Sailosi Tagicakibau is hoping to score more than one try this season © Getty Images

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London Irish winger Sailosi Tagicakibau admits he has taken the criticism levelled at his side personally and claims there is a hunger in the squad to right the wrongs of last season.

The Exiles spent much of the season towards the foot of the Aviva Premiership table and ended the campaign in ninth. Despite registering just seven victories throughout the season, Irish managed an away win at Gloucester and also knocked over Saracens at their Madejski Stadium home.

But they have lost a host of players ahead of the new season with Matt Garvey, Alex Corbisiero, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson all leaving. Irish boss Brian Smith has refrained from bringing in big name signings to replace like-for-like but Tagicakibau is adamant Irish have enough about them to avoid a repeat of last season.

"I've been with London Irish for six seasons and I wouldn't have stayed if I didn't enjoy the rugby or the place, so for us not to do well last year hurt me, I didn't think we deserved to finish where we did," Tagicakibau told the Rugby Paper. "It's a personal goal of mine to put the club where it needs to be and show that this isn't a team that needs to be forgotten.

"A lot of people have written us off before the season has even started and being one of the guys at the club that has been there for a while now and who loves it, that hurts and I take it personally."

Tagicakibau admits they did fall short of expectations last season and he is keen to put things right this term and a personal note, he wants to cross for more tries.

"We all know we under-performed last year but I think in the second half of the season we were much better and didn't finish the season too badly," Tagicakibau added. "I can include myself in that as I only scored one try in the Premiership but I am going to be like a man possessed this season to turn things around - everyone is, really, as we want to show the true London Irish."