Coming off of a big loss, there's always that inclination to look not at how a side can build but what went wrong. Tigers forward Amy Orrow, a summer signing from Sale Sharks and childhood Tigers fan, is reflecting on why the team struggled today against a blistering Bristol Bears.
"Collectively we made some errors in how we assessed their areas of strength, such as their speed.
"We felt we were well prepared with regard to the set-piece, to our defending in the tight, its just decision making that has let us down today.
"There's a lot of disappointment today, understandably, but we will learn from it.
"We're very new as a team and I feel we're only just scratching the surface of our potential".
But equally, there's that innate desire to always wonder 'what if'; this match embodies that in many ways, with Tigers enjoying substantial spells of possession and great territory but not managing to convert in to the scoreboard. Orrow is even more effusive about the many positives the team can take from today's performance.
"Absolutely we could have won today had a few more things gone right for us. Our focus has been on that first 10-20 minutes, setting the platform for ourselves. We're smart in attack, we're effective but, although we're expending a lot of energy, we're just not converting that into points.
"We know we can perform at this level, we just need to finish off our chances. We need to do it for more time, building 10, 20, 30 minutes and, ultimately, making sure we keep teams out.
"The positives from today are that we absolutely shook them up. This team (Bristol Bears) are well established, have been for many years now and they're clearly at the top of their game, with fantastic depth across the board.
"It was a great game to see where we're at, to test our defence and nail down how we want to play.
"We give ourselves the confidence that we can put it on teams, we know how to. We just need to build on that".
In two weeks time, Tigers will face back-to-back Allianz Cup champions Exeter Chiefs and Orrow is anticipating another physical battle.
"We'll continue to look at how we counteract a side's defensive structure; Chiefs are a very physical side so we will need to front up as a pack.
"The backs are working on their speed, their speed to get in their face, the speed to make decisions. Everyone has to become leaders in this team.
"We have to keep doing what we're doing: everyone has bought into the structure the coaches are trying to bring in and we want to build on that, ensuring those first 10 minutes today become 20, 30 and give us a platform for victory."
