Kidney: We have to learn to play against good defences
READING, ENGLAND - MARCH 24: London Irish Technical Consultant Declan Kidney (R) and London Irish Head Coach Les Kiss speak ahead of the Aviva Premiership match between London Irish and Gloucester Rugby at Madejski Stadium on March 24, 2018 in Reading, England. (Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images)
Declan Kidney was heartened by his Irish side’s battling second-half display but he said: “We have to look at the whole 80 minutes. In the first half we made it difficult for ourselves. We have to learn not to be in a place where we have to battle our way back into it.
“The last couple of games we have been there or thereabouts but we have to put that to good effect in the weeks to come. Their defence was good and we have to learn to play against sides like that.”
The most glaring was Bernhard Janse van Rensburg’s horror pass which handed Olly Woodburn Exeter‘s third try. Woodburn’s attacking workrate was a big first-half factor for Exeter whose forwards coach Rob Hunter said: “He’s having a great season, he’s been outstanding.
“There are a lot of good wingers in the league and Olly’s up there with them at the moment.”
Hunter, also impressed by another “rock solid” contribution from Dave Ewers, added: “Irish are a dangerous side but our defence was fantastic and we dealt with the maul pretty well.”
