Cockers to 'wield the axe'...

[hugh78]

From the Merc http://tinyurl.com/c9886xz
Recognition of the lack of direction and leadership (which to me must mean Crane and Deacs amongst others)
Wonder if we will finally see TTE for Crane and Mickey Young for Harrison at Bath....

[os99]

TTE played against Wasps, surely Mafi will replace Crane

[sapajo]

I still would not bet against Crane starting

[mike]

So why didn't he substitute some of these non performers ? Slater would have improved things and why leave Crane on the pitch when he was playing so badly ? Why take off Johnny Harris when he was just starting to get better in the scrum ? Why not use the No 1 leader in the squad - Geordan Murphy ?

[jgriffin]

I think Cockers has taken to reading this forum

[sapajo]

I think Cockers has taken to reading this forum

He will pick up some good tips

[Jose]

I'm not sure his axe will find the right targets. Don't want to see some of the younger members of the backs suffer, when it should perhaps be some of the older members of the pack taking the flak. Don't think (e.g.) having Murphs and Hamilton in the same back line is ever going to be a good thing for moving us forward.

If the team on Saturday includes Crane, Deacon, Hamilton and Chuter then the axe has definitely missed the appropriate targets.

[G.K]

Certainly will have - Hamilton wasn't even in the matchday squad!

[WiggoTiger]

Is that MoC then??

[CitizenSmiff]

It's hard to take statements like these seriously from a man with previous for leaving under performing players out on the pitch for 80 minutes rather than introduce replacements that might offer something new. I like Crane as a bloke and a player but he needs a right kick up the proverbial which won't come until he feels like his shirt and consequently livelihood is on the line if he doesn't improve.

[GT1]

Here comes Cockers!!

[DickyP]

From the Merc http://tinyurl.com/c9886xz
Recognition of the lack of direction and leadership (which to me must mean Crane and Deacs amongst others)
Wonder if we will finally see TTE for Crane and Mickey Young for Harrison at Bath....

What's with the hate campaign against Harrison who had a pretty fair game at Wasps all things considered, whereas so far Young has looked pretty sluggish.

[drc_007]

From the Merc http://tinyurl.com/c9886xz
Recognition of the lack of direction and leadership (which to me must mean Crane and Deacs amongst others)
Wonder if we will finally see TTE for Crane and Mickey Young for Harrison at Bath....

What's with the hate campaign against Harrison who had a pretty fair game at Wasps all things considered, whereas so far Young has looked pretty sluggish.

I don't think there is a hate campaign against Harrison, just an observation that he poses minimal threat with ball in hand so the opposition back-row all ignore him and focus on the fly-half. The scrum-half has to do enough to keep the opposition back-row honest.

[PM76]

From the Merc http://tinyurl.com/c9886xz
Recognition of the lack of direction and leadership (which to me must mean Crane and Deacs amongst others)
Wonder if we will finally see TTE for Crane and Mickey Young for Harrison at Bath....

What's with the hate campaign against Harrison who had a pretty fair game at Wasps all things considered, whereas so far Young has looked pretty sluggish.

I don't think there is a hate campaign against Harrison, just an observation that he poses minimal threat with ball in hand so the opposition back-row all ignore him and focus on the fly-half. The scrum-half has to do enough to keep the opposition back-row honest.

Harrison is an excellent back up to YBY, which at his age suggests he will improve to something better, I would be suprised if he doesn't become first choice at another prem club rather than a constant back-up at Tigers. He is fine when the forwards are dominating and the backs are creating but he lacks the ability to do something on his own which YBY/ MY bring and is required when the backs are having a shocker!!

The axe should be used IMO but I'm not convinced it will be, ignoring his motives, Cockers has always been a consistent and conservative selector. Hawkins and Waldrom should definately start ahead of Chuter and Crane, Slater should have a place in the second row and AA, Castro, Mafi and Ayerza will return. The 4 internationals would have returned if Tigers won 50 nil so I don't consider that axe wielding.

Whatever side Cockers picks it can't get much worse than Sunday!!

Or can it??

[TTRITH]

I think Bowden, Thompstone, Tait, Morris, Harris, Balmain and Crane will be dropped for the game. Allen in for Bowden is a certainty. Murphy will come back in at full back, Goneva and Hamilton are both avaliable and Cockers will undoubtedly go back to them. Ayerza and Castro in for Balmain and Harris, whilst Mafi will be in for Crane.