Cockerill slams “embarrassing” Tigers as Quins upset champions

The Premiership champions slipped off too many tackles and were dominated by a Harlequins side who outscored them two tries to one and also leapfrogged them in the table to go fifth.

It was Harlequins’ fourth win in six visits to Welford Road and Leicester have now won just one of their last five games in all competitions.

A furious Cockerill said: “If people run at you and you don’t tackle them they win, and that’s what happened.

“You have got to defend better than that, certainly in the first half. The sin-binning hurt us, they scored two tries in that period.

“But they ran hard and we did not get off the line and make our tackles.

“We let them play and they played very well and deserved to win. They wanted it more than us.

“They outplayed us. I am not going to accept that, that is not good enough for us.

Some of our defence early in the game was embarrassing. They will see it on Monday, and we have to be better.”

Harlequins’ two tries came from captain Nick Easter and centre Matt Hopper either side of half-time while Leicester flanker Julian Salvi was in the sin-bin.

Nick Evans, playing out of position at full-back, kicked 13 points, while Leicester earned a penalty try in the 80th minute and fly-half Owen Williams kicked 11 points.

Wasps director of rugby David Young hailed winger Christian Wade after his side ran out 32-30 winners at Gloucester.

The result means Wasps recorded their first away win in the Premiership since February as they took a big leap up the table with a bonus-point victory over the struggling Cherry and Whites.

Wade scored two of the visitors’ tries, while No 8 Nathan Hughes and replacement Guy Thompson were also on the scoreboard, with fly-half Andy Goode booting 12 points with three conversions and two penalties.

“You have to say that the first try was a good finish but the second one was something really special – and it was not props he was going around then, it was quality wingers,” Young said of Wade.

“Nobody else could have scored that try so we probably owe him a victory there. He is disappointed not to be with England but he is a very respectful kid as well.

“He knows there are quality wingers in the England set-up and they have done really well all season.

“Stuart (Lancaster) and the coaching staff (England) have given him things to work on and sent him back to us to play - and thank God they have because he really was the difference between us winning and losing. But we all know he is an international player and he is going to play lots of times for England.”