By Ross Barnett
Matt O’Connor is set to take the reins at Leicester Tigers after the crunch match against Northampton at the weekend.
O’Connor will replace ex-All Black, Aaron Mauger who acted as interim head coach when Richard Cockerill left the side at the turn of the year, having a poor run of form including a 42-13 loss to Glasgow Warriors and a 38-0 thumping at the hands of Munster Rugby.
Mauger spent 3 years as a player at Welford Road, collecting 53 appearances from 2007-2010 before taking a backroom role at the East Midlands side, where he won four out of his last five matches including a victory over Exeter in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final.
The decision was greeted with scepticism with various players taking to social media to express their feelings.
Season ticket holder, Alex Blackwell, was dumbfounded at the decision; “I think it is extremely harsh on [Aaron] Mauger as he seemed to have just started to get the results and performances to turn around especially in the last two games.
“With only five games left I don’t see the harm of giving him until the end of the season.
“O’Connor was good for us before so hopefully he can spark a reaction in the short term and get his systems in place quickly.
“I think in the long term it’s good, just a bit strange in the short term.”
Matt O’Connor takes the reins after a crunch match against rivals Northampton at the weekend.
