DIRECTOR of Rugby Declan Kidney refused to blame London Irish's injury woes after they suffered a third-straight Gallagher Premiership defeat in falling to Exeter Chiefs at Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

Exiles went down 45-28 to the league leaders, but suffered another blow when Australian international second row Adam Coleman was forced off in the first half with a shoulder problem.

The marquee summer signing joins fellow big names Sean O'Brien and Paddy Jackson in the treatment room, along with impressive youngsters Ben Loader and Tom Parton.

World Cup-winning All Black Waisake Naholo, who scored two tries on his first two starts, is also back in New Zealand until later this month on paternity leave.

The highlight of Irish's defeat was a magnificent individual try from 20-year-old Academy wing Ollie Hassell-Collins, and Kidney explained that moment was why he refuses to get downbeat despite the problems.

He told the Chronicle: "We don't complain and we just get on with it. Each side in the league, over the course of a season going nine to 10 months, is going to have to go through it.

"Bath have done it and have had two out of three wins and are starting to get some players back.

"We're not going to complain about it and an injury is another man's opportunity. If Waisake was here and Ben was fit, Ollie might not have got to play."

He continued: "It's like all the challenges on and off the pitch, we just have to work our way through them.

"We knew this year, next year, and the following year, it's about building experiences to the level the likes of Exeter have and then it becomes a bit easier to cope with the things which come your way.

"We always look at the glass half-full rather, because if you don't it means you are insulting those who are playing."

London Irish are in European Challenge Cup action for the next two weekends, visiting Bayonne on Saturday. Their next Premiership fixture is at Northampton Saints on Friday, January 24.

And Kidney says they will be fully focussed on Bayonne rather than any potential domestic relegation battle.

He concluded: "We want to be the best team we can be in every game. The next league game is three weeks away and we've got a lot of rugby to play before then. We're learning from each one and we'll be putting our best foot forward."