Richard Cockerill hits back at Leicester critics
Thursday 29 December 2016 13:14, UK
Richard Cockerill has challenged Leicester Tigers' critics not to judge his side until the Aviva Premiership play-offs.
He insists a successful campaign will again rest on qualifying for the end-of-term play-off battle.
The Midlands side dropped out of the Premiership's top four after the 31-10 Christmas Eve defeat at Exeter Chiefs, which followed their record 38-0 loss at Munster on December 10.
But Cockerill remains confident his Tigers side can still qualify for the league's play-offs and claimed the games with Premiership pace-setters Saracens and Wasps will not make or break their chances.
"You have to take results in context and take a measured view of the season," he said.
"But how many times have we had this conversation? On a measured view? Most seasons.
"The reality is we'll see where we are after round 22, and we'll do our best to get there.
"I understand that at a club of this quality you have to be in the mix to win things.
"If we're not there's always going to be questions asked."
Leicester host Saracens at Welford Road on New Year's Day but will be without JP Pietersen for six to eight weeks.
The South Africa wing has undergone surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle, exacerbating a back-line injury crisis with Mathew Tait, Telusa Veianu and Matt Toomua still sidelined.
This year has seen a host of coaching changes with Leicester parting ways with assistant coach Scott Hansen earlier this term with the pressure building on boss Cockerill, while Northampton recently axed backs coach Alex King.
Bristol last month fired Andy Robinson and have Mark Tainton as acting boss until Pat Lam arrives from Connacht in the summer.
Cockerill has been coaching at Leicester since 2005 and believes the game benefits from continuity.
"The reality is that if we lose two or three games, I'm assured that the reaction on social media indicates I'm not overly popular at times. That's life.
"But I think rugby as a whole has quite a measured view to it.
"Harlequins haven't been in Europe for a while, but nobody's asked for anyone's head on a plate.
"We've never not qualified, can you imagine not qualifying for Europe?
"They want me sacked if we lose a game in Europe. That's just the nature of it."
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