Coventry forwards coach Dave Addleton praises his young pack

COVENTRY legend Dave Addleton has expressed his pride in the way the current Blue and White vintage have started their careers at the Butts Park Arena. The former hooker, who for decades personified the spirit of Coventry Rugby Club, remains a key part of the backroom in his role as forwards coach. This season that has meant trying out new combinations and handing debuts to 20 players,

many of them in a new-look pack.

The response has been predominantly positive and with two hefty home wins from their first four games, after many years of struggle the feel-good factor is finally returning to the careworn outfit.

And Addleton has credited the attitude of the young squad with breathing fresh life after the disappointment of relegation.

“They have been a joy to work with,” he said. “They have been a blank canvas, keen to learn and to listen to what you want them to do.

“And whatever has happened so far this season, you cannot fault the commitment of the guys that have put on the shirt and gone out there.

“There have been mistakes but we’ve come back to training with a view to putting them right and done just that. It’s been refreshing.”

The keystone of a pack that has quickly learned to live with their bigger, more experienced counterparts, has been the back row.

Until last Saturday flankers Brett Daynes and Alex Nash had combined with new captain Nick Southern to create a well balanced unit with an eye for the try-line.

Then at the weekend, when Southern moved into the second row, Seb Pearson came in and was outstanding on his debut.

“His ball carrying and tackling were incredible,” Addleton said. “But the whole back row has become the strength of the side.

“They are getting on the end of set-pieces but also contributing in the loose. There is a rivalry between the back five to get the most tries now and that can only be healthy.”

Southern may return to No. 8 on Saturday, assuming his has recovered from a groin strain, if Daynes’ twisted knee doesn’t clear up in time for the trip to Cambridge on Saturday.