Gloucester Rugby: Is it time to give Nicky Robinson the boot?
GLOUCESTER head coach Bryan Redpath will decide this week whether to let Nicky Robinson continue with the kicking duties.
Welsh international Robinson missed a total of six kicks last weekend in the 22-10 defeat to Aviva Premiership new boys Exeter Chiefs in the opening game of the 2010/11 campaign.
Former Scottish international Redpath refused to be drawn on if Robinson would be the man with the tee against Leeds on Saturday with Tim Taylor more than capable of stepping in to the breach.
"We will worry about that next week," said former scrum-half Redpath.
"He (Robinson) had a bad day. He hit the post twice and missed two others so that is just one of those things with kickers.
"But we needed them and especially when it compounded all the other mistakes that were going on.
"As a collective, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and James Simpson-Daniel were the only ones that looked sharp, outside that I would not say there were many others."
Last season former Cardiff Blue Robinson, was one of the best kickers in the Premiership.
He finished third top point scorer with 198 behind Leicester's Toby Flood and Newcastle's Jimmy Gopperth.
In his 21 appearances, 17 starts and four from the bench, he landed a total of 67 out of 99 kicks with a success percentage of 67.68, which was 17th overall.
Former Kingsholm stars Ryan Lamb of London Irish, Willie Walker of Worcester and Olly Barkley of Bath had better percentages as did youngster Freddie Burns who was injured last week.
Robinson is ironically set to feature in a number of kicking master classes at Kingsholm throughout September and October.
During pre-season Gloucester did not take the opportunity to kick at goal when they won penalties instead choosing to test out their contact area.
Robinson only played a total of 30 minutes of the pre-season friendly against Magners League champions Ospreys after problems with a tight calf.
And Redpath said he was at a loss as to why his players failed to produce the goods in their first game of the new campaign after a good pre-season.
"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," added Redpath.
"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."
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by Tom R, Gloucester
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 6:19PM
“Thank you for that contribution, Chris. Your mother will be proud of you. Can you pass on our best wishes when she tucks you in tonight?”
by Chris, Malvern
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 5:37PM
“I reckon Robinson could make a fortune in a Specsavers advert on the telly.”
by Nick, Gloucester
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 5:27PM
“Oh dear, Dan! You really have made a pig's ear of your contributions today. You don't know what a rookie is; you don't know when our players started; you make up statistics to try and back up your argument (whatever your argument is); and you consistently misread what people have written. No one has said NR should not remain the No. 1 kicker. What people are calling for is some leadership on or off the field and a decision made to give the ball to another kicker when NR is missing his kicks. Do pay attention next time, you¿ll find life at lot easier that way and you won¿t end up with so much egg on your face.”
by dan, Churchdown
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 3:27PM
“My my Horace you have been busy on Google this afternoon.
All arguments aside the point here is do we get rid of Nicky and replace him with TT or FB?!
I know what my answer is and you probably all thought the same too up until 4.30 on Saturday but now Nicky has had 1 REALLY bad game and gets Man of the Match for Exeter then every1 now has a doubt in their mind whether he is to remain our no1 goal kicker. I hope he remains our no.1 kicker but we have to keep the faith with him and if he does fail to deliver then we must get behind TT or FB. Either way Brush shouldn't be umming and arring whether NR is no.1 he should say yes he is and thats that therefore giving NR the confidence knowing that his Head Coach has faith in him”
by Horace the Labdoor, in the doorway between the kitchen and the hall
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 2:13PM
“Tim Taylor is not a "rookie". It is nonsense to say he is. He made his Premiership début in the 2006/07 season. He also played for us last season. He has been kicking gaols for Nottingham and I think you'll find that the distance between the posts in the Championship and the Premiership is the same.
As for Foster, Morgan, Allen and Lamb:
Foster made his début in the 2003/04 season, so he wasn't a "rookie" in 2006;
Morgan made his début in season 2004/05, so he wasn't a "rookie" in 2006 either.
When Lamb and Allen débuted in the 2005/06 season, they were both 19 and had not played in the Premiership previously. See the difference Dan?”
by dan, Churchdown
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 2:07PM
“its not a stat Nick and never stated a fact thats why you need to pay more attention and read the word that was put infront of it (about) Big Les in the corner against Sale, Atty in the corner against Wuss at home Sharples in the corner twice against Sarries and Glasgow Sinbad in the corner v Bath etc etc so ABOUT 60% were in the corners yes or don't you pay attention at games??
Im not sure how it compares to other teams but saying that he was 17th may not be a true reflection either because how do you know that say 3-4 people above him in that stat didnt get 1/1 or 3/4 as they are not regular kickers.
Agree with Eds comment and the later part of Nicks comment that if NR is having a bad day at the office then the responsibility has to be passed to TT or FB like Irish do with Homer Lamb and Malone and Wasps can do with Van Gisbergen and last year Cipriani. Thing is though if Taylor is having an off day too (and FB still injured/not selected) do we have anyone else to turn too???”
by Nick, Gloucester
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 1:52PM
“"about 60% of our tries last year were scored in the corners"
Where did that stat come from Dan? It looks like something you just made up. how do you define what is in the corner? If it's true how does it compare with where other teams scored?
I agree with Wyn on this. NR is our first choice flyhalf, but we have to be ruthless to ensure we win the games. If that means saying "sorry Nicky, it's not your day" and handing the ball to Tim Taylor or Burns, then so be it.”
by wyn morgan, .
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 1:41PM
“I'd agree with that Ed, but if he starts to fail in a game and that is close, then the kicking has to pass to someone else. Other clubs can do it; so can we.”
by Ed, Glos
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 1:29PM
“Robinson had a nightmare against Exeter, but calls to get rid of him are way off. On his day he is the best FH in the NH. He failed to judge the cross wind at Sandy Park, but this has got the better of many a decent kicker. He should and must remain our main kicker.”
by wyn morgan, .
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 1:20PM
“I think you'll find that Tim Taylor IS 28 this year, just as Ronan said. You'll have to learn to pay a bit more attention, Dan.”