Neil Back

Squad positive, despite defeats

Thu Oct 01 10:19AM

A lot of people might think that we are really down at Leeds after losing another game last weekend, but I can say without any doubt that it is quite the opposite.

In fact, we are feeling really positive despite the defeat at Northampton because the guys showed for long periods that they really can compete at this level. We started strongly and also finished well, losing the second half just 6-0.

We played as well as we have in any game this season and demonstrated that we are making progress. Yes we made mistakes, but I am positive because they are not the same mistakes we made in earlier games. We are not repeating the same errors.

But we were guilty of poor concentration against the Saints and this allowed them to score 19 points in six minutes around the half-hour mark. Obviously that should not have happened.

We made mistakes but we also have to give credit to Shane Geraghty for a great piece of skill that led to one of their tries. They also got a nice bounce of the ball, while we also missed a couple of kicks.

The fact Northampton chose to take their kicks in the second half rather than go for the corner in an effort to to score more tries was a sign of respect.

In training we have tried to improve the players' concentration levels by presenting them with difficult challenges that test them in terms of fatigue and pressure.

But to be honest, the only way to improve this side of your game is through exposure at the highest level. And we are seeing signs that the players are getting better in each game and that is why we are still so positive.

The players know they haven't yet played their best and that when they do they will be a handful for any side in the Premiership.

We have the chance against Gloucester on Sunday to get that all important win to get our campaign on track. It's going to be a huge game for both sides and I'm looking forward to welcoming Gloucester to Headingley.

Gloucester are a big club with plenty of internationals in their squad, but they have had their problems this season after changing management and bringing in new players over the summer.

They have lost their last three games and are probably under even greater pressure than we are. Like us they also need a win badly, so it should be a great clash.

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One could use a number of words to describe Olivier Azam's kick on Steve Borthwick, but the bottom line is that there is no place in the game for that sort of behaviour.

It is not my place to make a decision on what should happen to the Gloucester hooker - there are guidelines in place for that - but it was an extremely reckless act and Borthwick was lucky he did not pick up an even worse injury.

Five stitches, a night in hospital and two weeks on the sidelines is bad enough, but thankfully he has no lasting damage to his eye or eyesight.

We want our rugby players to be tough and hard, but it is not required that they react the way Azam did. To my knowledge there has not yet been a citing, but I imagine the disciplinary process will kick in soon and he will be punished accordingly.

In fact, I am surprised his club Gloucester have not come out and proposed a sanction. There are no excuses for the way he acted.

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