Unity the key to Leicester Tigers improved performance against Racing 92 - George Ford
Now we have to make sure we are not on the wrong side of the penalty count, says Tigers' fly-half
George Ford takes on Racing 92 lock Leone Nakarawa at Paris La Defense Arena. Picture - ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty Images
Leicester Tigers fly-half George Ford believes his side showed greater "unity" in a much-improved showing against Racing 92 in Paris last Sunday.
It wasn't enough to prevent the hosts taking a 36-26 win in a thrilling Heineken Cup clash but it certainly left Tigers in good heart for the return match at Welford Road on Sunday afternoon.
Coach Geordan Murphy's reaction to Leicester Tigers' Heineken Cup loss in Paris
Ford said that had come about on the back of the sub-standard performance the previous week at Bristol Bears.
"Off the back of last week (at Bristol) there was always going to be a response," Ford said. "We were incredibly disappointed with last week, embarrassed to be honest, so there was always going to be a response.
"Another part to it was we were playing one of the best teams in Europe away from home so if you are not anywhere near it you are going to get a good walloping. That sharpened us up a bit mentally.
George Ford was happy with the way Tigers responded in Paris. Picture - David Rogers/Getty Images
"But we were focussing on ourselves a little bit more this week, on what we want to feel like out there, what we want to look like out there in terms of fighting for each other and showing more togetherness.
"There was a bit more unity within the way we do things, scrambling for each other, fighting for each other when things are not going right. In rugby if you do that you can solve a lot of things."
Ford acknowledged Tigers have to improve their discipline this weekend having lost Manu Tuilagi and Ellis Genge to yellow cards during the match at the stunning Paris La Defense Arena but he says the players will relish Sunday's round four game.
Leicester Tigers go down fighting as they lose 36-26 to Racing 92 in Paris
"We need to tidy up a few things," he said. "We were on the wrong end of the penalty count, which doesn't help. We had two guys in the bin which didn't help either. Racing were clinical but I felt some of their tries were relatively soft.
"There were some positives. We looked a bit more dangerous ball in hand and we stuck at it and managed to get a bonus point out of it.
"We will be excited about Sunday, that's for sure one. It is one of those games for us where we need to get a result to stay alive. We have had a couple of weeks away and want to get back at home in front of our fans and hopefully turn this result around."