Arrows reflect on challenging First Half of Season

The Toronto Arrows have now completed their first half of the season, one of two teams in Major League Rugby to reach eight games played in the first eight weeks of the schedule. A last-minute loss to Rugby ATL leaves them with a 3-5 record.

Head coach Chris Silverthorn and co-captain Lucas Rumball spoke to the media following the game and were clearly disappointed with the result. They also reflected on the challenges on playing an entire season on the road, one that Rumball says has been tougher than they expected.

“You don’t really know until you’re down here what it’s like to be living away from people for so long and just not having that support system. You definitely do miss it down here. You miss your wives, girlfriends, families, things like that, where you can get away from rugby. And that’s something we, I think have struggled with… that ability to get away.

“Right now it’s almost like the longest tour I think I’ve ever been on. So it’s been a struggle. But we can’t use that as an excuse or a crutch. If we want to be a good team, you have to find a way through it. We’re going to have to have a really hard week with ourselves and figure out a way to get through this.”

Silverthorn echoed his captain’s thoughts.

“I think it’s been very tough. There’s been a lot of personal stuff going on. Both Lucas and I struggled with some stuff this week and it’s been very hard. And other players, the same thing. It’s just it’s… there’s no escaping. We live in a hotel. We have to eat all our meals together. There’s not a proper kitchen.

“The support back home has been fantastic, but it’s a grind here and we need to be better at all aspects of the game. Lucas and I had a bit of a heart-to-heart on the way over here. This team is underperforming right now. We are a much better team than what we’re showing on the standings.”

With eight games to go the Arrows are six points back of East Conference leaders NOLA and five behind 2nd-place New York, both of whom have one game at hand. A unique statistic sees Toronto with the best points differential in the East with New York holding the worst.

The good news is that five of their remaining games are designated as home games meaning significantly less travel down the stretch. It’s a similar situation to the inaugural 2019 campaign when the Arrows started 4-4 on the road and finished with eight straight wins at home to make the Semi Final.

“Not having to travel and basically being here is going to be a big advantage to us, says Silverthorn. “I think we are accustomed to life in Atlanta now. It’s been fantastic. They’ve treated us very well. I think we are getting used to the climate and it’s getting very warm down here.

“I back these guys to the end. We have a very good team and we’re just not consistently performing right now. And if we get it, I think we’re going to be a tough team to beat. And I don’t think anyone’s going to want to play us. It’s just… we need to find what’s going to make us click, because right now we’re just not clicking consistently enough.”

This week’s road game in Houston will be the last before the team’s first bye week. Their second isn’t until the last week of the regular season. Silverthorn says the focus this week will be on recovery with a win over the SaberCats now of vital importance.

“The guys physically and mentally are a bit exhausted. We’re all looking forward to the bye week, to be honest with you, just to get away from rugby.

“I think this week we need to kind of manage the bodies and manage the mental side of the game. We play Houston next week. We need to switch on and have a good performance. We can’t let that slip away.”

Rumball has the last word.

“I think it’s a big turning point for us, you know, big back against the wall moment. And I think it really comes down to, you know, what we can control now. It’s every week, every game, and you need to win.

“It’s figuring out a way to get tighter and limit the mistakes. So I’m not concerned. I know the group of guys I’m with. I have complete faith in them. We just have to find a way to click.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYFW9aT3KT8