Ayerza: ‘Leicester’s pack will respond’

Editor

Leicester prop Marcos Ayerza has vowed that the Tigers pack will bounce back after their humbling against Saracens.

Richard Cockerill's side made unwanted history by becoming the first team to concede a hat-trick of penalty tries in a Premiership match.

Ayerza started in the pack at Allianz Park and knows how important being dominant upfront is to the club's supporters and their history.

Saturday's Midlands derby against Northampton represents another tough challenge for Leicester's forwards but Ayerza insists that his side will set things straight.

"We are bleeding and we want to put things right. We owe it ourselves and the coaching team, but also to the Leicester community that loves and breathes rugby," Ayerza told PA Sport.

"Our fans love the club and are passionate about its history and identity. They expect us to win every time we play. That adds pressure, but it's good pressure.

"It should not be possible to have a game like Saracens when we were driven and pushed backwards and came second best in most facets of the game. If it happens again, but against Northampton, that's the end of the season!

"We have to put things right. One of the things a scrum needs is a dominant mentality.

"By the end against Saracens we were almost mentally broken. We have to work on our mental toughness. But one bad day at the office doesn't make us a bad pack."