RUGBY UNION: London Welsh must keep focused - Ross (From Bicester Advertiser)

RUGBY UNION: London Welsh must keep focused - Ross

10:00am Saturday 29th September 2012 in Rugby By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

GORDON Ross says London Welsh must keep improving if they are to maintain their decent start in the Aviva Premiership.

The 34-year-old former Scotland fly half will wear the No 10 shirt tomorrow as Welsh host Gloucester at the Kassam Stadium .

And Ross knows the tests will come thick and fast as the Exiles seek top-flight survival.

“It is all about learning and we have got to keep building,” he said.

“We are fairly satisfied with our last two performances, but every game is massive for us.

“We can’t afford to switch off.

“I think we know where we are and know that in every game we have to turn up.”

Welsh go into the Gloucester game after two successive wins, but they will be hard pushed to make it a hat-trick.

Ross said: “We have put a lot of good work into the two weeks.

“It has also given us a lot more confidence and belief.

“After two games, we were pretty down and disapppointed with ourselves.

“But I always believed that we would be able to compete at this level.

“A lot of the guys have played Premiership before.

“It is just a concentration thing. Every time you make a mistake, you get punished.

“We are trying to make as few mistakes as possible.”

Gloucester have some of England’s brightest young players in their ranks and have won two and drawn one of their four matches so far.

“We respect Gloucester,” said Ross. “They are quite a young side and full of ambition.

“They are very quick with lots of game breakers.

“But we know if we can play to our potential, we can take them on.”

Welsh are enjoying life at the new home in Oxford, although a few more supporters tomorrow would not go a miss.

Ross said: “It has been great. It is a really good stadium.

“Hopefully, the wins we have had will persuade a few more people to come and watch.

“In the last 20 minutes against Exeter, the crowd really made the difference.”

Ross kicked 19 points in the 29-19 win at Sale and has looked at home back in the top-flight.

But the experienced fly half is not geting carried away with his own displays.

“It is nice to be getting a few points, but the forwards put in a massive performance and made it a bit easier for me.

“I need to take the mistakes out of my own game.”