Forwards, march!

FORWARDS coach Boris Stankovich was pleased with the performance of the Coventry pack in Saturday’s 37-14 win at Macclesfield which included a try from the longest rolling maul in recent memory.

Slippery underfoot conditions and a heavy ground hampered scrummaging, but Cov found a different way to dominate when they drove the home side back a full 45 metres for the second of their five tries.

“We reached our first objective which was to get a win, so it was a very good start to the year from that perspective and I’m very happy,” said Stankovich.

“It was a match where the underfoot conditions didn’t help. We found that out at the first couple of scrums where we had to adapt to the ground, and I thought the boys did that really well.

“I wouldn’t say conditions like that are a leveller, it’s just about getting used to playing on that type of pitch, but the boys found it difficult at the early scrums because their feet were slipping out which meant we had to make sure that the message got on that there was minimal movement out there.

“The line-out went very well, and the rolling maul is a side of the game that can be effective for us and which we’ll continue to work at over the coming weeks.

“It’s difficult for a team to stop legally, but I think the most important thing is not to let the ball out and use it if it isn’t necessary, and the boys did it well for the try.

“But that was only one part of the good things. Some of our passing game was very good in the conditions, and we played field territory and box-kicked really well which put us up in good positions.”

Stankovich was back on the touchline yesterday in his new role as part-time scrum coach for Leicester Tigers in their game against Wasps at the Ricoh Arena, but was keen to stress that it does not affect his position at Coventry or his commitment to the Blue & Whites.

“Nothing really changes from the Coventry perspective,” he said. “It’s only an interim position until the end of the season and I’m looking forward to the challenge.

“This can help both parties. There’s always been a connection between the two great clubs, and long may it continue.”