Frustrating afternoon: Ben Youngs
Leicester boss Richard Cockerill was not impressed with some of the decisions taken by his players in Sunday's Heineken Cup loss to Toulouse.
Tigers went down 23-9 against four-time European champions in their first game of the campaign. Cockerill was left particularly frustrated by England scrum-half Ben Youngs' decision to run a kickable penalty early in the second half when his side trailed by just five points.
"We were still very much in the game at half-time at 11-9, but if you get a penalty in front of the posts you should take it," he said.
"You don't want those guys who are making those errors to do that. It was a huge moment at 14-9 when Ben Youngs took a quick tap penalty.
"We turned over the ball, gave away a penalty and everything began to get harder for us. Once they get in front they are a hard team to claw back.
"Naive at times is probably the right description of us. We also conceded seven penalty shots at goal, and even though some of the decisions were a bit harsh, they were also down to ill-discipline."
Fly-half Toby Flood leapt to the defence half-back partner.
"You never want to take that kind of action away from Ben because that's the aspect he brings to the game," said Flood.
"It became a big arm-wrestle and the conditions didn't help. The pressure came on when they went nine points ahead.
"In the first 40-50 minutes we felt they were a bit rattled. But they are all big men who all carry well and they squeeze and pressurise you.
"We need to learn how to leave games with something and we have to stop giving the ball away cheaply," added Flood.
"It is as difficult as it gets going to Toulouse, but at least they didn't get a bonus point. That would have made it much harder for us."
Leicester now face the Ospreys a in crunch Pool Two clash at Welford Road on Sunday.
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
What with spurning 3 points in front of the posts, slow service (even with the 5 second rule) Hospital passes and almost getting knocked out becasue he didn't get his head on the right side of a tackle, I think its fair to say Ben Youngs won't be the england 9 in november. Sure, he scores the odd try against teams that don;t do their homework, but man, this guy is overrated. Guess the Ulster debacle last year wasn't a one off then.
Posted 17:46 15th October 2012
NHsaints says...
As usual Tuilagi was excellent but this wasn't ben's fault, the leicester pack just got outmuscled, my motm picamoles + the weather made sure of that.
Posted 16:46 15th October 2012
APV1 says...
@ TVaddict - fair enough. I suppose my point was not to single-out and blame one player's poor call. Is it his fault the ballwas turned over? How many did he get decisions right? What were the other 22 players doing for the 80-odd minutes?
Posted 16:12 15th October 2012
TVaddict says...
@APV1
I have to disagree with you on that. There is a time and a place for playing like that, and it's not like it was even an good opportunity. It was 14-9 away from home in awful weather. It was in a very kickable position, and the defence was set-up and organised. Up till then that match was quite even but after that the momentum swung really in Toulouse's favour.
I know I'm doing what Dylan Moran talks about (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNKoH84ioz0 from 2:40-3:16) but it's not the kind of decisions you want an international 9 to make in important games.
Posted 15:36 15th October 2012
melkdave says...
@D4ress
Have to agree with you,for the most part,overall Leicester where very poor in all the basics Handling/passing and ball retention.All aspects of the game they are usually very good at .They certinally missed J.Salvi and T.Croft imo,J.Crane just isnt the player he used to be either,he used to get over the gain line and sey up the next phase or offload ,now he just doesnt atm.Also the Tank isnt a openside that experiment was a disaster Its going to take a hell of a performance against the Ospreys imo ,for Leicester to salvage their HEC campaign,and the Ospreys are no push overs ,they to can play and have a great pack.
Posted 12:15 15th October 2012
APV1 says...
And if Youngs had scored or set up a try, as he has done in the past in similar situations, he would be hailed as a hero. You can't have it both ways - you either have a dynamic 9 who will go for the gaps, or a conservative one who wont. Those who are able to make those snap decisions and get it right 100% of the time are few and far between, if at all.
Posted 12:03 15th October 2012
Propmelsey says...
I thought they did well for first 50 minutes ...... They just seem to be lacking leadership at the minute ..... One thing for sure ... they will only get better.
Posted 11:03 15th October 2012
D4tress says...
In all fairness, that Ben Youngs rush of blood to the head was not the making or breaking of that game.
From 1 - 15 Leicester were out muscled and out performed. The only player in green who looked like causing any trouble at all was young Tuilagi.
Posted 10:38 15th October 2012