RUGBY: Welsh players gave their all - Jones (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY: Welsh players gave their all - Jones

10:50am Monday 3rd September 2012 in London Welsh By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

LONDON Welsh head coach Lyn Jones could not fault his players’ effort in their 38-13 home defeat to Leicester on their Aviva Premiership debut.

The experienced Jones was frustrated by aspects of Welsh’s play, especially their line-out, but praised their commitment and work-rate.

He said: “I was proud of the way the boys stuck in there. They gave it 100 per cent and you can’t ask for more than that.

“The challenge for the coaches now is to concentrate on the process and keep focused on improving.”

Jones added: “It is a funny thing to say, but there were a lot of good things we did.

“What overshadows it was a disastrous line-out and I am sure it doesn’t take the brain of Britain to work that out.

“Instead of creating pressure on Leicester, we put pressure on ourselves.

“What has happened with London Welsh has been well-documented throughout the summer.

“The knock-on effect is the detail and the devil is in the detail.

“We knew that we just didn’t have enough time to put that fully in place.

“That stood out and it did cost us obviously.

“I am not saying we were good enough to win, but we were good enough maybe to have a chance of a bonus point.

“We failed when we had the opportunity to launch attacks.”