Cockerill angered by Lancaster's revelation
Leicester boss Richard Cockerill has not held back in his attack on Stuart Lancaster after the England coach revealed Toby Flood may miss the Aviva Premiership final.
Flood is currently struggling with an ankle injury which forced him to withdraw from the Tigers' semi-final win over Saracens.
Leicester are, of course, hopeful that the experienced campaigner will be fit for next weekend's showpiece event, and due to his importance would have been wanted to keep his progress under wraps so not to provide Harlequins with any tactical news.
However, at an England press conference this week Lancaster participation in England's upcoming tour to South Africa was "uncertain".
This annoyed Leicester no end and as a result England physio Phil Pask was barred from examining Flood at the Tigers' training ground on Wednesday.
"It's very unhelpful really," Cockerill said of Lancaster's remarks.
"He is on club duty, it's our business and it's not helpful that there is speculation surrounding his fitness.
"It's inappropriate talking about it as I wouldn't talk about one of our players while they were on Test duty. It's not my business to do that.
"He could have said 'He is being treated by his club and we hope he will be fit for the final'.
"You don't need to start talking about time frames and when he might be fit.
"That is privileged information which should be kept between me and the medical staff. That is not to be discussed openly 10 days before a huge game."
Cockerill was infuriated further by the fact that no mention was made of injured Harlequins men Ugo Monye and Danny Care who are also in the England squad and missed the semi-finals.
"I haven't had an injury update on Care or Monye. Have you?" he queried.
"So why is he talking about Flood in that manner and not the rest of the squad? It doesn't seem right to me and it is not his business at this point."
