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'We've spent millions to achieve nothing': Discontent over London Irish swelling
After falling short 21-16 to the undefeated Leicester Tigers in the latest round of the Gallagher Premiership, the Exiles’ winless streak continued.
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London Irish haven’t won a game yet this season, losing three and drawing one, continuing a 10-game winless streak extending back to last season. The loss lead head coach Len Kiss to admit the squad was ‘the most despondent we’ve been’ after a game this season.
The Irish were in the game as the Tigers trailed 16-12 inside the last quarter but a resurgent Leicester side took back the lead on the back of three penalties to England flyhalf George Ford.
The Exiles have recruited heavily to bring firepower to the club in recent seasons since gaining promotion back in 2019, bringing in internationals such as Waisake Naholo, Nick Phipps, Adam Coleman, Paddy Jackson, Curtis Rona, Sekope Kepu, Sean O’Brien, Agustin Creevy, Rob Simmons and Allan Dell.
Many of those players lasted just a season or two as the Irish battled for regular wins and that trend has continued in 2021 despite still having enough talent on the books.
Fans were vocal on Twitter about the situation, becoming as despondent as the playing squad as ill discipline cost the side once again. One fan wrote ‘we’ve spent millions to achieve nothing’ about the club’s high-profile signing sprees, while another wrote ‘you get our hopes up to then dash them’.
Another was ‘lost for words’ as the fans were left questioning the approach of head coach Len Kiss and Director of Rugby Declan Kidney.
This a million times. We’re spent millions to achieve nothing. Something is clearly wrong at the top and it feels like K&K are out of ideas ?? #LIRvLEI https://t.co/IP7wv9ntiS
— Rob Eaton (@Rob_Eaton97) October 9, 2021
@londonirish when oh when are you going to gift us long suffering fans a win and not give away a lead by giving away penalties or handling errors time and time again It is getting very boring now to lose week in and week out. You get our hopes up to then dash them.
— Natalie Toms (@nk12butler) October 9, 2021
10 games without a win, could have won this one too ????? if we hadn’t given penalties away, again
— Tim Lewis (@TheMajor_37) October 9, 2021
Lost for words, we need to start winning. We have the talent so what’s actually wrong?
— Christian whitton (@Chrisw2490) October 9, 2021
Since we were last promoted, I think we’ve played something like 48 games and only won 12! It’s just not good enough. With that kind of win rate, in most other sports kidney and kiss would be long gone
— Nathan Powell (@NathanPowelly81) October 9, 2021
We will be there loud and proud as always, hope the boys could hear us cheering we tried to get them that elusive win, it will happen very soon ??????
— Andy and Viv Roberts (@Andy45964824) October 9, 2021
I’ve seen that London Irish game 3 times this season. Need to start winning those tight fixtures…
— Anthony Kennedy (@ajk0842) October 9, 2021
Another week and another loss! Getting tiresome now. Need to find a way to close these games out and actually win!
— Nathan Powell (@NathanPowelly81) October 9, 2021
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Kiss was confident the side would bounce back soon, stating deep down they know they are in a ‘pretty good place’ despite it being a despondent dressing room. He predicted the club will come out of it.
“It’s a very despondent dressing room, we don’t like feeling like we feel at the moment, that’s for sure,” he explained.
“However, we’ve got to find some gems in it and we will. We know we will find those gems.
“We know we’re in a pretty good place, this team is committed to what we know is just round the corner but we’ve just got to stay hard, disciplined and focus on what we’re good at.
“This season, for sure, it’s the most despondent we’ve been. This was in front of 8,000 or 9,000 fans – the best crowd for a while and they were right behind us.
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“That makes it equally a sad dressing room but these boys are resilient. They work hard and we’ve just got to trust that what we’re about is the right direction, and it is. We will come out of it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments