Back issues rallying cry

Leeds director of rugby Neil Back has called on "the whole of Yorkshire" to come to their home match with Harlequins next weekend after their survival hopes suffered a major blow with a 51-18 mauling at Wasps.

With just two games remaining, time is fast running out for Leeds who never looked like hauling themselves off the foot of the table. Instead they remain level on points with Newcastle, who now have a game in hand.

"Next Sunday is a must-win game, we won't play as badly again and we need the whole of Yorkshire to come down and support us," he said. "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 simply blown away by the pace of Wasps' backs, with Joe Simpson and Richard Haughton picking up two tries each while David Walder, on his last appearance at Adams Park, kicked 14 points.

Leeds had won their previous two games, including a narrow win over Newcastle last weekend, but Sunday's defeat served to take the steam out of their recent resurgence.

"We came here with absolute confidence and we thought our recent form would give us the edge, and nobody would have predicted that scoreline," added Back.

"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."

Mid-table Wasps now face Bath at Twickenham next Saturday before finishing at Exeter, and interim director of rugby Leon Holden said: "The season hasn't gone spectacularly well but if we can win our next two games then maybe we can rescue the situation.

"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."