Cockerill must find answer to big-game letdowns
EDiNBURGH’S worrying inability to win big games under Richard cockerill is becoming a real concern. Unless he improves his players’ mental strength and poor decision-making under pressure, the trophy drought will continue.
in the three seasons cockerill has been at the helm, Edinburgh have blown their big chance to progress in major competitions.
in 2018, they lost 20-16 away to Munster in the quarter-final of the Pro14. a year later, they lost 17-13 at home in the quarter-final of the Heineken champions cup, again to Munster.
The weekend loss to Ulster in the Pro14 semi-final at BT Murrayfield was by far the worst of the lot. Leading 19-7 with 20 minutes left, they had a meltdown of epic proportions, which is such a disappointment given the experienced internationals in their team.
Where was the leadership late on? Where were the calm heads? captain Stuart Mcinally was taken off 12 minutes from time and his influence was missed.
others needed to step up and take control when it mattered and didn’t.
This is an Edinburgh team with experienced Scotland internationals such as Hamish Watson, Grant Gilchrist, jamie Ritchie and Blair kinghorn all still on the pitch.
others were posted missing such as winger Duhan van der Merwe, who had been in fantastic form in the first half, helping set up Mcinally’s opening try for the home side. in that first 40 minutes, he made 98 metres going forward. The second half? just three.
Ulster kept their heads when the Edinburgh players were losing theirs and deserved their 22-19 win.
They were patient and ian Madigan showed how to stay cool as he slotted the winning penalty with the last kick of the game.
cockerill’s team have a final shot at redemption when they travel to take on Bordeaux-Begles in the European challenge cup quarter-final in a fortnight.
The talent is there in his team to go to France and win but they have to overcome their alarming lack of self-belief.
cockerill is a strong personality but the lack of confidence in his team was there for all to see against Ulster. How he hasn’t managed to instil that ability to win under pressure is a big worry after three years in charge.
He doesn’t have much time to get things right before the Bordeaux game and would do well to bring in a sports psychologist to get his players’ heads right. Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend works with Damian Hughes, who previously helped England World cup winner jonny Wilkinson on the mental side of the game. it will be worth cockerill giving Hughes a call. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Things have to change mentally before Edinburgh play their next game.