Blackett is happy to take blame as well as the acclaim

At just 30 years old, he is the youngest head coach in the Championship but, as a player and assistant before, he always held strong beliefs and views on how rugby should be enacted.

It was perhaps just not as easy then to be heard completely.

Blackett, however, takes charge of his first home game today since being promoted to the top job ahead of the 2013-14 season.

Things started positively with a 42-24 win over Moseley last Saturday and the South Yorkshire club are looking to follow it immediately with a second victory when newly-promoted Ealing Trailfinders arrive at Clifton Lane.

Blackett admitted: “I’m really enjoying it.

“It’s a chance for me to 100 per cent get my opinions across on how we want to play the game.

“To actually play all my systems means if we fail it is down to me.

“But I’m really happy with how my vision of the game is going.

“I think my best job so far is in recruitment; we’ve got a cracking set of boys down here all desperate to do well for Rotherham.”

There is a sense there that Blackett was sometimes frustrated in his previous roles at Rotherham, whether that be as captain or 
assistant under past bosses Andre Bester and Alex Codling, and is keen to stamp his principles on the squad.

He clearly wants to be his own man but, being so young, is the former centre not missing the cut and thrust of actually playing?

“I’ve been asked that a lot but I actually had an operation on my hand not long ago and have it in a cast,” he explained.

“So, I wouldn’t have been playing anyway and have not even thought about it.

“I was getting to that stage of my career where I was coming to the end and wanted to move into coaching.

“It might have come a year or two early but these opportunities don’t come around often.”

Having said that, planning for this afternoon’s visitors has not been the simplest of tasks.

“We knew a lot about Moseley from previous years but Ealing is more difficult,” explained Blackett, who, aside from such long service at Rotherham also played in the Premiership with Leeds Carnegie.

“This is the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.

“We know they like to throw it around and were attractive in the way they tore through National One to earn promotion.

“We’ve seen some footage but it’s not easy and we know we have to be on the top of our game.”

However, Blackett is encouraged by the effectiveness of his squad’s victory over Moseley – Ealing lost 44-12 against London Scottish – and is looking forward to seeing them in action at home.

“Eleven of the 15 who started last week were playing their first game for Rotherham and there’ll be nine on Saturday playing their first game at Clifton Lane,” he said.

“I’m really excited as the boys already here know what a great atmosphere is created and they have built it up for the rest.

“Generally, Rotherham is traditionally a really difficult place for opponents to come because of those fans and I hope our players will hear that roar and remember it for a very long time.”

He has made just two changes to his starting line-up for today’s encounter.

Curtis Wilson comes in on the wing with Michael Keating moving to full-back following a shoulder injury for Sean Scanlon. Joel Gill gets the nod at outside centre as Jack Roberts moves to the bench.

“Sean will be out for a minimum of three weeks and that’s a real shame because he’s come into the side and been outstanding in pre-season,” said Blackett.

“The pleasing thing for us last week was the impact we had on the game with boys coming off the bench; I thought all seven of them made a difference and were outstanding.

“Rugby is not a 15-man game anymore, it’s about the 22 and the impact that the players have coming off the bench.

“I think a special mention has to go to Laurence Pearce who was outstanding when he came on.

“In his mind I’m sure he believes he deserves to start this week.

“But to benefit the team – and I’ve spoken about the impact from the bench – people like Laurence and Jack Preece, who do deserve a start, are probably better at this stage coming off the bench and giving us real impact.

“Curtis Wilson gets an opportunity on Saturday. He’s an outstanding winger and was a bit unlucky not to be in the side last week. It was the form of the other two really, because we know what a special player he is and he has my 100 per cent backing.”

Doncaster Knights – intent on an immediate return to the Championship after last season’s relegation – will seek a third successive win in National One.

They host newly-promoted Worthing Raiders having already beaten Hull Ionians and Blackheath during their 100 per cent start to the campaign.

Clive Griffths has made four changes to the side that travelled to Brantingham Park for last Saturday’s 40-19 win over Ionians.

These include Tyson Lewis and Bruno Bravo making their first competitive starts of the new season in the backs.

Up front, the one change to the front-row sees versatile youngster Jack Bergmanas start at loosehead accompanied by Roberto Santamaria and Colin Phillips.

Harrogate have been dealt a mini injury crisis ahead of their trip to Luctonians in National Two North with Barry Frost (hand), Kyle Dench (foot) and Tom Harvey (knee) adding to long-term casualties Jimmy Browne and Steve Parsons.

Youngsters Harry Parrish and Luke Edwards come into their squad.