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You can't fault us for effort - Cockerill

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Richard Cockerill says the effort of the Leicester Tigers squad deserved more from Saturday's home game against London Irish.

Vereniki Goneva claimed his fourth try of the season, but Tigers were beaten 22-19 by Irish, losing at home in the Aviva Premiership for the first time in 11 months.
 
“We fronted up very well, and with the casualty count we had we got very close to winning the game,” said director of rugby Cockerill. “Maybe it could have gone the other way. Those are the tiny margins in games when you are up against it.
 
“I thought the attitude of the players was very good and the crowd was great. We are under the cosh a bit with players missing but the effort was great. I’m bitterly disappointed that the effort didn't gain more from the game.
 
“We got a bit frantic at times but we had a few opportunities. We’ll just have to take the point, regroup and go again. There is a long way to go this season.”
 
Cockerill reported no additions to the injury list after the game and hopes it will not be long before he can have more players back in contention.
 
“We hope to have a few back in the next week or so. Mulipola, Rizzo, Bai and Croft, they should be all right and Brad Thorn will be ready soon. Manu is improving day by day, so there is some light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
 
“Leonardo Ghiraldini took a few knocks but he’s fine. His girlfriend had a baby on Thursday afternoon and he went back to Italy. He flew back here on Friday because he wanted to play. Fair play, he put a big shift in today.
 
“Guys will come back in when they’re ready after those injuries. We just have to trust the squad and try to get as many points as we can."
 
Brian Smith, director of rugby for London Irish, said: “We were denied a win last week [against Saracens] so the result is great for us. We’re not going to crow about it, we understand the challenges Leicester face, but we’ll take the win. In the last 10 minutes it was in the balance. Last week we were on the wrong side of it and this week we’re on the right side – that is sport.”