Defeat was 'reality check' for Nottingham Rugby in play-off push

NOTTINGHAM Rugby's shock defeat at London Scottish on Saturday will serve as a "reality check" to the whole squad, according to Andrew Savage.

Having looked in red-hot form in their previous league outing, when beating play-off rivals Bedford Blues at home, the Green and Whites were turned over 25-13 at The Athletic Ground.

The loss saw Martin Haag's men slip to third, behind Bedford, in the RFU Championship standings, ahead of their trip to Jersey this Saturday.

Winger Savage believes it could turn out to be a blessing and motivate the players to finish the season on a high to secure a top-four spot and reach the play-off semi-finals – having narrowly missed out in previous seasons.

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"The result didn't go the way we wanted it to and the performance was probably not up there as one of our best this season," said the 26-year-old on the London Scottish loss.

"We knew they were a lot better than their league position suggested, defensively we just didn't do what we needed to and went away a little from our game plan.

"We made quite a lot of errors and were just poor from one to 15 really.

"It's a bit of a reality check for us and we know we're not the finished article, we just need to keep working in training and get better each week.

"Hopefully it will be a good thing in the end and will help us re-focus to help cement our place in the top four."

The Greens fly out to Jersey on Friday ahead of facing the Championship newcomers a day later (3pm) and Savage knows it will be another tough test for the squad.

He added: "We know they're going to be a strong team, they have a strong forward pack that works real hard.

"We know it's going to be a tough game, it always is away, but we're confident going down there.

"Last week was a blip and we've got to work on rectifying those problems this week in training to go there and produce the performance we want to."

The weekend's defeat marked Savage's comeback to the side, having spent two months out.

The speedy back had scored six tries in ten matches this season before picking up a knee injury and, on his return to full fitness, the bad weather and postponements delayed his return to action.

"Initially we were hoping that I would be back just after Christmas and then it just took a little longer than expected. Then we had the break with the weather and so it ended up dragging on," he said. "It's always frustrating as you want to be out there playing, especially when the team are playing well.

"But the injury was fine and I enjoyed being back out there."