Cockerill: Tigers must improve

Leicester boss Richard Cockerill admitted his team will need to show a considerable improvement in next week’s Heineken Cup return fixture against Treviso in their quest for a quarter-final place.

Tigers laboured to a 33-25 Pool Three success at Welford Road after leading by 19 points at half-time, but they still claimed a bonus point triumph that closed the gap on group leaders Toulouse.

“We were inaccurate – we went to sleep in the second half,” Cockerill said.

“It was a lot closer than we would have liked, but it’s job done, it is five points. It certainly won’t lead us to be complacent next week, so maybe it has done us a favour.

“We will have to be a lot better. Treviso were good, but I don’t think we were under any illusions. Two years ago, we nearly lost in Treviso in the first round of the pool stage.

“The players will know they are in for a tough afternoon next week. We have got to go there and try to get five points. Whether that is attainable, we will have to see.

“It was job done today, but no more than that. Five points next week would be very helpful, but after today’s performance from Treviso, in particular, we need to understand the task ahead for us.”

Flanker Julian Salvi’s try double underpinned an emphatic first-half display from Leicester, while centre Manu Tuilagi and substitute wing Matt Smith also touched down, with fly-half George Ford kicking four conversions, including the extras to a 17th-minute penalty try.

But it proved far from plain sailing for Leicester as Treviso scored three tries of their own by flanker Dean Budd, prop Lorenzo Cittadini and wing Christian Loamanu, while Alberto Di Bernardo landed two conversions and two penalties.

Treviso finished easily the stronger team, which does not auger well for Leicester ahead of next Saturday’s return fixture at Stadio Communale di Monigo.

Meanwhile, Cardiff director of rugby Phil Davies suggested he may look to appeal any suspension handed down to Lloyd Williams after the scrum-half’s red card in the 35-24 defeat by Montpellier at the Arms Park ended their hopes in the Heineken Cup.

The injury-ravaged Blues were leading 9-6 after 25 minutes of a scrappy encounter when Williams was dismissed for a tip tackle on opposite number Benoit Paillaugue after the ball had squirted out of a Cardiff scrum.

“It was a bit of a rustic challenge, I think we will contest it. I am not sure it was the right decision,” he said.

“It was unfortunate, in the last few weeks Lloyd has been playing really well, but aside from that I thought the way we adjusted and played after that was really pleasing.

“A couple of loose kicks cost us and we did not go through the phases down in their half often enough to get extra penalties or even potentially score a try, but overall the effort and determination was fantastic.”