Neil Back has called on "the whole of Yorkshire" to go to Leeds' crucial home match with Harlequins next weekend.
Get behind us for survival fight, Leeds boss urges whole county
Neil Back has called on "the whole of Yorkshire" to go to Leeds' crucial home match with Harlequins next weekend.
Speaking in the wake of his side's crushing 51-18 defeat at Wasps on Sunday, the Leeds director of rugby urged the whole county to get behind his team as they fight for Premiership survival.
Leeds sit at the bottom of the table on level points with Newcastle. But with just two games remaining to the Falcons' three, things are looking increasingly desperate for Back's men.
"Next Sunday is a must-win game," said the England World Cup-winning flanker.
Major blow
"We won't play as badly again and we need the whole of Yorkshire to come down and support us.
"Newcastle have three games to go to our two so if they win at home next Friday night it will be a huge blow."
Leeds were blown away by Wasps at Adams Park and Back admitted that the scale of the defeat had been a major blow to his side's resurgent confidence after winning their last two games
"We came here with absolute confidence," he added. "And we thought our recent form would give us the edge and nobody would have predicted that scoreline.
"The squad feel they've let everyone at the club down but that performance was not a reflection of how they've been playing,
"We normally tough it out and it's only in four or five games that we haven't deserved anything."
Wasps were without Andy Powell, Serge Betsen and David Lemi, but produced a much-improved performance to end a three-match losing streak and record only their second win in 10 games.
Revolution
And Wasps interim director of rugby Leon Holden was delighted with the efforts of the youngsters brought into his side.
"This is the start of the revolution, hopefully we'll look back on this in 10 years and say that. Youngsters have no fear and they have a touch of arrogance," he said
Mid-table Wasps face Bath at Twickenham next Saturday before travelling to Exeter for their final game.
"The season hasn't gone spectacularly well but if we can win our next two games then maybe we can rescue the situation," Holden added.
"We've got a few players coming back next week including Richard Birkett and Ben Jacobs so selection won't be easy but Twickenham and a large crowd is a different proposition."
