Premiership: Tigers need steel

Leicester coach Richard Cockerill has urged his side to "show some steel" when they try to bounce back from their defeat by Bath at home to London Irish on Saturday.

Last weekend's 45-0 loss to in-form Bath was only the second time in Premiership history that the Tigers, one of England's most successful clubs, had ever been 'nilled'.

To make matters worse, wing Niall Morris (ankle) and England forwards Geoff Parling (concussion) and Tom Youngs (shoulder) were all injured at the Recreation Ground.

The trio joined an injury list that already included club captain Ed Slater, Manu Tuilagi and Anthony Allen.

"We need to show some steel and backbone," former Leicester and England hooker Cockerill told the BBC.

"We need to get out there, do what we do and keep the critics quiet. Those that want to throw mud can throw it, and we will just get on with it."

Looking ahead to the London Irish match, Cockerill added: "We have a side more than capable of going out and performing on Saturday and getting a result.

"Let's concentrate on that. Whoever is missing is missing, we can't control that at this point. We will patch up what we have got and crack on.

"I'm sure they will look at our teamsheet and fancy their chances, but we have had that before on lots of occasions and against a lot of sides."

Meanwhile James Haskell will look to try to play his way back into England contention ahead of next year's World Cup on home soil when Wasps face Newcastle on Sunday.

Loose forward Haskell has played in all the loose trio positions but believes he is most effective at openside flank.

Unfortunately for the 29-year-old's Test hopes, the England No.7 shirt currently belongs to Red Rose captain Chris Robshaw.

"I'm good friends with Chris, I've known him for years and I have the utmost respect for him. He's been a fantastic captain and is a great player," Haskell said.

"But I want his shirt, it's as simple as that. I want Tom Wood's shirt and any of those in the back row."

He added: "My favourite position over the last three or four years has been at seven, it's where I've played most of my rugby.

"The people I respect in the game play in that position. In terms of turnovers and impact I'm consistently up there in the Premiership. I fulfill a role there.

"The perception people have of an openside is of a squat guy getting over the ball, but size is irrelevant really.

"If you have someone who has the skillset to do the job, gets around the park and has high involvement, that's what it's about."

Saturday also sees Bath's title credentials face a fresh test when they travel to champions Northampton.

"We've got Northampton away now, which is a sobering thought," said Bath boss Mike Ford. "Northampton is a great challenge, but it is only September."

Bottom of the table London Welsh, promoted from the second-tier Championship last term, will aim for a first Premiership win of the season at home to Gloucester on Friday.

Meanwhile Saracens, last season's losing finalists, face Sale on Saturday, while Exeter are at home to Harlequins on Sunday.

All of the match details:

Friday, September 26

London Welsh v Gloucester

(Kassam Stadium - Kick-off: 19.45; 18.45 GMT)

London Welsh: 15 Seb Jewell, 14 Rhys Crane, 13 Nic Reynolds, 12 Tom May (captain), 11 Nick Scott, 10 Olly Barkley, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Ollie Stedman, 7 Richard Thorpe, 6 Lachlan McCaffrey, 5 James Down, 4 Dean Schofield, 3 Taione Vea, 2 Koree Britton, 1 Ricky Reeves.

Replacements: 16 Nathan Morris, 17 Shane Cahill, 18 Jack Gilding, 19 Matt Corker, 20 Ben Pienaar, 21 Rob Lewis, 22 Tristan Roberts, 23 James Lewis.

Gloucester: 15 Rob Cook, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Henry Purdy, 12 Billy Twelvetrees (captain), 11 Jonny May, 10 James Hook, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Tom Palmer; 4 Elliott Stooke, 3 John Afoa, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Dan Murphy.

Replacements: 16 Aleki Lutui, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 James Hudson, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Mark Atkinson, 23 Tom Isaacs.

Referee: Luke Pearce

Assistant referees: Paul Dix, Ross Campbell

TMO: Sean Davey

Saturday, September 27

Leicester Tigers v London Irish

(Welford Road - Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)

Leicester Tigers: TBC

London Irish: TBC

Referee: Gregory Garner

Assistant referees: Simon Mcconnell, Paul Burton

TMO: David Sainsbury

Northampton Saints v Bath

(Franklin's Gardens - Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)

Northampton Saints: TBC

Bath: TBC

Referee: Tim Wigglesworth

TMO: Rowan Kitt

Saracens v Sale Sharks

(Allianz Park - Kick-off: 15.00; 14.00 GMT)

Saracens: TBC

Sale Sharks: TBC

Referee: JP Doyle

Assistant referees: Kelvin Stewart, Nigel Carrick

TMO: Trevor Fisher

Sunday, September 29

Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins

(Sandy Park - Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)

Exeter Chiefs: TBC

Harlequins: TBC

Referee: Andrew Small

Assistant referees: Ashley Rowden, Roger Baileff

TMO: Geoffrey Warren

London Wasps v Newcastle Falcons

(Adams Park - Kick-off: 14.00; 13.00 GMT)

London Wasps: TBC

Newcastle Falcons: TBC

Referee: Dean Richards

Assistant referees: Stuart Terheege, Andrew Pearce

TMO: David Grashoff