Richard Cockerill says Leicester Tigers paid a high price for inaccuracy and errors in the 23-8 defeat in Toulon on Saturday.
After a 25-21 win over the double European champions at Welford Road last weekend, Tigers were unable to complete a home-and-away double after Toulon took a commanding 16-point lead in the opening 25 minutes at the Stade Mayol and kept their visitors at arm’s length.
Tigers director of rugby Cockerill said: “We’re disappointed but if you give opportunities to a side as good as Toulon then at some point you will get punished.
“You have to be accurate, it is as simple as that, on the big stage against the really good sides.
“We started poorly but we held on there, dug in and give ourselves a fighting chance. But ultimately they were better than us on the day and took the spoils.
“They are a very good side, they are big and physical, and we came second best. They deserved to win. They are not French champions, French league leaders and double European champions for no reason.”
Tigers lost Brad Thorn to a strained calf muscle just 20 minutes into the game, but Cockerill confirmed that Graham Kitchener is expected to be fit after a hip injury in time for the Aviva Premiership trip to Northampton Saints on Saturday.
“Losing Brad’s experience in a big game is not ideal, but Seb de Chaves did a good job and battled hard,” added Cockerill . “Graham Kitchener had a bruised hip but he will be fit this week and it was good for Geoff Parling to get 80 minutes in. Geoff hasn’t played for 12 weeks but coming through the last two weeks is good for us and we’ve also got Tom Croft back and we know how good he can be.”
After a 25-21 win over the double European champions at Welford Road last weekend, Tigers were unable to complete a home-and-away double after Toulon took a commanding 16-point lead in the opening 25 minutes at the Stade Mayol and kept their visitors at arm’s length.
Tigers director of rugby Cockerill said: “We’re disappointed but if you give opportunities to a side as good as Toulon then at some point you will get punished.
“You have to be accurate, it is as simple as that, on the big stage against the really good sides.
“We started poorly but we held on there, dug in and give ourselves a fighting chance. But ultimately they were better than us on the day and took the spoils.
“They are a very good side, they are big and physical, and we came second best. They deserved to win. They are not French champions, French league leaders and double European champions for no reason.”
Tigers lost Brad Thorn to a strained calf muscle just 20 minutes into the game, but Cockerill confirmed that Graham Kitchener is expected to be fit after a hip injury in time for the Aviva Premiership trip to Northampton Saints on Saturday.
“Losing Brad’s experience in a big game is not ideal, but Seb de Chaves did a good job and battled hard,” added Cockerill . “Graham Kitchener had a bruised hip but he will be fit this week and it was good for Geoff Parling to get 80 minutes in. Geoff hasn’t played for 12 weeks but coming through the last two weeks is good for us and we’ve also got Tom Croft back and we know how good he can be.”
