DIRECTOR of rugby Alan Solomons admitted a week “disrupted” by injuries led to Worcester Warriors’ 22-9 defeat at basement boys London Irish in the Aviva Premiership.

Centre Jackson Willison (hand) and hooker Jack Singleton (back) were forced to withdraw prior to kick-off after picking up knocks.

Scrum-half Francois Hougaard also suffered a blow to his ankle as Irish went on to secure only their second league win of the season to get within 12 points of Worcester.

Solomons insisted the Exiles “deserved” to win following a first-half try from Piet van Zyl and a 17-point haul from Greig Tonks.

But he felt Warriors’ battling displays to beat leaders Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester in recent weeks had taken their toll on his men.

He also revealed Willison, Singleton and centre Ryan Mills did not train during the week as Worcester prepared for the bottom-of-the-table clash.

“It was a disappointing result but you have to mention the last two games as I think they took their toll both physically and emotionally,” Solomons said.

“We were disrupted in the week and in the warm-up but you shouldn’t take anything away from London Irish as they fully deserved their victory on the day so well done to them.”

Willison’s absence resulted in a back-line reshuffle as Dean Hammond came in on the wing, Chris Pennell moved to outside centre and Josh Adams dropped to full-back.

Solomons said he also did not feel Singleton was right to play as his place was taken by Kurt Haupt.  

“Jack’s back wasn’t right all week,” Solomons continued.

“He took a blow to his back in the game against Gloucester.

“We were hoping because it was just a knock that he would be alright come the weekend.

“He didn’t practice during the week and in the warm-up he just wasn’t right so we had to withdraw him.

“Millsy and Jacko could not practice during the week either.

“Jacko didn’t feel he was 100 per cent fit to play so he withdrew as well so those disruptions did not help our cause.

“We had to reshuffle the back-line, moving Penns away from full-back into midfield and Josh from the wing to full-back. None of that helps."

Warriors had been boosted by the return of Hougaard who missed their win over Gloucester due to an ankle issue.

But Solomons said the scrum-half suffered a recurrence of the problem as he hobbled off just before half-time.

“Francois had an ankle injury and didn’t play against Gloucester but he felt that it would be fine,” Solomons said.

“It wasn’t so it wasn’t our day.”

Irish director of rugby Nick Kennedy was delighted to see his side pick up their first league victory since the opening day of the season and atone for their 23-8 loss to Warriors at Sixways in December.

“We are all very pleased to get the win,” Kennedy said.

“Last time we played them we really let ourselves down. We made 36 handling errors and put on a really poor game against them.

“This match was about putting that right and showing them that we are a good rugby team. The boys did that.”