Jersey Reds - “We will bounce back”

Saturday 01 October 2016

Coach Harvey Biljon has changed nearly half his side and demanded a return to “ruthless" Reds, following back-to-back injury time defeats which have seen Jersey slip down to fifth in the Greene King IPA Championship.

The Reds travel to London Welsh this weekend, having seen their season take an unexpected turn in recent weeks after wafer thin losses to Ealing Trailfinders and Nottingham.

On both occasions Jersey led going into injury time only for Biljon’s side to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory. 

“We have got to be more ruthless, simple as that,” he said. “We have got into winning positions and on both occasions we did not close out the game. It was down to ill discipline on both occasions. 

“Last week we had the chance to put the game to bed and yet we gave away a penalty which allowed them to have an attacking platform in our 22 and Nottingham, to be fair to them, took advantage with a try and a conversion. We had only ourselves to blame and the players have spoken about it. They know they have to cut out the mistakes and the wins will come. I’m convinced we will bounce back.”

Biljon’s side contains seven changes from the side which started the 21-22 defeat to Nottingham last week, including a whole new front row. Sean McCarthy, Joe Buckle and Jake Armstrong will scrum down up front and Billion has made another forward change with James Doyle replacing Max Argyle. 

In the backs Kieran Hardy comes in for Sami Fisilau at scrum-half, with Sam Katz retained at stand-off. 

Lewis Robling and George Watkins will also start at Old Deer Park tomorrow (KO 14:00) in place of Jordan Davies and Jack Cuthbert. 

Biljon said: “We are up against a very strong, very fine London Welsh side., who are exceptionally good at set pieces. 

“They have been similar to us this season in that they have been only a try away from a bonus point win. Their record is not a good reflection of how strong they are and we are in for a really tough test this weekend.

“This will be a vital game for us because we have had a couple of setbacks and now we have to show the response.”

London Welsh are in the bottom half of the table, but appearances can be deceiving as two of their three defeats have come by a single point, to unbeaten Yorkshire Carnegie and Rotherham.

The exiles easily beat London Scottish 36-9 earlier this season and last weekend travelled to Cornish Pirates, losing 16-10.