THERE are no excuses for our performance at London Irish. On a cold and wet day in Reading, the game was always going to be won and lost up front, a battle of the forwards.

But we didn’t play as we can and didn’t secure a strong enough platform. London Irish’s scrum and driving maul was clinical and we clearly came off second best. It’s not acceptable and we need to resolve it.

We had several chances in the second-half and the statistics show we actually had more possession and territory than Irish in the game, but failed to convert pressure into points.

It was great to see Chris Jones and Semisi Taulava return from injury and both did well.

I’m sure they will be eager to be involved from the start this Saturday but every player has to earn a place in training this week and the chance to put it right.

Our away form in the Aviva Premiership is an issue we’ve got to address if we are to progress as a club.

We are trying many different things with our away-day routine and will continue to do that until we get it right.

We had targeted the London Irish game to break our unwanted away run, but after 20 minutes were playing catch-up.

We’re clearly a different animal at Sixways and have claimed some big victories over the likes of Saracens and London Wasps.

However, on the road it has not clicked and therefore I have sympathy for our dedicated travelling fans that make the journey and back us so brilliantly. We are doing all we can to get this monkey off our back so we can all enjoy our away days.

At times like this, it’s the players who have to stand up and be counted.

The coaching staff, as is the way in professional sport, will be criticised for the last result, but it is the players who cross that white line and who have got to take responsibility.

As club captain, I can assure you the entire squad are right behind the coaching staff.

I’d also like to show my support for the backroom staff and medical team after recent reports about Tevita Taumoepeau’s future.

It’s always hard when a true legend of the club has his time cut short, but we are all aware of the risks we face in our careers.

The medical facilities here are second to none and rest assured the boys are fully supportive of the treatment we receive.

Exeter arrive at Sixways for our penultimate home game on Saturday and I’m sure they will want to put a dent in our good home record.

The Chiefs have really impressed me again this season and when we played them at Sandy Park it was a very difficult afternoon for us.

There is huge spirit in the Exeter squad and they really pushed Leicester Tigers all the way at the weekend.

I have no doubt they will have watched the tapes of our game at Irish and will look to hurt us up front. We have got to be ready to meet that challenge and give our fans something to cheer.