Richard Cockerill says Leicester Tigers need to get their European Champions Cup campaign back on track on home territory next Sunday after defeat in the Pool 1 opener at Glasgow.
Tigers returned home empty-handed after a 42-13 defeat against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium in the first game of this season’s tournament on Friday evening, with the hosts inflicting most of the damage in a nine-minute first-half spell in which they claimed three tries.
“We made a good start to the game into a stiff breeze, we got an early lead and we managed the game well in the period where we lost Matt Toomua to a yellow card,” said director of rugby Cockerill.
“But I’m disappointed in how we let them into the game. We gave away silly penalties and made some errors. Once they got momentum, they played very well and we couldn’t cope with it. Then you start forcing it and give away two interception tries and it starts to unravel on you.
“It is pretty raw now but we’re back at home next Sunday and we have to front up and play better. We were not good enough tonight, there’s no getting away from that. If we play badly it is my responsibility, and it is my responsibility to put it right.”
Kick-off against Racing at Welford Road is at 5.30pm on Sunday. Match tickets are available now. Book in person at the Tigers ticket office, phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2) or online.
Racing’s opening fixture in Pool 1, against Munster, was postponed on Sunday afternoon after the sudden death of Munster Rugby head coach Anthony Foley overnight in Paris. The game will now have to re-arranged.
Tigers returned home empty-handed after a 42-13 defeat against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium in the first game of this season’s tournament on Friday evening, with the hosts inflicting most of the damage in a nine-minute first-half spell in which they claimed three tries.
“We made a good start to the game into a stiff breeze, we got an early lead and we managed the game well in the period where we lost Matt Toomua to a yellow card,” said director of rugby Cockerill.
“But I’m disappointed in how we let them into the game. We gave away silly penalties and made some errors. Once they got momentum, they played very well and we couldn’t cope with it. Then you start forcing it and give away two interception tries and it starts to unravel on you.
“It is pretty raw now but we’re back at home next Sunday and we have to front up and play better. We were not good enough tonight, there’s no getting away from that. If we play badly it is my responsibility, and it is my responsibility to put it right.”
Kick-off against Racing at Welford Road is at 5.30pm on Sunday. Match tickets are available now. Book in person at the Tigers ticket office, phone 0116 319 8888 (option 2) or online.
Racing’s opening fixture in Pool 1, against Munster, was postponed on Sunday afternoon after the sudden death of Munster Rugby head coach Anthony Foley overnight in Paris. The game will now have to re-arranged.
