For some reason, similar to the second half at Newcastle the previous week, we lacked any intensity and any enthusiasm in our play, almost from the first minute of the game. In the first half we dropped ball after ball, while in the second half some of our one-on-one tackling was virtually non-existent.

It is difficult to understand where the last 120 minutes of Zurich Premiership action have come from - we have not suddenly become a very poor team overnight. Two weeks ago we were talking in terms of challenging for a position in the top half of the table and possible a place in the play-offs. Now we are focussed on the bottom half of the table and again to quote Mark from the weekend: "If we continue to play like that in our last seven games, we will not win another game and we will be relegated."

That is a fair synopsis of the mess that we have got ourselves into.

On Sunday, the management team met at our training ground and went through Saturday's video collectively, minute by minute. Joining them was Andre Vos, who amongst all the debris from Saturday had an outstanding game. As I said earlier, the major problem on Saturday was individual errors; players dropping balls, missing tackles and making wrong decisions at critical times. Amazingly, Sale did not play that well, but then they did not have to.

Clearly there is a need to change things and to change things quickly. Our next match is away to Bristol Shoguns on Sunday 2nd March. For both teams, this will be a massive game and the three week gap before this fixture has given the coaching staff time to reflect, and time to make some changes where we believe they are required.

The players have been away this week, which after Saturday's performance may seem a little strange. However, them being away has allowed the coaching staff more time to look forward and plan, and in many ways a clean slate after Saturday was probably the best thing.

On the injury front, both Chris Bell and Nick Duncombe are in the process of strengthening their hamstrings having recovered from the tears that they suffered. At this stage, we are reasonably confident that they will both be available for the Bristol game.

Nick Greenstock is still struggling with his ankle injury that he suffered back in November, while Nathan Williams, who cramped his hamstring on the Friday before the Sale game, is also expected to be fit for Bristol. Roy Winters, who has not played all season, is now close to getting a run out in the Second XV, although it will take him time to get back to full match fitness.

We have a lot of work to do before the Bristol game, but you can be assured that the performance seen against Sale on Saturday will not be allowed to happen again.

On a much more pleasant note, I can't finish without mentioning the achievements of one of the greatest Harlequins. This Saturday, our own Jason Leonard will run on to the Twickenham turf to win his 100th international cap; the first forward in the history of the game to do so and making him the third most capped player in history, behind Philippe Sella (111) and David Campese (101).

This is a fantastic achievement and one which is unlikely to be ever matched in the modern era of the game.