pirates Director of
Rugby Ian Davies is an advocate of the tournament and has promised to
field strong teams in both matches. ‘We have always supported
the British and Irish Cup. We were the inaugural winners back in 2010 and have
reached the Semi and Quarter Finals in recent years. You can only win two
competitions at this level so why would we not take it seriously?’
The diversity of the tournament, as Jersey has found with matches against all the home nations in just two seasons, is something that makes the British and Irish cup an attractive tournament. Davies agrees it is a welcome distraction from the rigours of the league. ‘We like the fact you are playing teams from the other Home Nations, different styles, different supporters and different experiences!’ said Davies. ‘It is the nature of the draw we would play another Championship team, so Jersey is a great place to go for the supporters… although in December they may well disagree!’
Davies gave a frank evaluation of the recent league game between the two sides and whilst he felt aggrieved at not winning the match, he did say that Jersey was fortunate to come away with four precious points. ‘In all honesty we only played well for 25 minutes either side of half time,’ he said. ‘Jersey would have to admit they probably did not deserve the win, but at the same time we did not do enough to put the result beyond doubt, and we suffered because of it. Rugby is a very simple game, score more points than your opponents and you never lose!’
Jersey travel to the home of the Pirates with a point to prove after their disappointing reverse to bottom of the table Ealing. Davies was surprised to see Jersey succumb in their last match and is expecting an Islander backlash because of this. The Pirates coach was asked if Jersey’s loss was a shock to him. ‘In all honesty, yes. But then again in the Greene King Championship if you are not on your game any team can get turned over. How many unbeaten teams are there in this league? Ealing beating Jersey certainly will not have made our back to back fixtures with Jersey any easier.’
The diversity of the tournament, as Jersey has found with matches against all the home nations in just two seasons, is something that makes the British and Irish cup an attractive tournament. Davies agrees it is a welcome distraction from the rigours of the league. ‘We like the fact you are playing teams from the other Home Nations, different styles, different supporters and different experiences!’ said Davies. ‘It is the nature of the draw we would play another Championship team, so Jersey is a great place to go for the supporters… although in December they may well disagree!’
Davies gave a frank evaluation of the recent league game between the two sides and whilst he felt aggrieved at not winning the match, he did say that Jersey was fortunate to come away with four precious points. ‘In all honesty we only played well for 25 minutes either side of half time,’ he said. ‘Jersey would have to admit they probably did not deserve the win, but at the same time we did not do enough to put the result beyond doubt, and we suffered because of it. Rugby is a very simple game, score more points than your opponents and you never lose!’
Jersey travel to the home of the Pirates with a point to prove after their disappointing reverse to bottom of the table Ealing. Davies was surprised to see Jersey succumb in their last match and is expecting an Islander backlash because of this. The Pirates coach was asked if Jersey’s loss was a shock to him. ‘In all honesty, yes. But then again in the Greene King Championship if you are not on your game any team can get turned over. How many unbeaten teams are there in this league? Ealing beating Jersey certainly will not have made our back to back fixtures with Jersey any easier.’
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