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Who May Be on Shortlist for Leicester Hotseat

(Photo by Getty Images)

Richard Cockerill left his beloved Leicester with one final defiant growl, but who could replace him, asks James Harrington 

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The Richard Cockerill era at Leicester ended on January 2, 2017, as the club announced that the abrasive former England hooker was to leave his position as director of rugby with immediate effect.

Head coach Aaron Mauger has been placed in temporary charge pending, the terse club statement said, ‘a review of the coaching structure to determine an appropriate way forward’.

Club CEO Simon Cohen has copped a fair amount of flak for the decision to part ways with Cockerill – but the powers that be at the club decided his position was no longer tenable following that loss to Sarries. It left Leicester fifth in the Premiership and off the pace in the race for the end-of-season play-offs.

But the decision will hurt the proud and honest Cockerill, who was Leicester through-and-through. Typically, he was defiant to the last. Even in the official statement announcing his departure, he made it clear that he did not agree with the decision. You could almost hear the growl in his comment: “I still believe that I am the right person to lead the team at this present time but respect the Board’s decision to make change as they see fit in the best interests of the club.”

And he defended his record – on his watch, the club won three Premiership titles and the 2012 LV Cup, and reached the European Cup final in 2009, his first season in charge. They were Premiership runners up twice and reached the play-off semi-finals every season.

It was also perhaps telling that he made no mention of Mauger as he wished ‘Tom Youngs and the team the very best for the future’.

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He had earlier been forced to defend his relationship with Mauger – which it had been rumoured was frosty, bordering on the toxic following the earlier departure of Kiwi defence coach Scott Hansen. Their relationship was, he said following their 38-0 Champions Cup defeat at Munster, ‘robust’.

And, shortly before Christmas, he had rejected speculation that his future at Welford Road was in doubt, and demanded that rugby clubs should not go down the soccer route by installing revolving doors to managers’ offices.

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Already the speculation surrounding his replacement is mounting. Here, in rapidly descending order of likelihood, are just a few of the coaches who may be in line for the hotseat.

AARON MAUGER

The ex-All Black has to be favourite for the job. He’s been handed the role on an interim basis, pending the result of the review – which would suggest it is his for the taking. An extended trial until the end of the season should see him move officially into the big chair before the start of the next campaign, when he will be able to bring in his own team. He has the Eddie Jones seal of approval, too, but whether that is a blessing or a curse remains to be seen.

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JAKE WHITE

The 2007 World Cup-winning coach becomes a free agent at the end of Top 14 season, following Montpellier’s owner Mohed Altrad decision not to extend his contract after he hinted non-too-secretly he would be interested in the England job before Jones was handed the role. There’s little doubt that White would be a good fit for Leicester. His favoured no-nonsense, direct, forwards-dominated method fits right in with their long-standing love of A-B-C club rugby.

 

DAVID HUMPHREYS

The Ulsterman could be living on borrowed time at Gloucester, if Mohed Altrad’s proposed takeover of the club goes ahead. The billionaire owner of Top 14 side Montpellier already has approval of the England Rugby Union and French Rugby Federation for his bid to buy 54% of the club. Now, he needs the consent of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) – who are due to meet in February before a deal can be thrashed out. Assuming all the paperwork is finalised, Altrad reportedly wants former France coach Philippe Saint-André to head back to Kingsholm – where he started his coaching career in 1998. All of which leaves Humphreys in limbo, so a timely offer dropping through his letter box may be welcome.

HEYNEKE MEYER

How ironic it would be if the man Cockerill replaced as director of rugby at Leicester in 2009 turned out – eight years later – to be the one who replaced him. But Meyer, who already been linked to the post and who has pretty much been on a sabbatical after leaving the South African job at the end of the 2015 World Cup, may now be on the lookout for his next challenge. Whether that includes a belated return to the East Midlands, a place he left after a short stint for family reasons, is anyone’s guess.

STUART LANCASTER

The former England coach is more school teacher than drill sergeant, so there would be of a sea change if he were to take over at Leicester. Prising him away from Leinster, where he now forms part of a potent coaching force under Leo Cullen, may however prove difficult. He has already scotched rumours linking him to the soon-to-be vacant Connacht hotseat and said he would be happy to remain with the three-time European champions.

 

FABIEN GALTHIE

Such has been the long and drawn-out process of his departure as head coach of Montpellier that Galthié has effectively been on gardening leave since being relieved of his duties in January 2014. The legal shenanigans – which may have cost him the big chair at Toulon – are due to be finalised this month, which will free him at last to take coaching jobs elsewhere. It is doubtful, however, that his passionate rugby-heart-on-his-sleeve style will sit easily with Leicester, where winning rugby is the only form of sexy rugby that is recognised.

JIM MALLINDER

Could Northampton’s under-fire head coach really head 40 miles up the M1 to arch-rivals Leicester? It would be the rugby equivalent of Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool for Everton. Besides, his recent record would probably not endear him to the Leicester board. If you have a dollar to spare on an aliens-visiting-Donald-Trump-to-one longshot, it might be worth it for the laugh you’ll get when you show your friends the betting slip.

 

 

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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 3 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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