Cockerill calls on Tigers to bounce back after loss

Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill has called on his side to put their loss to Bath behind them and “crack on”.

Leicester were blown away by Bath at the Recreation Ground on Saturday and kept scoreless in the 45-0 defeat.

Adding to the Tigers woes the Leicester side lost England hooker Tom Youngs to a shoulder injury, Geoff Parling with concussion and Niall Morris with an ankle injury.

Shortly before the match Leicester lost Manu Tuilagi and were without Ed Slater and Anthony Allen.

“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.”

Cockerill said that the injury list – however long – will not be an excuse if the team fail to respond to their record Premiership defeat against London Irish at Welford Road on Saturday.

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

“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.”