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Search forPirates must stay focused
Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 10:13
The losing bonus point gained against Leeds may have moved the Pirates up to seventh in the table ahead of Plymouth Albion, who they face at Brickfields next weekend, but they will have to guard against complacency as they tackle their 13th placed Manchester- based visitors.
Pirates' head coach Mark Hewitt said: "It will be a challenge to get the boys mentally focused for this game. That is the trouble with us as we tend to drop off mentally for this sort of game, but if we do the hard work again then as with today the opportunities will come. We have just got to be more clinical."
He added, "We will look at bringing some guys in but we won't make wholesale changes. We had the opportunity with this week's Cornwall SuperCup game to look at a few of the boys who haven't played, and we will make a couple of changes which is not being disrespectful to Sedgley but it is a long season. We will give a couple of the guys an opportunity whilst giving a couple of others a rest."
Two players almost certainly missing for the Pirates will be prop Scott Franklin, who has been called up to the Canada squad for their match against Scotland, and scrum-half Nicky Griffiths, who will be rested having only passed a late fitness test for the Leeds match. Fly-half Rhys Jones will also be a concern having suffered an injury late on against the Yorkshiremen.
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