The Islanders travel to Penzance on Saturday for a pre-season clash against Cornish Pirates and the club’s director of rugby has warned some of his players that he must see improvements if they are to make the trip to the StoneX Stadium on 16 March.
Jersey suffered a 34-33 loss to Coventry in their first friendly on 13 February, having spent the previous six months training at St Peter, and Biljon has set specific targets for their second showing.
‘Two key things that stand out are discipline and adapting around the breakdown, and unforced errors,’ he explained. ‘I’m not sure whether the unforced errors came from not having played for so long, or skill and accuracy, but nevertheless we need to make improvements in those areas.’
New signings Macauley Cook, George Edgson and Lewis Wynne, the new club captain, remain sidelined through injury, alongside Kurt Heatherley, who is out for around eight weeks with a shoulder injury sustained against Coventry.
Meanwhile, props Roy Godfrey and Jack Higgins will be left behind as Biljon rotates his front-row options.
‘We’re as excited to play this week as we were last week and we know it’s a fantastic privilege,’ Biljon added.
‘The boys all want to get out there and play and a lot of them know they’re playing for shirts. The first game of the season against Saracens is coming up and I’m sure there will be a little bit of anxiety with the players wanting to impress and knowing this is the last opportunity to do that. It will bring some added energy to the group.’
The Pirates friendly will be streamed live via www.247.tv/champsrugby.
More in Friday’s JEP.
