Press Pass: Blair on Darcy, Saracens and Champions Cup rugby

7 Dec 2022

Get the latest from Head Coach Mike Blair ahead of Sunday's Heineken Champions Cup match against Saracens at StoneX Stadium (11 December, kick-off 3.15pm) - live on ITV and BT Sport.

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On losing Darcy Graham through injury

“It’s obviously disappointing. He has had a real bounce in his step. He started that way with us and continued that with Scotland and he scored again on Friday night but you know you try and find silver linings to stuff like that.

“We are fortunate we have a number of back three players that will come in and make an impact.

“He fell awkwardly around the 10m line. Nothing malicious or anything like that. Just an unfortunate one.”

On Chris Dean

“He was excellent in the first-half against Munster. He took a bang to his head and is starting to go through the protocols.

“Fortunately, it is a longer turnaround but we will just have to see where that one lands when it comes to making a decision.”

On using last season’s win at Saracens as inspiration

“Not at all yet. Today was about putting Munster to bed and taking the learnings out of that, regardless how painful they are.

“Tomorrow we will move on and talk about the occasion, playing in Europe, what that means and going down to Saracens who are unbeaten so far this season.”

On taking learnings from the Saracens win

“Definitely. It was the Challenge Cup last year. This is eating at the top table again so we know they will bring a huge presence with them and a lot of confidence but we also know the team we will put on the pitch can be a match for them.

On being back in the Heineken Champions Cup

“It is great we go from that Munster game straight into a big game because there are areas that challenged them on Friday that Saracens twill also bring at us, in terms of physicality, playing on top of us.

“We have to find a way of wresting the momentum away from them and improve our own game. Yeah, great to be playing Heineken Cup rugby and this is a real challenge for us.”

On Emiliano Boffelli

“He should be back. He was out training just there. We are comfortable where he is at the moment.”

On strength and depth in the back-three

“We have some strength in depth there. We have Henry Immelman, Damien Hoyland, Jack Blain, these guys pushing through as well.”