Diamond: “It’s a game we’ve lost”

SPEAKING after his side’s loss to London Irish in Reading on Sunday, Steve Diamond, Chief Executive in charge of team affairs, said, “It’s a game we’ve lost, to be honest. We’ve got into arm wrestles in the past three or four weeks and either won them or got a bonus point, but today a couple of our players showed their naivety of when we’re in control, losing control.

“We spent three or four minutes scrummaging on our own line. We got out of it and then we had a poor kick out which put the pressure back on and it is unacceptable really.

“We had a few players out and a lot of young lads in there but the game was there to be won and we should have won. We gave 19 soft points away so we are disappointed.

“Fair play to Irish as they were at nearly full strength, but we will lick our wounds and look to come back strong on Friday at home to Saracens.

“It’s one of those occasions where we have not capitalised on the situation we were in.”

“The young lads will be all the better for the experience but in these competitions you don’t have too much time for potential,” he added.

“When they step up to the mark they have got to deliver. It was good to get a bonus point at the end and it shows we do stay in there, but we should have won the game.”