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Win gives us a platform to build, says Cockers

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Richard Cockerill says Leicester Tigers have established "a platform to build on" after climbing into fifth place in the Aviva Premiership table.

Tigers scored four tries in a 26-5 win over London Welsh at the Kassam Stadium on Sunday to move on to 21 points from eight games.
 
Director of rugby Cockerill said: “We’re up to fifth place and now we have a platform to kick on from.
 
“We have had some tough days at the office but now we have to get ready for Wasps on Saturday. There have been some disappointments but you take the points where you can. They are all important when you come to the end of the season.”
 
Harry Thacker scored twice against Welsh, his first Premiership scores, and he was joined on the scoresheet by Graham Kitchener and Robert Barbieri.
 
“We take the points but it was a pretty average performance,” said Cockerill.
 
“They made us work really hard, fair play to them, they made it tough, but we were inaccurate and made early errors in skills or decision-making when we could have got points on the board. But we came for the five points, job done, we go away and prepare for Wasps on Saturday.
 
“We made a lot of mistakes but there was enough about us to get over the line. And the commitment from the guys showed, taking Fonua into touch on our line in the last few minutes when the game was already won, that is good to see.
 
“It is a good reminder if you are not 100 per cent right you can get caught out. But it puts us back on our toes for Wasps next week.”
 
The 20-year-old Thacker was in only his second Premiership appearance for the club and twice got on the end of strong work by the forward pack to dot down in the space of seven minutes leading up to half-time.
 
“Harry has really good skills and he is learning all the time,” said Cockerill. “Every time he has stepped up he has done well. If he keeps learning like he has and keeps improving then he will get those opportunities.
 
“With Leonardo Ghiraldini away with Italy and Tom Youngs injured, he has got some gametime. Today we also got Adam Thompstone back out on the field today and he has been out for a while. Tommy Bell came in for a start, and we had young Jake Farnworth and George Tresidder off the bench for their Premiership debuts.”