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Hamilton: Cockerill shocked me when he joined Edinburgh, but now they're going to shock Munster
I love the Champions Cup, love the mad rush that happens leading up to the quarter-finals. This is a tournament that is drawn-out and disjointed as teams have had the Six Nations break. Players come back either on a high or a low and usually need a week off, so there is no momentum going into these quarter-finals.
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It’s knockout rugby, a one-off game. If you look at history and the stats gone by for the quarter-finals, it’s really difficult to go away from home and win. But the rugby has opened up massively this season in terms of the way teams are playing, in terms of some of the performances of the players, and in terms of the some of the decisions that are being made.
This is one the best quarter-final set-ups I have ever seen across the board. All the games are really difficult to call, apart from one of the four. It’s going to be a brilliant weekend.
EDINBURGH v MUNSTER – Saturday, 12.45pm (Murrayfield)
I was shocked when I heard Richard Cockerill had joined Edinburgh. That is no slight on the Scots. It’s just more how well I rated Cockerill is in world rugby. The way it ended for him at Leicester was a real shame, but Tigers have got their own issues across the board which are well documented.
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I am sure after Cockerill went on to Toulon and did a fantastic job with them that all these different offers then came along for him, but he picked the one right outside the box. Knowing Cockerill from my Leicester days, he always said Scottish rugby is a sleeping giant and real work can be done there.
He probably saw an opportunity at Edinburgh in the same way Warren Gatland did in Wales, a real opportunity to make a difference and put his full repertoire of skills and personality on a team that desperately needed something.
Edinburgh has more than a 50/50 chance at home in their Champions Cup quarterfinal. ?
Posted by RugbyPass on Wednesday, 27 March 2019
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He came in and was quite outspoken about the players not being good enough, about them being spoon-fed. When players talked about Edinburgh, they said what a lovely city it was. No one talked one about how good it was to play for the rugby team.
Cockerill has been very hard-nosed with the players. I know that first-hand from speaking to them. The coach came in and changed the culture in such a short space of time that people now know what it takes to play for Edinburgh.
You need to be hard-nosed, need to be hard working, need to be a forward-orientated player with the old school values that Cockerill instils. You have got to be willing to give 100 per cent or you’re not going to be kept on and you won’t feature in that team.
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He has brought something that Edinburgh had never seen before in a coaching way and he also brought in a culture and a work ethic that the players he has brought into the squad desperately want to follow and adhere to.
? "It's the best club competition in the world."
The stars of the Heineken #ChampionsCup explain why this trophy is the one to win ?
Which 4?? teams will make it through this weekend? pic.twitter.com/D5qJOCpU1f
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) March 25, 2019
Edinburgh are suddenly popular because of the brand of rugby they are playing. Edinburgh is a big rugby city. A lot of people say Edinburgh isn’t a rugby city, but you have your traditional teams like your Hawick, Melrose, Watsonians who have a big, big following.
Throughout the professional era, Edinburgh fell off the cliff really in terms of their profile, in terms of identity. That had so many different changes in location, but they are now back at Murrayfield again and they have regained that lost identity.
Cockerill taking the reins brought a little bit of profile, but he has also made some excellent signings like Big Bill Mata. He has been an absolutely sensation with his ability to carry and off-load.
Edinburgh have also got young local lads coming through the system and that has all added to their success on the pitch. To twice beat a team of galácticos like Toulon was a real statement of intent and it feeds the theory surrounding the outcome of this quarter-final.
The leading points scorer in the #ChampionsCup and still only 23 years old ?@Munsterrugby's @JoeyCarbery has errupted this season thanks to moments like this, will we see more of the same this weekend? ?
4?? more key quarter-final figures ? https://t.co/nrvOvC0dk6 pic.twitter.com/LVgZERT1Pw
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) March 25, 2019
Edinburgh’s PRO14 form hasn’t been great but that can’t take from the fact of how well they have done in the Champions Cup. They had such a tough pool against big spending Toulon and Montpellier and to get a home quarter-final was a phenomenal achievement.
You can’t look past Munster with their history and their credentials in this tournament. They are steeped in history, but they haven’t won it in a long time and you have to worry if they will suffer an Ireland hang-over.
There isn’t many Ireland players in their team, but Murrayfield is a tough stadium to play at. It can be quite an empty space when matches are played there in the PRO14, but Edinburgh are looking at up to 40,000 people watching on Saturday.
It’s the biggest game in their short professional history and they have gathered momentum with some important players signing contract extensions and John Barclay making his debut last weekend.
?? "We have a lot of respect for Munster in the way they play and are coached, but we're coming here to win on Saturday."
Read Richard Cockerill's full match preview: https://t.co/y7bXJ0OELW
? https://t.co/1NIXVTzybl pic.twitter.com/eVocDMkNaY
— Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) March 27, 2019
I genuinely think this is going to be the game of the weekend in terms of Edinburgh being able to rise to the occasion against one of the biggest clubs in the Heineken Cup’s history.
VERDICT – I think Edinburgh are going to beat Munster, I genuinely do. This is going to be a proper cup game and Edinburgh are going to win.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments