Battling defence was key- Kiss
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 10: Les Kiss, the London Irish head coach looks on during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Harlequins and London Irish at Twickenham Stoop on January 10, 2021 in London, England. The match will be played without fans, behind closed doors as a Covid-19 precaution. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
LES Kiss, London Irish's head coach, praised his side's character after turning around a 14-0 deficit against Exeter Chiefs inside 20 minutes to win and leapfrog their opponents into sixth place on the Premiership table.
“It's definitely an element of our game that we're really proud of and it had to shine through today,” Kiss said. “I thought both teams showed immense character. The defence was awesome on both sides. To go 14-0 down and come back is a pretty good effort. That is a testament to the mindset the blokes are building. At 14-0 down you can go into your shell. We're learning about what it takes to stick to the plan and back ourselves.”
Exeter had five stalwarts with England – Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Simmonds, Henry Slade, Jonny Hill and Jack Nowell. “It's become more of a challenge this season,” Exeter's director of rugby Rob Baxter said. “With the Covid scenario, which has expanded the league, you create more clashes. You work towards a squad that is built around the season. But every team has to adapt.”
