Murphy hoping Tigers can roar back to form

Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy admits Leicester face an uphill battle as they attempt to rescue a season which is slipping towards a bitterly disappointing conclusion.

The Tigers’ last remaining chance of finishing the campaign with some silverware rests with the Zurich Premiership title after they were knocked out of the Heineken Cup with a comprehensive 27-19 defeat by Toulouse in yesterday’s semi-final.

Hopes the club would be crowned European kings for a third time were brought crashing down to earth at the Walkers Stadium as Toulouse showed they operate in a different league to their determined but outclassed English rivals.

Leicester – pre-season favourites to lift their domestic league title – have also slipped in recent weeks, relinquishing top-spot to defending champions Wasps.

“It will be tough to pick ourselves up after losing to Toulouse but that’s what we must do because Wasps will be so hard to beat, even at home,” said Murphy, who will tour New Zealand with the Lions this summer.

“I think we’ve got what it takes to bounce back and win the Premiership title, although on Saturday morning I thought we had the ability to win the Heineken Cup. It’s going to be so tough for us because we’re missing players through injury and suspension.”

The two clubs meet at Welford Road on Saturday in what is a shoot-out for an automatic place in the Premiership final at Twickenham on May 14 with the losers entering the play-off semi-final.

Once again Wasps are looking in ominous form as they enter the business end of the campaign and Leicester’s ascendancy in meetings between the sides this season could soon be over.

The Tigers have also been rocked by the news that Graham Rowntree and Lewis Moody will miss the run-in after sustaining injuries against Toulouse.

“It’s a huge blow losing Graham and Lewis – they are very talented players,” said 27-year-old Murphy.

“Everything is stacking up against us at the moment. But we’ll pick ourselves up, regroup and give everything we have to win the Premiership.”