Cockerill demands Tigers response

Editor

Richard Cockerill has urged his players to show some spirit as they look to bounce back from a humiliating 45-0 defeat at Bath.

The loss marked the Tigers’ worst-ever Premiership result as they conceded five tries to their West Country hosts.

It was their first defeat of the season but was enough to drop last season’s semi-finalists down to fifth in the table ahead of this weekend’s visit of London Irish.

The Exiles were impressive this weekend but eventually went down 26-23 at home to Saracens after conceding a late Billy Vunipola try.

But while Brian Smith’s side will see the game at a wounded Leicester as a chance to pick up an unlikely victory, Cockerill has demanded his injury-hit team bounce back immediately.

“We need to show some steel and backbone,” director of rugby Cockerill told BBC East Midlands Today.

“We need to get out there, do what we do and keep the critics quiet. Those that want to throw mud can throw it, and we will just get on with it.

“We have a side more than capable of going out and performing on Saturday and getting a result.

“Let’s concentrate on that. Whoever is missing is missing, we can’t control that at this point. We will patch up what we have got and crack on.

“I’m sure they will look at our team sheet and fancy their chances, but we have had that before on lots of occasions and against a lot of sides.”