Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock reserved special praise for new signing Netani Talei after the victory over Harlequins.
Warriors chief leads tributes to Talei
Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock reserved special praise for new signing Netani Talei after claiming his first win since taking over as Warriors chief.
Fiji's number eight had an inspired game for Worcester in their 23-22 EDF Energy Cup triumph at Harlequins and had Ruddock in raptures.
"He looks a really good signing," stated the former Wales coach. "I thought he was man of the match for us.
"He gave us a great go forward and scored a fantastic try. It must have given the boys a lift."
Ruddock also admitted he was relieved to break a run of eight games without a win since his arrival at Sixways, but insisted he had not been panicking despite the poor run.
"I've been in this situation before - but not one as long as this," he added. "Hopefully, on the back of this win, we can keep building.
Let down
"We let ourselves down really badly last week (in the 47-16 defeat at Ospreys). We were unprofessional and lacked commitment but this week we have worked at ironing out our attitude and it was much better.
"We had to look really deep at ourselves, the coaching staff as well, but sometimes in life it's how you come back. Hopefully that's now the standard we can expect from the players."
Quins chief Dean Richards claimed that his side had not approached the clash at The Stoop in the right manner with a Heineken Cup clash against French giants Stade Francais next Saturday seemingly on the mind of many players.
"I don't think some of them have understood that every game is an important as the next," Richards stated.
"The best players in the world treat every game the same and that is what we have got to be striving form, the consistency.
"I also felt they underestimated Worcester who have played some fantastic rugby this season and not got the rewards they deserved.
"Ours is a very young side which needs to concentrate week-in and week-out. I don't think, at this moment in time, we have got that hard edge about us and it cost us today but it will come.
"The first 30 minutes of the game we were haphazard in everything we did and there were harsh words. Some of the needless penalties we gave away were very frustrating."
