Ignacio Mieres is benefitting from Paul Grayson’s weekly tutorial
The Argentinian’s place-kicking was inconsistent during the Warriors’ relegation season.
But this campaign he is up to around the 75 per cent mark and looking a good bet to emulate the achievement of countryman Juan Pablo Socino in 2013/14 and end the year as the Championship‘s top points-scorer.
Mieres, 27, currently on 59 league points, said: “Paul is giving me a big helping hand with my kicking and we’re doing a lot of work together.
“He focuses on the details and is a really amazing coach.
“We have one session, normally on Tuesdays, and the rest of the week I try and put into practice the technical elements and the mental aspects of kicking.
“We’ve been working on my angles – how I approach the ball – and that is helping me get a cleaner connection.”
Mieres kicked his first seven attempts at goal in the Warriors’ 47-7 win at Rotherham last weekend before recording two late misses.
He returned home to the Midlands in time to watch Argentina beat Australia and win their first Rugby Championship match. Worcester team-mates, Pumas skipper Agustin Creevy and back-rower Leonardo Senatore were both involved in Mendoza as the Pumas won 21-17.
Mieres is confident that the Pumas can go from strength-to-strength in the build-up to next year’s World Cup. He said: “I spoke with Agustin, Senatore and Marcos Ayerza and they were obviously extremely happy and relieved to get that first win.
“The team has been playing much better this year and I’m sure Agustin is doing a great job as captain. He’s a great player and a great person and you can see the team is happy and they are all together and they won.”
Mieres, who won the last of his six Pumas cap in 2012, added: “They’re giving priority to the boys playing in Argentina and I’ve had no word from the coaching staff.
“I think it is going to come to a point similar to Australia or New Zealand where you have to choose between playing for your country and playing in Europe.
“I’d love to play for the Pumas again so as soon as Agustin comes back I’ll speak to him about that! But my priority is Worcester. It is my club and I want to do as well as I can for them.
“This season we are understanding the coaches better and playing better so I am happy and enjoying it here. It is a place with massive potential to grow.”
JON NEWCOMBE
