Jonathan Mills is confident London Welsh will continue to prove their debut season in the Aviva Premiership is no fluke by securing top-flight survival.
Welsh were everyone’s favourites for relegation but they are 10th in the table with 19 points, 13 clear of bottom-placed Sale and seven ahead of London Irish.
Captain Mills (above), whose side are at Worcester on Friday, said: “None of us really expected to have 19 points at this stage of the season. We thought that being a new side it would take time to bed everything down and it would be around January that we could start playing the rugby we wanted.
“But, we have ground out results and while there is still a long way to go this season, we would rather be in this position. We’re battling our way into games and no team are really getting away from us.
“Maybe people haven’t given us the respect we deserved but we know how good we are. It’s not a fluke that we’ve got 19 points and there is a lot of talent in this squad. However, we are realistic and it’s not where you are after 10 games, it’s the position you reach after 22.
“We fight for everything and we are prepared to grind things out and do the basics very well.”
Welsh hope to have Wales No10 Gavin Henson available after back and calf problems shortly but try‑scoring centre Hudson Tonga’uiha is expected to be out until the end of March after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Injury setbacks along with successive defeats by Grenoble in the Amlin Challenge Cup could affect the team’s momentum but Mills is adamant the squad will continue to cause upsets.
“Worcester will be tough and if we could get a win it would be a real boost and it will be incredibly competitive,” added Mills. “This match is followed by home games against London Wasps and Harlequins and if we can get a couple of wins it will be hugely significant. This is a massive time for us.
“We really enjoy putting people’s noses out of joint and getting these wins. We’re enjoying playing in the Premiership and we are hoping to make sure it isn’t just a one-year thing.”
Harlequins won the ‘A’ League Final last night, defeating Saracens Storm 37-12 at the Twickenham Stoop.
