Carson looking for complete showing from Highland in 2020
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Dave Carson will be looking to improve his side’s concentration levels in 2020.
Highland have coped well with the step up to National One rugby, sitting third in the table with second spot well within reach.
However, part of the reason that the Greens have had meteoric success over the last few years has been their determination to always strive for better, and there is an obvious area for improvement this season.
Carson’s side are prone to switching off for periods in matches. Sometimes – like last weekend against Kelso – they get away with it and still have enough to win.
On other occasions, they surrender their advantage and end up on the losing side even after being ahead on the scoreboard.
It was a frustrating watch at times for Carson last week, even though they ended up taking all five points.
So he says they will be working on the mental strength of the squad in training to try and get a total performance across whole matches in future.
“We were 21-0 up, and then I think in the first 10 minutes of the second half, we got another couple of tries,” Carson recalled.
“Then for the next 20 minutes we kept coughing the ball up and kicking it away.
“We had shown that we could run at them and beat their men, then all of a sudden we started kicking it. It was a really frustrating 20 minutes to be honest, and really boring to watch.
“You can put them under pressure in training, and we’re so lucky that with so many guys coming down to training we can get a full game on and we can give them scenarios.
“We can say ‘you’ve got five minutes left and you’ve got to score or defend’, and the 2nds will batter them or try and score.
“It’s a mindset, without a doubt, when you’re so far ahead. You’re looking for an 80-minute performance if you can.”
Highland will return to National One action on Saturday, January 11 at Heriot’s Blues.
