OLLIE Smith says the London Welsh coaching staff are keen to maintain a positive mood in the camp, despite their nightmare run of form, writes SIMON WILLIAMS.

The Exiles have lost all 13 matches this season and are rooted to the foot of rugby’s Aviva Premiership table.

But assistant coach Smith is determined to try to keep up morale, although acknowledges it is no easy task.

“We try to make our training environment very respectful and as enjoyable as it can be,” he said.

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“Players know that if they have made a mistake, they are going to be brought up on it. Likewise, if you’ve done well, you are going to get a pat on the back.

“But there have obviously been a more mistakes than positives in recent weeks.

“Once what has been said in the (squad) meeting and on the training pitch, that’s it – we walk off the pitch, we are all friends.”

He added: “It is difficult and tempers will get raised. But I was at Leicester and that happened quite a lot – and we were winning things. It’s just the competitive nature.”

Smith says after a two-week break from the Premiership, which sees Welsh face a European Rugby Challenge Cup double-header against Edinburgh, there will be league games the Exiles can target as winnable.

“We are coming up against teams towards the bottom – London Irish and Newcastle – and we have got to be very competitive,” he said.

Referring to last week’s spirited show against leaders Northampton, Smith added: “A performance like that against Irish will be close (to giving us a victory), but still might not be enough.”

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