No Cockerill, no problem for well-drilled Tigers says Anthony Allen

Anthony Allen has played down the significance of Richard Cockerill's impending nine-week ban, insisting it will make little difference to Leicester's experienced squad.
An RFU panel last week banned Cockerill for using obscene, inappropriate language and behaving unprofessionally during May's Premiership final against Northampton.
Leicester's rugby director can have no involvement in match-day coaching activities, before during and after matches from the start of next season until November 2.
But Allen told The Rugby Paper: “It's tough on Cockers being banned but I'm sure (coaches) Geordan Murphy, Richard Blaze and Paul Burke will do wonders on match days.
“It's also down to our senior players – guys like me, Tom Croft, Toby Flood and Jordan Crane – to drive what happens on the pitch rather than being told what to do.
“It might make a difference to some teams (having their rugby director missing) but I don't see it as being too much of a problem for us at Leicester. There are substitutions to do and messages to send on, but nine times out of 10 we've picked things up and noticed them already.
“We ask the odd question or two of guys on the sidelines, but Geordan, Paul and Richard are capable of dealing with that.
“We expect to do well each week and we can still do that without having Cockers around during matches. It's not like we won't see him during the week.”
Allen has no qualms over taking additional responsibility, knowing he needs a big start to next season to rekindle his England ambitions.
The talented 26-year-old missed June's tour of Argentina to undergo knee surgery, but has set his heart on featuring at Rugby World Cup 2015.
“I was disappointed at having to pull out but my knee needed doing, so the start of the season is massive in terms of my England ambitions,” Allen said.
“Stuart Lancaster told me that it didn't matter missing out because, come the autumn, who's playing the best rugby for their clubs will be the ones picked.
“A few guys have put markers down but I'll be looking to make a massive statement.”
Massive was the in-word last week after Lions boss Warren Gatland ditched Irish icon Brian O'Driscoll in favour of the physically imposing Jamie Roberts.
But Allen, who, at 93kg (14st 7lb) is not the biggest centre around, does not feel his chances will be compromised by the burgeoning fashion for big men.
“I've been battling against big guys all my career, but Brian O'Driscoll's about the same height and build and hasn't done too badly,” he pointed out.
“He's just been dropped for the first time and it's clear what Warren wanted. I just hope Leicester don't go down that route, otherwise I'm out of a job.”
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