Chris ​Parker reflects on Armagh's Neil Doak test and ‘fantastic’ group

The Co Down side scored eight tries in an impressive win over Dungannon last weekend and, despite a defeat on the opening day by Ballynahinch, Armagh coach Chris Parker was happy with aspects of his side’s performance and the chance to blood some of the squad’s younger players.

“I think we got an awful lot of learnings out of the Hinch game going against a 1A side like that...certainly learnings without the rugby ball,” said Parker. “We didn't have the rugby ball too much, but I felt our defence was actually really good.

“It's just very difficult to defend pace, you can defend a lot of other things but when you come up against someone as quick as Aaron Sexton, it's very hard to defend pace.

“I thought it was fantastic with a very young group, to get Hinch first up like that gave a lot of those young guys an insight to that level of rugby.

"And what we've got to aspire to get to.”

Parker admits there is a lot to work on for the team.

“Certainly, looking at improvements around our line-outs and looking after the rugby ball a bit better,” he said. “Those will be the two key areas we want to get after this week.

“Try and keep our standards up around our defence and our contacts, which we were very pleased with last week.

"It’s still eyes looking towards Trinity (All Ireland League opener) and building these blocks to try and get us there. If we can get an improvement on areas of the game, then that's pleasing for us moving forward.”

Parker will utilise available resources.

“I just think everyone's sort of in the same boat at this time of year where there's holidays, there's boys carrying niggles who if it was AIL they would play,” said Parker. “But there's no need to risk aggravating that and then missing AIL.

"There is just a wee bit of rotation to reward the guys who've been there for all pre-season.

“I think that blooding of younger players happens quite naturally but it's something that's really, really important around that senior league.

"Because some of those second 15 guys get that exposure to the next level of rugby that maybe they haven't been used to after a year or two in the second 15.

“Even some of the school leavers coming out suddenly realise the next level that they have to get to and try to get to every week and consistently.

“It's very much exciting to give these boys opportunities at a higher level than what they're used to.”

Parker is expecting a difficult game at Rifle Park.

“Last week was a fantastic result for Bann, they are probably a bit further down road than everybody with the Barbarians games a few weeks earlier,” he said. “It’s going to be a big challenge...they have a new coach, Neil Doak, who is a fantastic coach and will have them primed and ready to go.

“These are the challenges that we need to keep building going forward and it should be really good for us.”

Armagh give debuts to full back Peter McCluggan and scrum half Ruben Finlay.

Ballynahinch hand out a debut to new signing Jack Stapley for the trip to Dungannon.