Tuitupou backs team-mates to rise to next year's challenges

6:41pm Sunday 27th April 2008

SAM Tuitupou admits it would be a huge step up in class to play in the Heineken Cup, but is confident his Worcester Warriors team-mates would not back down from the challenge.

The Kiwi centre, who bagged two tries in Friday's 31-16 European Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Newcastle Falcons, has been impressed by the giant strides forward he has seen the team take since he arrived at Sixways.

�It would be a big step up for the boys and I am sure it would be a big test for the club and good for the young players coming through."

Sam Tuitupou

Worcester now face Bath, who beat Sale Sharks 36-14 in the other semi-final, with a place in the premium European club competition next season on offer for the winner.

Tuitupou said: "It would be a big step up for the boys and I am sure it would be a big test for the club and good for the young players coming through.

"When I first came it was about getting the boys gelling together. We are hugely better as a side.

"We are a lot more organised and we have players stepping up to help run the debrief. It's all run by the players.

"That's good - apparently it wasn't like that before. It's good that the players have had an input into it because we are the ones who are out there.

"We are a lot more organised - we have got forwards offering themselves for the ball and we are playing rugby the way Mike (Ruddock) wants it to be played.

"We were delighted to beat Newcastle. We were confident going into the game and played well.

"We talked about having a good start, which we did, and staying focused for the next minute of play.

"It was quite hard coming back in the second-half after the floodlights went off. We knew we would need a good start, which we got, but then we had to go off again and get it back together."

Marcel Garvey bagged Worcester's opening try after a huge tackle from Dale Rasmussen had forced Engalnd centre Jamie Noon to spill the ball and Tuitupou was full of praise for his colleagues.

The All Black ace said: "To see Dale put in a big hit like that and for us to score from it was a big bonus. It lifted us.

"Marcel is playing out of his skin at the moment. He was off with a few injuries but he has got back in the team and is really taking his chances and playing well. Hopefully he can carry that on in the next few games.

"He is a talented player and if he gets his chances with England Saxons, I am sure he will take them.

"He is as quick as anything in the Premiership. To have his speed is awesome. To have speedsters on the wing means we want to get the ball to them and let them do their thing."

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