EVERYONE was bitterly disappointed with the result against London Irish and also with the performance.

Results haven’t gone our way this season but the performance levels have improved immeasurably over the last eight weeks.

We have played some big teams in Gloucester, Saracens and Biarritz and the levels have increased a lot.

The big disappointment against Irish, as well as the loss, was the fact we didn’t really do ourselves justice.

There are 10 games to go in the league and matches to be won so we need to analyse where we haven’t performed as we look forward to the Leicester Tigers game in February. Before then we have games in the Amlin Challenge Cup and LV=Cup and these are an opportunity for us to get some form and confidence.

We are not a massive squad so there won’t be wholesale changes but it is a chance for the younger players to be involved again.

Every time they have played for us they have been great so it’s good for their development.

I have been impressed with all the younger players at the club, they have got ambition to succeed and better themselves. As well as being good players, they are also good people as well.

Max Stelling and Ben Howard, who signed senior contracts this week, have done well when they have played and it’s those sort of players who will take this club forward in the future.

Following the Irish defeat, I think it will be good for us to play with a smile on our faces and with the shackles off over these next few fixtures, starting against Sale Sharks in the Amlin Challenge Cup tomorrow.

We need to get some form for the last batch of league games and show what we perhaps haven’t so far this season.

On a personal level, it was gutting to miss the London Irish match but I am feeling a lot better than I have over the last couple of weeks.

It’s been frustrating because I have had a few concussions during my career and I have only taken a few days to recover but this has been nearly three weeks.

Hopefully, I will start running towards the end of this week and if that goes well I will look to progress that next week. It’s too early to say when I will be back — with these things there are certain protocols that you have got to abide by — but I won’t be playing against Sale tomorrow.