Leicester coach Richard Cockerill has urged his injury-hit side to “show some steel” when they try to bounce back from their shock 45-0 defeat by Bath at home to London Irish in the English Premiership on Saturday.
Last weekend’s loss to in-form Bath was only the second time in Premiership history that the Tigers, one of England’s most successful clubs, had ever been ‘nilled’.
To make matters worse, wing Niall Morris (ankle) and England forwards Geoff Parling (concussion) and Tom Youngs (shoulder) were all injured at the Recreation Ground.
The trio joined an injury list that already included club captain Ed Slater, Manu Tuilagi and Anthony Allen.
“We need to show some steel and backbone,” former Leicester and England hooker Cockerill told the BBC.
“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.”
Looking ahead to the London Irish match, Cockerill added: “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.”
Meanwhile James Haskell will look to try to play his way back into England contention ahead of next year’s World Cup on home soil when Wasps face Newcastle on Sunday.
Back-row forward Haskell has played in all the loose trio positions but believes he is most effective at openside flanker.
Unfortunately for the 29-year-old’s Test hopes, the England No 7 shirt currently belongs to Red Rose captain Chris Robshaw.
“I’m good friends with Chris, I’ve known him for years and I have the utmost respect for him. He’s been a fantastic captain and is a great player,” Haskell said.
“But I want his shirt, it’s as simple as that. I want Tom Wood’s shirt and any of those in the back row.”
He added: “My favourite position over the last three or four years has been at seven, it’s where I’ve played most of my rugby.
“The people I respect in the game play in that position. In terms of turnovers and impact I’m consistently up there in the Premiership. I fulfil a role there.
“The perception people have of an openside is of a squat guy getting over the ball, but size is irrelevant really.
“If you have someone who has the skill set to do the job, gets around the park and has high involvement, that’s what it’s about.”
Saturday also sees Bath’s title credentials face a fresh test when they travel to champions Northampton.
“We’ve got Northampton away now, which is a sobering thought,” said Bath coach Mike Ford. “Northampton is a great challenge, but it is only September.”
Bottom of the table London Welsh, promoted from the second-tier Championship last term, will aim for a first Premiership win of the season at home to Gloucester on Friday.
Meanwhile Saracens, last season’s losing finalists, face Sale on Saturday, while Exeter are at home to Harlequins on Sunday.
In France, Toulouse, arguably European rugby’s most successful side, go into this weekend’s round of Top 14 action seeking to buck a four-match losing streak and an eight-month losing away record.
A 27-16 defeat by Racing-Metro last week, notably featuring an embarrassing 30-metre rolling maul that led to a try for the Parisians and the loss of six of their own 13 lineouts, has left the former four-time European Cup champions on their worst losing run for 36 years.
They are 13 points adrift of Top 14 leaders Clermont after six matches and down in ninth spot, but long-time coach Guy Noves insists he is not worried ahead of Friday’s trip to Bayonne, who narrowly avoided relegation last season but are never an easy prospect at home.
“This situation is a bit new for me but when we have responsibilities, it doesn’t help anyone to get worried. You have to find solutions,” Noves said.
“It’s always complicated when you’re not winning.”
But Noves recalled a year when Toulouse shipped 77 points in losing to English club Wasps in 1996/97.
“It was a catastrophe,” he said of the result in London. “But eventually, we finished the season as champions of France.
“I feel today like a boxer who has often won bouts and is asked to continue winning with one hand behind his back and the other in a plastercast.”
Noves added: “As for the match at Bayonne on Friday, we’ll go there with a very competitive team, believe you me.
“Toulouse, and I’ve been telling people this for several years, will one day no longer play in the European Cup.
“But I have confidence in our leaders, our squad and our club, and before speaking about a battle to stay up, please be a little patient.”
Undoubtedly the clash of the weekend is defending Top 14 and European champions Toulon hosting Montpellier at the Stade Mayol, the teams sitting second and third in the league on 19 and 18 points respectively.
Toulon destroyed Brive last week in a eight-try running fest, but will likely be pushed somewhat harder by fellow south coast club Montpellier, boosted Wednesday by Samoa-born New Zealander No 8 Alex Tulou extending his contract until 2017.
In an indication of how tight the Top 14 is and how unrelenting the season promises to be, three clubs are tied on 17 points behind Montpellier.
Fourth-placed Bordeaux-Begles travel to Brive while Racing-Metro are away at Grenoble and Stade Francais host La Rochelle.
Lyon entertain Castres, while Clermont travel to Oyonnax in Saturday’s late game.
Fixtures – English Premiership
Friday: London Welsh v Gloucester
Saturday: Leicester v London Irish, Northampton v Bath, Saracens v Sale
Sunday: Exeter v Harlequins, Wasps v Newcastle
Fixtures – Top 14
Friday: Bayonne v Toulouse
Saturday: Toulon v Montpellier, Brive v Bordeaux-Begles, Grenoble v Racing-Metro, Lyon v Castres, Stade Francais v La Rochelle, Oyonnax v Clermont
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