Cockerill slams Tigers critics
LEICESTER are in defiant, circle-the-wagons mode — raging against their critics, including illustrious former players, as they aim to clinch a place in the Aviva Premiership play-offs for an 11th successive season. The Tigers are back in the title hunt after their stunning win over neighbours Wasps in Coventry last weekend. As they prepare for another — more traditional — derby, at home to champions Northampton on Saturday, Richard Cockerill and his players are in the mood to make a mockery of being written off during a difficult campaign. Public jibes from ex-Leicester stars have proved particularly hard to stomach. ‘I don’t mind if they understand the dynamics of how it works,’ said Cockerill, the Tigers’ director of rugby. ‘It’s all right saying we have to improve and are outdated, (but) are we outdated? ‘Criticise on the facts. I’m OK with that. Guys like Austin (Healey), Neil Back, Lewis Moody… I have played in the same teams as them and we played in some pretty s*** games and lost some big games, got beaten in finals. It is not as if they never lost a game of rugby. The reality is they’ve never done it. I’m doing it. I’ve won competitions. They were far better players than I ever was. The reality is I’m doing a job they’ve never done. They don’t understand how it works because they have never done it. ‘They do what they do; they’re high-profile in the game and their opinions are sought. I understand that, but for me it’s about having a measured view. I don’t mind being criticised, but you need to hear both sides of the argument and then let other people decide. The personal attack is the thing I dislike.’ The pressure and strain on Cockerill was evident after last Saturday’s win over Wasps, when he was left visibly emotional in his seat. His feelings chimed with the collective mood at the club. ‘Everyone had a point to prove,’ he said. ‘Everyone was waiting for us to trip up. There’s no doubting I’ve been under pressure this year for results. ‘I don’t know about under pressure for my job. There’s no point pretending it’s not a fickle environment.’