Leicester

pembs says...

He needs to have a dab down and dry off a bit

Posted 18:14 18th May 2012

lawynd says...

@Davodiablo - why would he be bitter when he immediately ruled himself out of the job when the press suggested he might be a candidate?

Posted 15:12 18th May 2012

rugbylover says...

Come along, Richard. To use a recent phrase, "Get over yourself."

Posted 13:46 18th May 2012

TVaddict says...

I can see it would be a little annoying, but it's hardly going to effect things much. Given he didn't make the semis, the Quins will have prepared for the possibility that he wouldn't make it.

Maybe it's a double bluff! Cockerill's is reacting really strongly, to make Quins think that Flood won't be fit, but really he's fine. Or maybe it's a triple bluff...

Posted 13:36 18th May 2012

lawynd says...

Nope, you're not being too harsh mate - throwing the baby out with the bath water isn't going solve anything. But, at the same time, Lancaster could probably benefit from being a little more circumspect. Simply leaving any quote at something along the lines of, "If he's fit, he'll tour." would have probably been the smart thing. But he's still new to this so little issues like this are going to crop up. To be honest, I've been expecting all week to see Flood ruled out of the game.

Posted 13:34 18th May 2012

APV1 says...

@ lawynd - c'mon then. What's your take on it? Am I, once again, being too harsh?

Posted 12:44 18th May 2012

APV1 says...

Whilst I agree with Cockers on one hand - it does give a little bit of information to Quins - barring the England physio is just petty and childish.

Firstly I would like to know whether the inclusion or exclusion of TF from the team on Saturday will make much of a difference to Quins. They'll probably still field the same team, although I suspect they'd tweak their tactics a little. But so what?

Secondly, I haven't heard the press conference nor seen a transcript. Was he asked a direct question about Flood's fitness for the tour? If so, he was always going to answer it in his usual simple, concise and no-nonsense manner. If he wasn't asked about other players, he wouldn't answer.

And finally, did the Tigers ask the RFU or SL not to reveal the information? No idea. Is is accepted practice for a coach to discuss his players' fitness? Yes. Is there a policy which prevents the England coach discussing players between England matches when they're on club duty? No.

And this isn't me bashing Cockers again just for the sake of it, although it may appear so. But I do think he has a tendancy to act like a petulent child and it's doing him no favours at all.

Posted 11:16 18th May 2012

Zandberg says...

Why doesn't Cockerill just chill? He's obviously stressed about the final. Displaying his stress so openly will just undermine his team's chances further. Does such whinging between club and country coaches happen elsewhere in the rugby world?

Posted 10:53 18th May 2012

lawynd says...

Let the bickering commence... =P

Posted 10:36 18th May 2012