Loffreda takes Tigers to task

Leicester Tigers coach Marcelo Loffreda has called for patience following his new side’s stuttering start to their Heineken Cup campaign.

The former Argentina coach saw the Tigers unlocked 22-9 by Pool Six rivals Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.

Pumas star Felipe Contepomi was the architect of their downfall, kicking 17 points, including the conversion of wing Shane Horgan’s match clinching second-half try.

And Loffreda, who takes full control at Welford Road on Monday, knows Leicester need to regroup quickly as they prepare for a visit of Andy Robinson’s Edinburgh next Saturday.

“We will have to work hard this week – the players will need to be patient with me, and I will be patient with them,” he Loffreda.

“Leinster not only put pressure on us, but they were very efficient when we had the ball.

“We got a bit repetitive in our game, and we need to change some things for next weekend.

“One of the errors was that we were going too quickly to ground. In the second half that was important when we trying to get back in the game. We didn’t play well in the line-out either.

“We had a lot of pressure but Leinster played very well. Felipe [Contepomi] played really smart.

“They were very efficient when we had the ball. We were not so bright in the first half and we didn’t use the wind as well as we should have.

“Leinster did that quite well in the second half and I think that was a big difference.”

Andy Goode booted three penalties for the Tigers, and they now face an Edinburgh side who went close to upsetting three-time European champions Toulouse at Murrayfield.

Former England boss Robinson claimed he was not surprised by his players’ efforts though, as they began reflecting on a 19-15 defeat.

Robinson said: “I know what this team can do – I know what their attitude is.

Everybody needs to know we are not in existence to come second in any match.

“There is real enthusiasm and determination in this group of guys, and I feel terribly sorry for them that they did not get the reward for the effort and endeavour they put in.

“Given a bit of time, we will have a truly competitive squad in Edinburgh. We are looking forward to facing Leicester next week.”
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