Main man Morgan flown back to boost McLatchie's men

MATT MORGAN, the big number eight, rejoins a mainly Welsh pack for the first time this season in Guernsey colours at home to Farnham. His performances were hugely instrumental in last season's successes, as recognised by new coach Colin McLatchie.

'He is not only influential, he's huge,' said McLatchie.

'His experience is vast and as the main ball-carrier among the forwards, it will take the pressure off the others,' the coach added.

Morgan is expected to play for the rest of the rest of the season, having been tempted back by his old mates and he will be among 15

psyched up home players for the Powergen London Three South West clash at Foote's Lane.

Three gameless weeks on top of a frustrating season will make coach Colin McLatchie's pep talk an easy task.

'The players are rearing to go,' he said.

'When they run out there at 1.30 you will see a properly pumped up team.'

The team is hungry after being denied the chance to build on the momentum of a 39-0 blitz in November.

It came against a team who still lie above them in the table, indicative of Guernsey's erratic, underperforming start to the season.

Despite the desire and wounded pride in the camp, McLatchie is sticking to his enterprising philosophy in a league characterised by grinding forward play.

'We'll take every opportunity to play an expansive game even if most of what we have been up against is one to 10 rugby,' said McLatchie, a former back.

'We have very elusive backs in a league where a lot of teams go for hard yards'.

The cornerstone of the last victory, the South African duo of Willoughby Bloem and Francois Venter at nine and 10, will share much of the responsibility for attacking play in today's game against Farnham, who lie fifth in the table.

The scrum-half tormented the opposition with a masterful all round display against Tottonians.

'Willoughby is good enough to go professional and I think that is where he is going, but while he is a student we are taking every possible step to maximise our return from him.'

'He is in a different league, head and shoulders above anyone from the southern hemisphere I have seen play for Guernsey.'

He added that Venter had the potential to be as good as his mate at number nine in the future.

But Guernsey's main concern is that they languish third from bottom. 'The points on the board don't lie,' said McLatchie.