Room 101: Lee Dickson – Northampton scrum-half

1. The ‘Choke’ Tackle
The ‘catch tackle’, as we call it at Saints, is just so negative and takes all the fun out of the game. It’s where the defender(s) goes in high, in under the ball, in an attempt to keep the ball carrier on his feet and win the put-in at the scrum. The rule changes that decreed the side taking the ball into a maul and not emerging with it would lose it created this monster and I’d love to see it changed back. The Irish are past masters at the catch tackle, while in the Premiership Sale are probably the best exponents. I don’t think it does anything for the game as a spectacle.
TRP verdict:  Leicester fans call Saints chokers, so I can see why it riles you. You’re in.
2. Pigeons
I’m not ashamed to admit it but I hate pigeons. Trafalgar Square is my idea of hell. Wood pigeons, normal pigeons…they’re just rats with wings to me. They fly too close to you, do their mess everywhere – like my front gate at the moment, and spread
disease.
TRP verdict:  Fancy that, it’s 2 out of 2 for coo.
3. Bad Drivers
I hate traffic, full stop. But traffic caused by nosey drivers slowing down to see an accident on the other side of the carriageway really gets to me. Worst of all, though, is the slow driver: the person who drives at 50/60 mph in the fast lane completely oblivious to the rapidly expanding queue of traffic behind them. Christian Day, who is a bit of an old man all round if truth be told, is probably the worst culprit of ‘Sunday driving’ in the Saints squad.
TRP verdict:  Driving Mr Day-sie, eh? You’re in again.