Premiership Rugby Cup: Cornish Pirates relishing top-flight test

Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Alan Paver says the Premiership Rugby Cup is great for his side, despite their poor start.

Pirates conceded 10 tries as Exeter cruised to a 68-7 win at the Mennaye in their opening game last week.

They face a second Premiership outfit in as many weeks as they travel to Gloucester on Saturday – the first time the two sides have met in a competitive game.

“I think the competition’s great, it really adds something to the season,” Paver told BBC Radio Cornwall.

“Our opportunity to go up and play in Premiership stadiums, the guys obviously will relish the opportunity to get out there and test themselves.

“Exeter at home was a massive sell out and every time we play these top teams I think the support are really welcoming because it is something fresh, something new and you obviously want to play the better sides.”

Pirates are now on a five-game losing run in all competitions and are second-from-bottom of the Championship.

It means Paver is realistic about his side’s chances when they take to the field at Kingsholm.

“I’m sure Gloucester will go as strong as they can, simply because they’re not going to go many weeks without giving their strongest side a run out, because there is a bit of a gap coming up for them,” he said.

“It gives our guys another opportunity to put some of the things we’ve been working on in training on the pitch.

“But we’ve just got to make sure that we go out there and we try to perform in more than a couple of areas.

“We’ve got to make sure that we’re working all the way through from set piece right down to our attack, and fingers crossed we can get ourselves into the game.”