Worcester will use play-offs to put Coventry loss right

Worcester Warriors head coach Matt Everard said their heavy defeat by Coventry was an "unacceptable down" in their season but there is a huge determination to put that right in their play-off quarter-final against Chinnor on Saturday.

Warriors shipped 45 second-half points against Cov in their 64-28 loss as the hosts ran in nine tries to seal an emphatic victory at the Butts Park Arena in their final game of the Champ campaign.

It was Worcester's fourth straight defeat, leaving them fourth in the table at the end of the regular season.

"It was a poor performance and we were very, very disappointed," Everard told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"We've not obviously won every game this season but I've never questioned our physical intent but I did on Saturday. Coventry attacked very, very well and we defended really poorly."

Everard added that he "didn't see the drop in our physical intent coming" but said Warriors will do everything to respond at the weekend.

"We haven't always got it right. We're learning so much each week and progression isn't a straight line - there's always going to be ups and downs, but Saturday was an unacceptable down," he said.

"Performances like that hurt, and they should do and everyone, not just the squad, I'm sure fans included, are desperate for Saturday to put it right."

Warriors take on Chinnor, who beat them twice in the regular season, at Sixways for a place in the semi-finals and Everard said they know they are facing a formidable side.

"A brilliant team. They've beaten us twice and deservedly so," he said.

"They're a very good set-piece team with a dangerous kicking game and a pretty aggressive defence.

"But we've got to sort our own house out. You've got to run and you've got to hit and we didn't do that on Saturday."

Worcester's progress this season has to been seen in its appropriate context in that Everard has build a team from scratch in 12 weeks from the ruins of the club's financial meltdown in 2022.

Everard arrived at Sixways last summer with a blank canvas and the job of revitalising a club following nearly three years in limbo.

He said the journey back to playing rugby needs to be kept in mind as Sixways expects again.

"It's the last home game of an exceptionally special year," Everard said.

"I think we all know how unique the story is of the return and if I'm honest how fortunate and grateful we are as a playing group with our fanbase - the support has been unbelievable.

"We want to make the fans really proud of our effort on Saturday.

"We're just going to really focus on our performance and our improvements and really go after that physical intent."