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Goodbye gladiators
The game's gladiators are massively in the news this week and here is a slant
on two back rowers, Mr Dallaglio of Wasps and Mr Collins of New Zealand.
The titanic, irreplaceable, indomitable Lawrence Dallaglio plays his last
game, charity junkets apart, at Twickenham against Leicester on Saturday. As
I said last week, it is a stroke of the most outrageous fortune that England
rugby had him and Martin Johnson in the same era.
Dallaglio has been utterly magnificent, with a self-belief and a gift of
erudition for shaping matches beyond any player I have come across. By
walking out of the dressing room with that huge face tight with emotion and
intent he could affect the build-up in his favour. The gap will be so
enormous that I feel nostalgic before he has even gone.
Jerry Collins announced his retirement from New Zealand rugby last week even
though he is years younger and has far fewer miles on the clock. He is as
revered in New Zealand as Dallaglio is in England. Clearly, he is a decent
man with humility and (some horrific high tackles apart) a grasp of rugby
essentials.
Frankly, for me his only failing was that he couldn't play. He was severely
one-dimensional. He had a massive heart but no great rugby vision, size or
match-turning ability. I always felt that if you gave him more than one
target to hit or more than one task to perform he might struggle. Jonno
Gibbes and especially Chris Masoe were better players.
Rugby will be short of colour until the new gladiators gird their loins. God
bless them both, good or over-rated.
Language barrier is a reffing disgrace
There was never a bigger scandal than the appointment of Nigel Owens, the
Welsh referee, to the Heineken Cup final last week. I have to admit that I
never realised the true scale of the travesty until I saw the statistics and
heard him on one of those nifty RefLink systems.
It absolutely beggars belief that anyone could have been appointed to such an
enormous game when they had refereed one of the teams - in this case,
Munster - FIVE times in big matches this season. They won every one. The
colossal advantage of knowing exactly how he would referee each aspect of
the game - including his many personal idiosyncrasies, especially in the
contact area - is disgracefully unfair. It was as if Munster had been given
their pet ref.
The way it was all compounded was even worse. These days, officials insist
that preventative refereeing and advice is a part of their art. Most of us
wish they would shut the hell up. But as long as they are talking both teams
evenly through their key decisions I can put up with it. Just.
What no-one should ever have to put up with again is Owens's total inability
or refusal to speak even one word of French. His only communication was a
ceaseless and unsympathetic prattling in English with no understanding
whatsoever that to be fair he might at least take a player aside and explain
a decision slowly. He was peremptory and you could tell throughout that no
French player had time to grasp what on earth he was on about. Every key
call went against Toulouse.
One apologist who seems to fawn over referees told me that Fabien Pelous "speaks
English". So this apparently made it all right. Garbage. Pelous
understands a smattering of English, that is all. To suggest he could have
grasped the twittering of the referee, including all the technical jargon,
and translated it instantaneously before passing the message on to all 15 of
his players plus the seven replacements while leading a team in the tumult
of a massive match, is stark, staring madness.
Let this be the last time that any referee is appointed to a big match who
cannot communicate in the two main languages of the teams. If he cannot, he
must, repeat MUST, be told to referee in total silence. And I bet you my
bottom euro that the game will be far better.
Missing Bruce almighty
As clashes go, it is horrible and gut-wrenching. Talk about your heart being
elsewhere. June 14 will be the date, a dingy Kiwi winter Saturday. The venue
is a deeply unprepossessing Eden Park, Auckland. New Zealand's emerging
players against some of England's second string. Who really cares? I'll be
there with my pencil, though.
Elsewhere on the same date, there will be a fabulous summer's evening in
Cardiff at the magnificent, colossal and homely Millennium Stadium. Bruce
Springsteen, now in his late 50s and still the greatest rock star and live
act the world has ever seen, will be turning it up and turning it into gold
as he always has done night after night. If it's a nice day they'll leave
the roof open so God can tap his foot. Just like on July 4, 1985 at Wembley
Stadium. Were you there?
Rugby or rock? There's only one winner and it isn't played at Eden Park.
Frankly, ethics can take a hike. I was prepared to accept the very best
ticket the Welsh Rugby Union could offer. Before I knew about this conflict
of interests there were rumours that it was such a good seat that Bruce was
going to cue me in for Rosalita.
So a message to all you followers of the true code, the true faith: enjoy it,
you lucky so-and-sos. Think of us 12,000 miles away with a meat pie and ears
assailed not by a symphony to ultimate rock glory but by some rasping New
Zealander who thinks the Experimental Law Variations are not a sick joke.
At least there is still Parc des Princes in late June. The Bruce tour rolls on
to France and I will be back and rugby will be a distant memory. Onwards to
New Zealand, but my return ticket will be hot in my pocket.
What do you think? E-mail Stephen at
rollingmaul@thetimes.co.uk with your opinion and he'll reply to the best
of the letters next week.
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>>>>>LIST OF THE WEEK<<<<<
The top of the flops when it comes to the end of the season. The bits to
detest as the campaign winds up (or dies a death).
1. Going ... going ... gone - The end-of-season dinners are in full
swing and every one of them has an interminable auction after the 46 awards
have been dished out. No, I do not believe that the baseball bat was really
used by Babe Ruth or that these are really Nelson Mandela's cell keys but I
am legless so I bid £10,000. Any more bids? Please, no.
2. Time difference - While you lot are cooking al fresco on balmy
evenings, some of us have to go to the other hemisphere to bring you rugby
news. And it gets dark at 4pm. Gloom upon gloom.
3. Pre-season unfriendlies - No, please no. This week I have been sent
four media releases from clubs setting out their pre-season friendlies for
next season. There is one in a matter of a few weeks. Hope no-one watches
and hope you lose, lads.
4. I'm signing. No you're not - It's the silly season signing time when
almost every player is claimed by himself, his agent or shadowy informants
to be changing clubs. Some do, but I'd wait a while before you buy the
replica jersey with the new man's name on it. Often it is just an attempt to
jack up the stakes. Beware the daily tip that a rugby league "giant"
wants to switch codes. He's just trying to better his existing deal.
5. Bring back rugby - Yes, there's always a catch. There we are
celebrating no bloody rugby for months and what happens for us
sports-lovers? Nothing. England are having trouble putting away a truly
execrable Kiwi cricket team and, as usual, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke
are striking the ball beautifully - in various directions.
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The Stephen Jones Debate
My feelings on the experimental laws have been well documented, especially
that of the collapsing maul. Last week's Sunday Times ran a story entitled "Readers
rage at new law", which you can read by clicking on the headline.
Below, the debate continues ...
Re: the collapsing mauls - if this is a petition, sign me up. With three sons
of 8-15 years old playing rugby and as a first aider and a manager of a
youth team, I think I can safely say this initiative will drive many boys
(or parents) to move to other sports. Tracey Brader
SJ: Thanks Tracey, it would be an idiot who disregarded the views of
someone so heavily involved.
As someone who has been known to collapse a maul on occasion, I still think
this new rule is intolerable, especially for under-18's. It is a clear
attempt to remove the maul from rugby given that being allowed to collapse
it means no maul can ever be successful. Pulling one down is simply too
easy. I accept that mauls are very hard to stop so new ways of helping the
defending side might be needed. How about opening up the gate a little to
allow a maul to be attacked from a slight angle? Or enforcing the rule that
once a maul stops the ball must be played? As for the play-offs, they give
added entertainment, increase the number of meaningful games and allow club
rugby to generate more publicity for at least a couple of weeks. They are
also a great balancer in that they allow clubs to be more supportive of the
RFU and England team. I would rather scrap relegation than the play-offs. Russ
Skinner
SJ: Russ, you make a very fair point and a good attempt to try to work the
problem rather than imposing a reckless solution. Just something to make the
maul more "stoppable" is fine.
When does having the same set of rules for a game played by 20-stone,
perfectly-tuned athletes and that played by kids become incongruous? IRB
statistics may tell you something about safety, but how can you compare
Andrew Sheridan falling on top of Carl Hayman with a 12-year-old who has
grown early falling on top of one who hasn't? Golf has the handicap system
to cater for the mismatch in the amateur game, but I can't see an equivalent
for rugby. If we can look at professional and amateur rules differently,
then we can justify keeping the IRB's nose out of the amateur game. Then all
we will need to do is get their noses out of the professional game and we
will be on to a winner! An addition to your list of all-time greats who fell
short could be Luke McAllister. He has been in wonderful form for Sale but
his residency up North has been keeping him from the All Blacks and that may
mean we never see him in his prime in Test rugby. Christopher Croft
SJ: Thanks Christopher for a top quality insight and for bringing up the
essential dangerous difference between the professionals and the rest.
Well done for your defence of our game against the ELVs. The few changes that
have been made will not spoil the game beyond recognition but the obvious
exception is allowing the maul to be collapsed. This is ludicrous and I
cannot believe that it has been allowed. While you are right to highlight
the danger to children, the danger to adults is potentially just as great. I
weigh 11½ stone and play for a local 3rd team. Next season I am faced with
the prospect of wrapping my opposite stand-off up in a tackle that then
turns into a maul. So far so good - until this maul is collapsed and the
combined weight of both packs breaks my leg/dislocates my shoulder/renders
me a tetraplegic. Is there the possibility for both captains to agree to
ignore this rule change before kick off? It's our game after all and I don't
see why we should adopt a law change designed to maim the players. David
Rundle, Warlingham
SJ: David, I can see no real sign that the International Rugby Board have
much considered the dangers to young lads, so the well-being of adults of
all abilities seems just as low on their agenda.
My son plays prop for our under-15s team and will be playing under-16s next
season. The rolling maul is one of our team's favoured tactics and from five
metres out we are almost unstoppable. Removing a key plank of the forward
battle will undermine the whole idea of rugby for all, a game in which
players with different skills and strengths can come together as a team. Callum
Potter
SJ: Callum, it is always my view that teams should be allowed to win rugby
games however they wish and long may your lads rumble to glory.
We cannot believe the IRB's response to the new collapsing maul law is a
credible one. If recent case law tells us anything it is that the sport
actively owes a duty of care to its participants. Just a brief review of two
of the leading cases shows this clearly. In Smoldon v Whitworth and Nolan
(1996) a rugby referee was found to be negligent in that he failed to
properly control a rugby match in which Mr Smoldon sustained a catastrophic
injury after the collapse of a scrum following several others. The Court of
Appeal held that in the light of all the evidence, the referee had breached
the duty of care owed to the players in the match by ordering so many scrums
in succession, and the court felt that "it would be beneficial to all
participants in such games if all players were, as a matter of practice,
insured not against negligence but against the risk of catastrophic injury."
This was a case where the referee was following the letter of the laws of
the game strictly - the court held to the detriment of the players - and was
found to be liable. Imagine a set of proceedings beginning with a colt being
paralysed because of a maul deliberately being collapsed by himself. Factors
such as contributory negligence would have to be raised and it may also open
up the possibility of proceedings against the RFU for endorsing, and
enforcing, the new rules. Before anyone thinks that this is just a sports
lawyer gone mad, time should be taken to ponder the case of Vowles v Evans
and the Welsh Rugby Union Ltd (2003) in which it was held that "... the
role of the referee was to enforce the rules. Where a referee undertook to
perform that role, it was fair, just and reasonable that the players should
be entitled to rely on the referee to exercise reasonable care in doing so.
A referee of a game of rugby football owed a duty of care to the players."
This was again a case involving a collapsed scrum where the referee had not
taken sufficient care to ensure a replacement prop was properly "qualified"
to play in that role to the standard required of the match in difficult
conditions. How can any referee now say that he is acting in the best
interests of the players when he has one minute to ensure that all are bound
correctly for the scrummage and the next minute to wave play-on when a
player deliberately brings down other players? As to the junior level of the
game that the RFU, the IRB et al all agree is so important, what on earth
can those that take charge of games involving the youth ranks do? The rules
are extremely tight on the contact areas and scrimmaging, and yet now the
chaos in the intentional disruption of play is not just allowed, it is to
become a skill that has to be taught. How do the authorities plan to address
this dichotomy? Rugby is a game full of inherent risk. That is a large part
of why we all enjoy the ritual of playing, officiating and watching the
game. It used to be said that all hookers were certifiable - the same can
now be said of referees. If they are brave enough to continue to be
involved. Matt Bosworth
SJ: Again, while it is not possible to discern that the IRB have really
exercised their duty of care to the younger players with just what appears
to me to be a perfunctory trial of the new laws, I can see nothing in their
outpourings which even recognises the new reality in rugby created by the
cases which Matt Bosworth mentions. Who would now be a referee, a coach or
indeed a player? It is truly disgraceful that measures are blithely being
brought in which are intended to improve rugby (they will not, but that is
another story) but which miss the more general points of well-being and
safety as well as legal imperative. Thanks to Matt for informing us laymen
of the story behind the silliness.
As a youth coach, dad and lover of this fabulous game I find this experimental
law ridiculous and dangerous. I assume that the IRB's thinking is that if a
maul can be legally collapsed coaches and players will want to avoid such a
situation and the game will therefore be faster as more players will end up
running with the ball in hand? Why don't the IRB simply ban the use of
mauls? While they're at it they could also suggest fewer people in the pack,
get rid of lineouts and change the game to rugby league! The maul is all
about technique and timing and it is part of a coach's job to ensure players
develop and learn this technique in as safe a manner as possible. I am not
prepared to put any player in danger and will be writing to our league
secretary suggesting that they contact all clubs telling them not to try out
this stupid experiment. If they refuse, which some probably will, I shall
contact opposition coaches asking them to agree to play without this
experiment. If they refuse, I will have no alternative other than to take my
players off and award the game to the opposition. If collapsing the maul is
allowed there will be horrific consequences. John Hughes, Mortlake,
London
SJ: Thanks John. This is just one superb missive we received from coaches
like you who share your alarm and who intend to act just like you, myself
included.
I am Middlesex chairman for the 7-12 year olds committee and we probably have
the greatest number of little'uns anywhere in the UK playing rugby. I also
sit on the Middlesex Rugby Development Committee. The clubs that form my
committee have around 7-10,000 young players. Some are big clubs, some small
but there is universal concern over the maul and the proposals to allow
pulling down. The proposed rule change may result from it being revealed as
statistically safer at senior level than perhaps we had thought, but I
seriously doubt that the research used included mini and youth rugby. How on
earth can the capabilities of Super 14 and Premiership players be comparable
to young people who are still growing, gaining co-ordination, balance and
strength? Whilst I am in accord on many of the ELVs, this one is potentially
very dangerous and I would much prefer to see our kids exempted from being
forced to participate in an IRB experiment until such time as the obvious
worry that so many of the coaches and parents have has been removed through
solid evidence. I will not be coaching my kids to pull down as I cannot
reconcile the risks posed to both teams' players through doing so. Russell
Price
SJ: Russell, from so distinguished an administrator I feel that the anti
case is now made forever and I hope that the RFU push ahead and declare that
the maul law will not be used. After talks with the IRB, my view is that the
trials as they apply to youngsters are dangerously cursory. You have 10,000
young players and to think that even one of them is at risk must be a heavy
responsibility. Many thanks.
If there is one law variation that could have been looked at, it was the
uncontested scrum. No-one wants to see an injured player coerced into
scrumming down, but the absence of sanction invites abuse. In the play-off
semi-final, Bath (with two loose heads and two tight heads that are superior
to those available to Wasps) named a full front row on the bench. Wasps
managed to get both props injured, thereby necessitating uncontested scrums,
and Bath were left with a redundant prop on the bench. The side with a full
complement should be allowed to choose a free kick when they would have had
a scrum put-in. If we have to have uncontested scrums on the depleted side's
put in, then their opponents should be able to nominate who of the depleted
side completes the front row. I imagine they would nominate a half back for
maximum disruption. What say you? Tony Davies
SJ: Don't forget Tony that they had to change the law to allow tactical
replacements instead of just replacing injured players because no-one could
tell if those going off were really injured or not. It's the same with
disappearing props. I'd be surprised if Wasps cheated but your two measures
to try to stop teams getting an unfair advantage are by no means bad.
We hear a lot about ideological hemisphere differences of opinion at an
administrator level as to what constitutes attractive rugby and "real"
rugby and I would be interested in hearing your opinions as to the
relatively positive player feedback on the ELVs articulated by front line
players such as George Smith. If players believe the ELVs enhance the
spectacle and reward positive play then they should not be so easily
dismissed by administrators as powder puff. Phil Devlin, NSW, Australia
SJ: With respect, Phil, Australian rugby is so caught up with its own
problems, environment and what rugby league thinks is entertainment that
their views are very narrow. The laws have to apply to over 100 nations at
all levels and in all climates. Australians up here with a global
perspective such as Eddie Jones, Michael Lynagh and others have savaged the
ELVs. Only the cynical would say that George didn't bother much with the old
laws either.
I don't think that there's any real doubt that the ELVs will lead to a more
rugby league-type game. Coming from a rugby league town I've no objection to
this but many of us prefer union, a fact which seems to cause league fans to
froth at the mouth and leads to accusations of treason. It's strange that
the impetus for ELVs comes from Australia, a rugby nation which seems to be
against true scrummaging. Allow league to be league and union to be union.
On another note, what's all this hero worship of singer Neil Diamond about?
I thought he was crap in the 1970s and has never improved! Andy Lavin, St
Helens, Lancs
SJ: I read a book about Neil Diamond. He seems dire. I have also seen St
Helens many times, Andy, and they are not dire. I love watching them play
although I find some of the rest of league very poor. One of the most
instructive days I have ever spent was in a hotel in Melbourne. I was in a
lounge with about six fellow rugby writers as we had a day to kill before a
late take-off for London. Aussie TV showed three live matches, one after the
other, and we settled down with some beer and sandwiches. The last person to
leave the room lasted one match. So I share your view.
I understand that Serge Betsen has signed a one-year contract with Wasps for
next season. I have seen every home match at Biarritz this season and Wasps
are welcome to him! He has been a great player but this season he has been a
shadow of his former self and unless a new challenge shakes him out of his
lethargy and age-induced lack of speed, Wasps have just made a massive
contribution to Serge's pension fund with probably little to be obtained in
return. We will take Magnus Lund as a replacement at any time. Tony Thompson
SJ: It will, admittedly, be fascinating to find out, Tony. I see your
concern but I would also say that anyone coasting towards retirement might
cop a rocket or two (or 200) from Messrs Edwards and McGeechan. Betsen can
be brilliant, dirty and mediocre. We shall see.
I am looking forward to the lessons we will learn in scrummaging, rucking and
mauling from the English team. I hear they are pretty hot stuff. Stephen
baby, I do hope you are visiting as well? Johnny, Auckland, New Zealand
SJ: Yes, it is the contractual obligation tour and we are all bringing our
dodgy pullovers so we fit in. I have treble-checked my return ticket this
morning to make sure it is valid.
"I still find it hard when discussing Sevens not to add the words "so
what?" afterwards. No, I didn't notice any superior skills." The
IRB seem keen to get Sevens into the Olympics - has anybody told the IOC
that winning at Sevens is a lottery and not a test of ability? Steffy,
London
SJ: Someone may have told them, Steffy, as they have kept Sevens out of the
Olympics.
Would it be fair for a team to "win" the league by finishing top
when you have the arguably better teams (the Tigers for example) having to
lend their players to international sides for large parts of the season? By
allowing teams to win the league by finishing top the league would be
disregarding the handicap this provides. I remember one game this season
where Leicester had a ridiculous amount of players missing from their squad.
Play-offs are the only fair way to ensure the best team wins the league. Brett
Ducker
SJ: Perhaps Wasps were hurt even worse than Leicester and this is a strong
point, Brett. I don't think that teams want to put together poor squads just
so that they don't lose players to Test rugby and your argument in favour of
the play-offs is rather persuasive.
As a Wasps supporter, I love the play-off system. However, I do recognise that
the current system does not put enough weight on the final league positions.
Home advantage alone doesn't seem enough reward for a strong and consistent
performance over 22 matches. Therefore, maybe a simple addition to the
system might help address the balance. During the semi-finals, let the teams
start the match with a scoreline that reflects their respective points
difference in the league. For example, Gloucester would have kicked off
against Leicester leading 10-0 and Wasps versus Bath would have kicked off
with Wasps 1-0 ahead. This approach would reward the team that finished with
the highest league position in a tangible way but would still allow a team
that has put in great late run at the end of the season to win a final place
at Twickenham. A play-off system could also be extended to the relegation
and promotion process whereby the winner of Division One would have to have
a play-off against the team that finished last in the Premiership. Gareth
Flook
SJ: Gareth, I admire the logic though I suppose that Gloucester would be
mightily brassed off that they could play their home semi in front of their
fantastic fans in their great new stadium and still not win ... they should
not have needed a start!
This area of the e-mail is reserved for your views and boos. E-mail Stephen at rollingmaul@thetimes.co.uk
and he'll either agree, disagree, add some insight or come back firing...
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>>>>>HERO OF THE WEEK<<<<<
Tony Windo, Worcester Warriors
At the age of 38 he started the last game of his career on Sunday for the
Warriors against Bath in the European Challenge Cup final, a match which for
class, entertainment and movement killed the Heineken Cup final the day
before. It was the same ground where it had all begun centuries ago for
Gloucester.
Tony Windo was no token oldie. He was still a big figure with a big heart in
the Guinness Premiership way past his mid-30s and shattered by himself the
theory that the hard pro game shortens careers. You half expected the
Warriors to offer him a new five-year deal this week.
If ever a player could put his feet up with a clear conscience and the
knowledge that in whichever stadium you care to look you will never find
anything he left out on the field, then it is the man who almost thundered
on to the age of 40.
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The week in 60 seconds
Thursday: Rob Andrew works around the missing links as he names his
England XV to play the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday.
Wednesday: Julian White is cleared to play for Leicester in the
Guinness Premiership final.
Tuesday: Bath convert Shontayne Hape from league to fill Olly Barkley's
boots.
Monday: Patience and fortitude help Munster to keep French forces at
bay, Bath's departing stars leave with their legacy intact and Declan Kidney
leaves his beloved Munster to answer Ireland's call.
Sunday: It's twice as nice for Munster as Toulouse are foiled in the
Heineken Cup final, silly trumps sublime in a final that fails to ignite,
Riki Flutey aims to stake his claim for a place in Martin Johnson's England
squad during Saturday's Premiership final, giants are on collision course in
the Guinness Premiership final, Worcester are ready for a fight to fulfil
their European ambitions and readers rage at a new law.
Saturday: Munster pitch their camp in the hope of a permanent place
among Europe's elite and Mike Ruddock aims to let off steam with a spot of
retail therapy.
Friday: Serge Betsen is handed the chance to fill Lawrence Dallaglio's
boots at Wasps and Leicester face an anxious wait to discover Julian White's
fate.
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Things you need to know about rugby: No 15
CLASH OF THE TITANS
Despite a torrent of good words and high hopes, the appalling clash next
season which brings both the first match of the Lions tour and the Guinness
Premiership final together on the same day is still a reality.
Recently, Ian McGeechan, who will be coaching the Lions and, perhaps, Wasps in
the GP final, said that he is "very, very hopeful" that the
conflict will be avoided. There is a possibility of bringing the final
forward by playing one round of the Premiership over Christmas. There are
other ways, too.
Frankly, most people in the game without ruinous vested interest put the Lions
first and are demanding that either the RFU or Premier Rugby Limited make a
move. But I understand that they are both digging in their heels. That's
fine. Just so we know who sent the Lions away to lose next summer.
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13
Number of tries Tom Varndell has scored for Leicester in the Guinness
Premiership this season, more than any other player.
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