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'He's going through a legal process at the minute... I hope he gets everything he is owed'

(Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

It’s nearly two weeks now since the latest off-field drama unfolded at struggling Leicester, Geordan Murphy stepping away from his director of rugby role at the Premiership club following 23 years of service that began as a player in the late 1990s. 

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The Irishman, who joined as a trialist in 1997 before working his way up the playing ranks, had become director of rugby in July with the arrival of Steve Borthwick to inherit the head coach position Murphy had filled since the 2018 sacking of Matt O’Connor. 

Leicester’s form under Borthwick in the restarted 2019/20 Premiership wasn’t good results-wise, Tigers only winning two of their nine matches. However, they started the new 2020/21 season with a home win last Saturday over Gloucester.

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Will the All Blacks finish with a win next Saturday?

That positive first outing without Murphy having any involvement at the club for the first time in 23 years didn’t stop The Rugby Pod from expressing its sadness that Leicester have cut ties with a loyal servant.   

Andy Goode, the ex-Leicester out-half who hosts the show with Jim Hamilton, another former Tiger, wants the situation to now get settled amicably with the club paying up what Murphy is due on his contract rather than haggling about the situation.    

Speaking about the sudden November 13 departure of Murphy from Leicester, Goode said: “It boils down to the fact that Geordan’s contract was coming up at the end of the season and he was waiting for a conversation. He said, ‘Listen, contract is up at the end of the year, what’s happening? What are your plans? Am I involved long term? Steve Borthwick has come in. 

“There has been huge changes at that club. The CEO has changed, Simon Cohen has left. There is big changes on the board. We saw Rory Underwood leave a few weeks ago as well. Geordan asked the question and in reality they have said to him, ‘We’re not looking to extend your contract’. 

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“Geordan has put 23 years of unbelievable service into that club be it as a player, as a kid coming through to captain it, winning all the trophies that he did, and then moving into the coaching department and earning his stripes there. He called himself a professional cone collector to start off with but he learned and built to eventually be the guy that took over as director of rugby and it’s tough on him. 

“Let’s not put all of the issues Leicester have had at Geordan’s door because I don’t think many of them could be attributed to him. A lot of it has been the recruitment, the quality of player that has left and not been replaced and where they have gone with their recruitment. That wasn’t anything to do with Geordan.

“I’m speaking as a very good mate so obviously I’m going to defend him slightly. but when you asked a question, which he did, about extending his contract and the club say we are in tough financial times as well, do they want a director of rugby and a head coach at the club, both earning good wages? Well, you have seen the answer so they are not going to extend it and they agreed to part company. 

“It’s a real shame for Geordan that he doesn’t get some sort of send off but once they made that decision as a club to say, look we’re not going to extend your contract, what impact could he have on the club this year when everyone that is making those decisions probably knew that anything he said wouldn’t have a long lasting weight behind it because they are seeing he is leaving. 

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“It’s a massive shame. I think he is going through a legal process at the minute, how much he gets paid out. I hope he gets everything he is owed because that would be the only way of kind of thanking him for the 23 years of service. He has got a contract, a year left – don’t negotiate Leicester, just pay him what he is owed for that, shake hands and you walk away. 

“We saw Cockers [Richard Cockerill] did a wonderful job at Leicester but he left. There is a lot of people who have worked tirelessly at that club, loved that club, but sometimes you need a change and Geordan will be the first to admit that his tenure as director of rugby and head coach had been difficult where they finished in the league. 

“I don’t hold him responsible for a lot of that because the players he has had were as good as what he had and that’s why they finished where they did in the league (eleventh two seasons in succession).”

Hamilton added: “That is the hardest thing about it, his legacy. As a player he is one of the best in the northern hemisphere that we have ever seen… he’s such a legend for Leicester. The club has just been on the decline and he has been picking up the pieces for year on year on year. It’s sad he is gone.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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