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Richard Cockerill
Angry Tiger: Richard Cockerill’s comments will rile Wasps

Richard Cockerill blasts Wasps over Sale withdrawal

Chris Jones
2 Dec 2009


Richard Cockerill's claim that Wasps' refusal to play on a waterlogged Sale pitch is "almost bringing the game into disrepute" will ensure a fiery clash between the Londoners and his Leicester Tigers.

Wasps have sent their reasons for not playing in last Friday's clash - director of rugby Tony Hanks said earlier in the week that the water-logged surface would impact on player safety - to Premiership officials, who are deciding if their action was within the rules.

Stockport County football club, who share the Edgeley Park pitch with Sale, have had their last two matches, on Saturday and last night's clash with Swindon, called off because of the state of the surface but Leicester head coach Cockerill said: "The pitch was a little bit muddy on one side. I don't know how bad, but it is a winter game.

"Pitches are going to be muddy. There are going to be conditions that potentially you don't like playing in and that don't suit your team sometimes, but you have to get on with that.

"It is a little bit frustrating because you might set a precedent. We might go somewhere, we haven't got a full side or the pitch is a little bit damp, and say we won't play because someone might slip over and hurt themselves. Well, you are almost bringing the game into disrepute."

Wasps have been boosted by the news that Danny Cipriani will return to action against Bayonne at Adams Park on 12 December. The fly-half was injured against Northampton in October.

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