Tigers got what they deserved

Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill said his team got exactly what they deserved in their 45-0 drubbing at the hands of Bath.

Even allowing for the fact the Tigers were forced into a reshuffle of the backline following injuries to England internationals Manu Tuilagi (groin) and Anthony Allen (knee) it was a stunning result and only the second time the Tigers had failed to score in Premiership history.

Table-toppers Bath, the early season pacesetters with a perfect played three, won three record, ran in five tries while George Ford, looking to replace Owen Farrell as England's first-choice flyhalf, kicked 20 points.

To make matters worse for visitors Leicester, replacement scrumhalf David Mele was sent off late on at the Recreation Ground.

This latest clash between two of England's traditionally strongest clubs was as lopsided as the scoreline suggested, with Ford – son of Bath coach Mike Ford – kicking four conversions, three penalties and a drop-goal while Semesa Rokoduguni, Jonathan Joseph, Kyle Eastmond, Olly Woodburn and former Ireland scrumhalf Peter Stringer all scored tries.

"We couldn't cope with the set-piece, and if you get no set-piece parity you are always going to struggle," said Cockerill.

"Credit to Bath. It was pretty average from us, at best, and we got exactly what we deserved.

"If you have got the quality we've got missing, some day it is going to hurt you, and today it hurt us. That's not an excuse, we should play better and I am bitterly disappointed," the former England hooker added.

A delighted Mike Ford said: "Today, we were pretty good in all aspects, relentless really. To 'nil' Leicester is absolutely fantastic.