Worcester Warriors: No 'egos' at Sixways, says Chris Pennell By Ged Scott BBC Midlands Sport Worcester's Chris Pennell insists that the better team spirit coursing through Sixways following new boss Dean Ryan's arrival could transform them into genuine contenders in the Premiership.
While 11 new signings have come in, some of Worcester's biggest names are among the 14 to have moved on.
"As a group we've come together now," Pennell told BBC Hereford & Worcester.
"It could be the difference between finishing where we did and pushing for a Heineken Cup place. There's no egos."
The changes at Sixways have seen Matt Mullan, Andy Goode, Joe Carlisle (all Wasps), Errie Claassens, Ollie Hayes, Andy Short (all Bristol), Aleki Lutui, Nikki Walker (both Edinburgh), recently capped England international Matt Kvesic (Gloucester), Blair Cowan (London Irish) and Neil Best (London Scottish) leave to join other clubs while Craig Gillies, Shaun Perry and Tevita Taumoepeau have retired.
Meanwhile Warriors have brought in former Wales captain Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Jeremy Becasseau, Paul Warwick (both Stade Francais), Agustin Creevy (Montpellier), Cameron Goodhue (Auckland), Michael Williams (Blue Bulls), Jeremy Su'a (Crusaders), Ofa Fainga'anuku (Glasgow), Ignacio Mieres (Exeter), Leonardo Senatore (Pampas), Chris Brooker (Harlequins), Paul Andrew (Cornish Pirates) and James Stephenson (Bedford).
Chris Pennell's career - Worcester born-and-bred Warriors academy product, who can play at full-back, wing or centre.
- England Under-19 international, made his debut in the 2007-08 campaign, going on to make 12 top flight appearances that season.
- Struck down by a bad knee injury the following season in a European game, but returned to full fitness in 2009-10.
- Just a few weeks after being named club captain in 2010, he was then hit by an ankle injury that ruled him out of the first half of the Championship promotion-winning campaign.
- After signing a new contract in January 2013, made his 100th appearance in April, scoring his 20th try.
And 26-year-old utility back Pennell added: "There's been a lot of changes on the playing side. But all the guys get on well.
"It's difficult to quantify, but there's a different atmosphere.
"It can make the difference in those tight games.
"Maybe if we'd had that togetherness and unity that we have now, we might have been able to close games out better.
"The guys might be able to dig that deeper and found that extra couple of percent when it really counts as they're doing it for their team-mates and their friends."
That would certainly be welcome news to Warriors fans used to seeing too many winning positions slip away.
If Richard Hill's side had not been denied victory by last-minute penalties in both their first two home matches, last season could have told a different story.
And the other main thing the Warriors have to put right if they are to seriously challenge for a top-eight Heineken Cup finish, or even a place in the play-offs, is their woeful away record.
They failed to win any of their 11 away league matches last season and have not, in fact, won on their travels in the Premiership since a 6-0 win at Wasps on New Year's Day 2012.
Now they find themselves up against champions Leicester to kick off the new season at Welford Road on Sunday 8 September at 14:00 BST. But Pennell sees that as a great challenge.
"It's never an easy time to play Leicester," he added. "But it's also a great opportunity for us to lay down a marker for the season.
"It's a chance to put behind our away form that we've struggled with.
"New start, new team. Why not go to Welford Road and upset the champions?"
Worcester were outscored five tries to two on their last visit, a year to the day on Sunday.
And this season's opener will be an interesting gauge for the new-look Warriors as to how the 2013-14 campaign will unfold under Ryan.
"I don't think we're going to be too far off achieving what we want to achieve," said Pennell, now Worcester's longest-serving player following veteran lock forward Craig Gillies' surprise midsummer U-turn decision to retire.
"There's no preconceptions as far as Dean Ryan's concerned. Everyone's got an opportunity. 23 jerseys to fight for every week.
"It's as good a time as any to push on.
"We're all ambitious pushing towards the same targets.
"The ball's in our court and, as a group of players, it's up to us what we do with it."
Chris Pennell's career - Worcester born-and-bred Warriors academy product, who can play at full-back, wing or centre.
- England Under-19 international, made his debut in the 2007-08 campaign, going on to make 12 top flight appearances that season.
- Struck down by a bad knee injury the following season in a European game, but returned to full fitness in 2009-10.
- Just a few weeks after being named club captain in 2010, he was then hit by an ankle injury that ruled him out of the first half of the Championship promotion-winning campaign.
- After signing a new contract in January 2013, made his 100th appearance in April, scoring his 20th try.
And 26-year-old utility back Pennell added: "There's been a lot of changes on the playing side. But all the guys get on well.
"It's difficult to quantify, but there's a different atmosphere.
"It can make the difference in those tight games.
"Maybe if we'd had that togetherness and unity that we have now, we might have been able to close games out better.
"The guys might be able to dig that deeper and found that extra couple of percent when it really counts as they're doing it for their team-mates and their friends."
That would certainly be welcome news to Warriors fans used to seeing too many winning positions slip away.
If Richard Hill's side had not been denied victory by last-minute penalties in both their first two home matches, last season could have told a different story.
And the other main thing the Warriors have to put right if they are to seriously challenge for a top-eight Heineken Cup finish, or even a place in the play-offs, is their woeful away record.
They failed to win any of their 11 away league matches last season and have not, in fact, won on their travels in the Premiership since a 6-0 win at Wasps on New Year's Day 2012.
Now they find themselves up against champions Leicester to kick off the new season at Welford Road on Sunday 8 September at 14:00 BST. But Pennell sees that as a great challenge.
"It's never an easy time to play Leicester," he added. "But it's also a great opportunity for us to lay down a marker for the season.
"It's a chance to put behind our away form that we've struggled with.
"New start, new team. Why not go to Welford Road and upset the champions?"
Worcester were outscored five tries to two on their last visit, a year to the day on Sunday.
And this season's opener will be an interesting gauge for the new-look Warriors as to how the 2013-14 campaign will unfold under Ryan.
"I don't think we're going to be too far off achieving what we want to achieve," said Pennell, now Worcester's longest-serving player following veteran lock forward Craig Gillies' surprise midsummer U-turn decision to retire.
"There's no preconceptions as far as Dean Ryan's concerned. Everyone's got an opportunity. 23 jerseys to fight for every week.
"It's as good a time as any to push on.
"We're all ambitious pushing towards the same targets.
"The ball's in our court and, as a group of players, it's up to us what we do with it."
And 26-year-old utility back Pennell added: "There's been a lot of changes on the playing side. But all the guys get on well.
"It's difficult to quantify, but there's a different atmosphere.
"It can make the difference in those tight games.
"Maybe if we'd had that togetherness and unity that we have now, we might have been able to close games out better.
"The guys might be able to dig that deeper and found that extra couple of percent when it really counts as they're doing it for their team-mates and their friends."
That would certainly be welcome news to Warriors fans used to seeing too many winning positions slip away.
If Richard Hill's side had not been denied victory by last-minute penalties in both their first two home matches, last season could have told a different story.
And the other main thing the Warriors have to put right if they are to seriously challenge for a top-eight Heineken Cup finish, or even a place in the play-offs, is their woeful away record.
They failed to win any of their 11 away league matches last season and have not, in fact, won on their travels in the Premiership since a 6-0 win at Wasps on New Year's Day 2012.
Now they find themselves up against champions Leicester to kick off the new season at Welford Road on Sunday 8 September at 14:00 BST. But Pennell sees that as a great challenge.
"It's never an easy time to play Leicester," he added. "But it's also a great opportunity for us to lay down a marker for the season.
"It's a chance to put behind our away form that we've struggled with.
"New start, new team. Why not go to Welford Road and upset the champions?"
Worcester were outscored five tries to two on their last visit, a year to the day on Sunday.
And this season's opener will be an interesting gauge for the new-look Warriors as to how the 2013-14 campaign will unfold under Ryan.
"I don't think we're going to be too far off achieving what we want to achieve," said Pennell, now Worcester's longest-serving player following veteran lock forward Craig Gillies' surprise midsummer U-turn decision to retire.
"There's no preconceptions as far as Dean Ryan's concerned. Everyone's got an opportunity. 23 jerseys to fight for every week.
"It's as good a time as any to push on.
"We're all ambitious pushing towards the same targets.
"The ball's in our court and, as a group of players, it's up to us what we do with it."