Mallinder: Northampton director of rugby

Cockerill has been criticised for using foul and abusive language towards referee assessor Brian Campsall during Leicester's 11-3 Premiership semi-final victory over Saints.

The Tigers director of rugby has since vigorously rejected the portrayal in the media of the way he and head coach Matt O'Connor voiced their opinion of referee Wayne Barnes' performance.

Mallinder, however, thrust Cockerill's behaviour back under the spotlight by stating he prefers to act with greater self-control during a match.

"To me, talking to the referee's assessor, shouting at the touch judge or gesturing to the referee actually won't make one little bit of difference," said Mallinder.

"To me it's about the clear directions I can give my players and also the people giving messages onto the field. That is how I go about my business.

"It's no different to talking about players losing control on the field.

"Keeping your cool is part of sport - one of the wonderful things about it.

"The beauty of it is being able to control your aggression and emotion."

Last season then Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter was banned from the Premiership final after making provocative and inappropriate gestures and comments to Leicester fans at Welford Road.

In the same campaign Cockerill received a warning from Judge Blackett over his behaviour during the play-off win over Bath, also at the Tigers' home ground.

The claustrophobic conditions in the stand where the coaching teams, assessors and supporters are positioned have been highlighted in the past as a source of potential problems.

"Leicester (Welford Road) in particular is a bit of a pressure oven," said Mallinder.

"The media sit behind the coaches, so they see and hear exactly what goes on.

"Most of that goes on in most games, it's just at Leicester it's particularly close and confined with everybody there.

"There needs to be some sort of separation, but also directors of rugby and coaches have to take on a responsibility."

England flanker Tom Wood has been ruled out of Saturday's Heineken Cup final against Leinster with the hairline leg fracture he sustained against Gloucester on April 19.

Wood, the Premiership's player of the year, had been sleeping in an oxygen tent in the hope of speeding up his recovery.

Mallinder is disappointed to lose the 24-year-old but believes his absence is tempered by an otherwise clean bill of health for the Millennium Stadium.

"Tom is not 100% fit. He's very, very close and I guess if we were a desperate team we could have taken the chance with him," continued Mallinder.

"But it's not worth it, he's not 100% fit. We have a strong squad who have been playing well and unfortunately he won't be running out on Saturday.

"It's a big blow but when you get to this stage of the season with only one player out, then you'd probably take it."

Mallinder admits the squad's mood over the summer will be determined by what happens at the Millennium Stadium.

"Finishing the season without silverware isn't something we're considering at the moment," he said.

"You always have to have a winner and a loser and we aren't daft enough to think otherwise. It has been a good season for us.

"We talk about learning lessons and the experience of playing in big games.

"And we know we will have a squad that will be together next year, whatever happens on Saturday.

"But right now there is only one thing on it for us - and it either makes our summer or breaks our summer - the result on Saturday."

Mallinder confirmed that England winger Chris Ashton is fit to play despite requiring stitches after being punched by Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi on Saturday.