TOM FOWLIE says London Irish can use last season’s disappointment against Edinburgh to spur them on in this year’s European Challenge Cup.
Exiles get their campaign underway against French side Agen at Madejski Stadium tomorrow (3pm) bidding for a first win under Tom Coventry after four defeats from four league games so far.
After struggling for form in the Aviva Premiership last year, European form came as a real saviour for Irish before they were knocked out by eventual runners-up Edinburgh 23-18 in a controversial quarter-final where the hosts had a last minute try disallowed.
“It was a really tough one to take,” Fowlie told The Wokingham Paper.
“We really had the belief to go on and if we got through that game we were only two games away from achieving something really big at this club.
“That gives us confidence with how far we went last year and on another day we might’ve got that try over the line, I think it was (David) Paice that didn’t get the decision. It’s small margins.
“Last season definitely gave us confidence in that competition so hopefully we’re looking to go one step further this year.”
First up is newly promoted Agen, who are struggling for form themselves this season, sitting bottom of the French Top 14 with two wins from their eight matches.
But Fowlie feels they will provide a good test for Irish.
“We know they’re going to be a very good side,” said the winger.
“Obviously they compete in the Top 14 so you’ve got to be a good side.
“They’re playing the likes of Toulon and Stade Francais, those sort of teams, week in, week out so they’re going to be a very good side.
“They’ll probably look to throw the ball around quite a bit, have a go away from home.
“But we’re trying to really focus on ourselves this week and get our name right and hopefully everything will fall into place.”
With Exiles still pointless in the Aviva Premiership, Fowlie admits Europe represents a good opportunity to forget about league form and start afresh.
“We are still searching for that first win obviously but all the boys are believing in what the coaches are doing,” he said.
“We’ve got two weeks now in the European competition to try and find out where our game is at and put a few things into place and maybe try a few things without the pressure of being in the Premiership.
“I think these two weeks have come at the right time for us and we’ll try some new things and hopefully get a bit of confidence from that to go on into the Wasps game.”
Alongside Irish and Agen in Pool 5 are Edinburgh and Grenoble, two sides Exiles faced last season.
But Coventry will be without scrum half Brendan McKibbin for the first two matches after he was suspended for three weeks (until December 1) for the red card he received for stamping against Bath, something far from ideal in a tricky looking pool.
Fowlie continued: “It is a difficult looking group but we believe in ourselves.
“We weren’t too far off beating Edinburgh last year at home and they went on to reach the final.
“Grenoble is going to be a real tough battle as well but we did well last year against them so yeah, it’s going to be tough but these competitions are tough.
“There’s no easy games so if you want to go far in them you’ve got to front up and you’ve got to beat the best to be the best.”
