Exiles mindful of Heineken backlash

Only London Irish and Gloucester Rugby can still boast three from three with the Exiles facing potentially their sternest remaining challenge with the trip to Stade Aime Giral on Saturday for the Round 4 return leg.

The 24-16 victory over Perpignan at the Madejski Stadium means that by the halfway stage London Irish have already matched their best season in the tournament when they won three and lost three in 2002 / 2003.

"There are always twists and turns during the Pool stages of the Heineken Cup - one day you are a rooster the next a feather duster," said Smith.

"We are very mindful of that and all we are concentrating on is the next performance - and that is against Perpignan next Saturday."

The Exiles had not won on the road in Europe before trouncing Newport Gwent Dragons 45-17 at Rodney Parade in their seventh away tournament match but Perpignan have only ever lost two home matches in 23 fixtures and have won their last 10 on the trot.

"All that we know is that we are in control of the Pool - though by this time next week we will know if we are still in control," said Smith.

"That said we know there is a potential banana skin home to the Dragons and then another potential banana skin in going to Treviso in Round 6.

"Because we needed this victory to stay alive in the Heineken Cup and the result means we can now go to Perpignan and relax a little bit more - and play the game we want with greater width.

"The weather conditions didn't help but we can go to Perpignan without any of the pressure being on us. All the pressure will be on them because we are in control of the group so they need a result - and they need a big result.

"The key for us will be to go there and relax, to play with plenty of width and, if we get our noses in front and really play a running game, then I think we could give them a lot of problems.

"However, we won't get ahead of ourselves and get carried away because we are a pretty grounded group - and we are still only minnows in European rugby and we wont take anything for granted.

"We certainly will not be complacent next weekend - that is for sure."

One new player making a big impact with the Exiles is prolific points scorer Australian Peter Hewat while old hand Mike Catt simply goes on and on producing the goods.

"I thought Peter stepped up and knocked over a very important goal and denied Perpignan a bonus point - which arguably they deserved - while Catty hurt himself in the captain's run but gave us a wink before the game to say he was OK and gave us 80 minutes," said Smith.

"Bob (Casey) was also inspirational while our very young front row were up against a very experienced and class opposition in the Perpignan pack and full credit to those players up front for laying the platform."