NR - missed six

By Cherry Picker
September 8 2010

In the wake of Gloucester's opening-day embarrassment at Exeter, fly-half Nicky Robinson is having to shoulder a lot of the blame after missing six kicks during the game - six kicks that could have turned defeat into victory. But it's all too easy to blame him for his obvious failings on the day when, in fact, the whole team was to blame.

Coach Bryan Redpath admits that Robinson had an off day, but quite rightly refuses to blame him entirely for the defeat.
The Citizen has asked whether it's time for Robinson to be stripped of  the kicking duties, which is a little premature after one game for a player who was one of the most consistent kickers in the Premiership last season, when he was third top points scorer.
If Robinson was having such a poor day with the boot, why wasn't somebody else given a go?  Tim Taylor was on as a replacement and he can kick. Robinson is widely accepted as the club's top fly-half, so he should be in the team for that alone.
Redpath says only Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and James Simpson-Daniel were the only players to look sharp at Exeter but doesn't know why the others were so poor.
"I can't explain it, when we have been very efficient in the last three weeks. Whether that was pressure - these are the things you have to find out," he told the Citizen.
"Whether it's expectation or a little bit of nerves or maybe we had everything to lose and Exeter had nothing to lose. Perhaps that was a little bit of it, I don't know."
Well, BR, if you don't know, who does?
We can take a guess and blame the players for going into the game with the wrong attitude, expecting to win rather than being ready to fight for the right to win.
The same attitude at home to Leeds this weekend could earn Glaws another embarrassment against a side desperate to do well after a home defeat on day one.
But while Redpath rightly wants his team to play to their potential, he could do with making important decisions when they are needed, like replacing an off-form kicker, not ponder over them after a game.
It's going to be a real test for players and coach - it's vital they all pass.

Robinson can't shoulder blame for team failure

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 08/09/2010 11:07

Shedloads
08/09/2010 11:07

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