Richard Cockerill likes the play-offs – Rugby News Update
Richard Cockerill, the 41-year-old former Leicester player and current head coach is a big fan off the play-off system, which sees his team take on the Harlequins at this weekend’s Aviva Premiership final.
The Tigers finished the regular season one point behind the Harlequins after 22 matches. Harlequins ended the season with 75 points, while the Tigers managed a tally of 74. The play-off system sees the top 4 teams during the regular season compete against
each other to become champions of the Premiership. The Quins defeated the Saints in the semi-final, while the Tigers overcame the Saracens.
Cockerill believes that the current system might not be the best, but it is the same for all teams. The Tigers have reached the final seven straight times in as many seasons, and speaking on the need for play-offs, he said, "In the current structure of the
season, when we are playing autumn internationals and the Six Nations, I think this is the only way to do it," and he further added, “You can't legislate for having eight, nine or 10 guys on international duty and still be confident of finishing as champions,
because you might need a lot of luck. You might do it, or you might finish fourth. Generally the best team finishes top - we have finished top and won and lost finals. That's how it is.”
Cockerill has many international stars in his team who were at the World Cup during the season, one of the main reasons why the season started in a turbulent fashion for the club. They were 11th at one point during the season, but a run of 11
straight victories destined them to the second position on the standings.
The incumbent did agree that over the course of the season the Quins were the best team, but he added that winning the final is what matters.
Cockerill played international rugby for England, making his debut against Argentina at Buenos Aires, on May 31, 1997. In total he represented his country 27 times, playing his last international match against Fiji at Twickenham, on October 20, 1999.
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