PROP Nathan Trevett believes that London Welsh’s Boxing Day clash with London Irish at the Madejski Stadium is their biggest of the season, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

Irish are just one place above bottom-of-the-table Welsh in the Aviva Premiership and with 11 points separating the two sides Trevett admitted that the Exiles cannot afford to lose.

“It’s the biggest game of our season because if we don’t win it could be the final nail for us,” he said.

“Obviously it’s a bit early to start talking like that, but it’s a massive game for us if we’re going to stay up this season.

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“There’s always a chance we could catch someone, but we probably need at least four wins and if you can’t beat the teams around us you’re going to struggle.

“London Irish are the side above us and they’re the ones we’ve got to catch, so we need to win this one.”

Welsh fell to their heaviest defeat of the season on Saturday as they were trounced 78-7 by Saracens.

But defence coach Rowland Phillips insisted they have already put it behind them and that he expects a response.

“We’re proud people, we don’t take big punches like that as if it’s nothing,” he said.

“We expect a big response anyway, not just because of the Saracens defeat.

“On the scoreboard it was a step back and there were a lot of things that weren’t good enough on the day.

“But looking back at our previous games against Leicester, Northampton and both matches against Edinburgh, we had taken massive steps forward.

“We can’t just start again, we’ve done too many good things over the last few weeks to just throw it out.”

Witney Gazette:

  • Piri Weepu in action against Saracens, where he played at fly half  Picture: Getty Images

World Cup-winning former All Black Piri Weepu returned from injury to start against Saracens, playing at fly half rather than his usual scrum half position.

But Phillips felt the selection decision was justified.

He said: “Piri has played at no 10 in the past, he’s got great experience and he’s an incredibly skilled player.

“His skill set is of the highest order and our mindset was that he is more than good enough to play there.”

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