While putting in big hits and getting stuck in at set-pieces helped Cracknell cope that day, he is someone that tends to find calming comforts in more far flung places.
With binoculars in hand, he has escaped to the Isle of Skye off the north west coast of Scotland to watch birds of prey.
“I’ve gone up to Scotland for a couple of family holidays and we saw eagles up there on one of those and I thought they were really interesting and I wanted to see one in the wild,” Cracknell said.
“So a year ago, when we had a random week off in January or February, I got a camper van and went with my dog up to the Isle of Skye and saw a golden eagle and white-tailed eagles in the wild.
“I really like the peace of it, and it’s a beautiful part of the UK.
“We have a group of lads, the eagle group we call it, and we did a social last year which was good fun. And I’ll try to line it up this year as well.”
Talking about Cracknell before Leicester’s European Champions Cup against Ulster on Saturday, Cheika spoke of a “stoic” figure on the pitch and “different cat” off it.
Cracknell says stoicism is a trait he inherited from his parents, while the notion of being a “different cat” – Australian slang for curious character – is no surprise.
“The fact I like birds of prey for a start, is a sign,” Cracknell laughed.
“Why am I weird? It’s hard to answer. I don’t know. The eagles, and I studied history and maybe I have slightly different interests from the other boys.”
Bird-watching and rugged Scottish getaways are maybe not what is expected of a former Ospreys and London Irish back row who has come into career-best form as he turned 30.
He has impressed so thoroughly at number eight for Cheika’s Tigers this season that the player better known as a reliable utility back row has been tipped to get an international call-up for the upcoming Six Nations.
The Leeds-born player has featured for Wales’ Under-20 side and was called up to their senior team in 2017, but remains uncapped at that level – which also leaves him eligible to play for England.
Cracknell said there has been no contact over a potential Wales call-up for the Six Nations, but said he is working hard to earn it.
“Every player that goes out there in the Premiership aspires to play international rugby,” he said.
“I want to test myself at the highest level I can, but I’ve got to be patient and play as well as I can.
“I just have to keep pushing to improve my game and level up really.”
