WARRIORS skipper GJ van Velze believes his team will get rewarded if they keep putting in ‘quality performances’ week after week.
The 27-year-old back row quashed rumours that the mood in camp is low, saying the Sixways side are always positive and remain full of confidence and belief, despite the club suffering 11 straight defeats at first team level.
The 6ft 5in giant South African played the full 80 minutes against Exeter Chiefs on Sunday (January 31), after recently returning from injury, where he had to undergo a knee operation following his side’s defeat to Saracens at Twickenham in November.
“I’m feeling good, it’s nice to be back as I haven’t played for quite a long time,” said the number eight – who was handed the captain’s armband in his debut campaign in 2014.
“The operation on my knee wasn’t too serious and I’m back to full fitness now. I just need to improve my fitness in terms of running on the pitch.
“I’m excited about the games ahead and I’m looking forward to helping steer Worcester in the right direction.
“It’s a massive challenge going into a block of nine games back to back, but we’ll take it just one game at a time.
“The most frustrating thing is coming so close to getting something in the recent games. We’re a young group that will make mistakes, but we’ve got to remember who we are, where we are and what we’ve achieved already.
“We knew from the very start of this campaign it wasn’t going to be easy. You can’t just magic a wand over everything and it’ll all go your way. But If you produce a quality performance week in and week out, you’ll get rewarded.
“If we’re getting battered by 40 points each weekend I could see why fans may be worried, but we’re losing most weeks with a bonus point.
“I think the recent two week break came at a good time for us as its gave the younger lads time to prepare themselves for the block of games ahead, and its given us a chance to freshen up,” he added.