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Until next season …
This is the final Rolling Maul of the season and it is therefore appropriate
to thank most warmly everyone who subscribed, who read the e-mail online and
who responded and took part in the various debates. For those who didn’t
agree with me - well, try to do better next season. Thanks so much.
Also, thanks to all those who dialled my mobile number from the Millennium
Stadium last Saturday and held up their phones so that I did not have to
miss all of the Bruce Springsteen concert.
Genius of Cipriani can follow path of Woods and Pietersen
In the jet-lagged sleepless hours, New Zealand TV can be a refuge. Last week,
between old episodes of Baywatch and cookery programmes of interest to
serial poisoners, they showed staggering sport.
We saw the once-in-a-lifetime Tiger Woods winning the US Open with an amazing
display of brilliance and courage (we found out afterwards that he had a
broken leg) and also Kevin Pietersen tearing up the coaching manual with
sublime, brilliant improvisation. Good on the sport’s authorities for not
being so po-faced as to rule his shots illegal. Both men displayed genius
upon genius.
Rugby can seem dull by comparison with these staggering deeds. There is, of
course, no shame in the ultimate team sport if the strength is in the
collective not the individual. But which rugby players threaten to transcend
the sport itself, as have Woods and Pietersen, by taking it to another
level, by making unique or brilliant personal plays or touches or
innovations?
My colleagues threw in some names, such as Gareth Edwards and Dan Carter. I
disagreed. I feel that the brilliance of both laid in their extraordinary
performance of orthodox skills. David Campese? Yes. He took it to his own
personal, even lonely, level.
Is Danny Cipriani next? It’s an intolerable burden to ask a young man to
emulate Woods and Pietersen, but he has a shot at it. He has an unorthodox,
cheeky, elevated capability. We’ll wait and wonder.
World Cup will be a show without a stage
It has all been said before about the process by which the 2011 World Cup was
awarded to New Zealand: the behind-the-scenes deals, the potential
overloading of the country’s fragile infrastructure by the incoming
thousands and the rather colourless outward appearance and demeanour of
rugby here and its grounds.
A little of the concern dissipated last week when one of the chief organisers
accepted the very key to New Zealand 2011 – that it will be judged not by
the depth of the nation’s ridiculous obsession with the All Blacks, nor by
whether the hosts win it or not, but by the warmth of welcome given to
outsiders and visitors and the sympathy and support for ALL competing
countries.
There is one remaining problem, however, and it will not be solved: the
stadiums.
We have only been to Eden Park, Auckland and Lancaster Park, Christchurch on
this England trip. The first is a mid-sized and decent ground, the latter is
a building site. There is simply no arena here remotely equipped to give the
tournament - especially the major matches - the imposing backdrop it
deserves, craves and that it had in Australia 03, Wales 99 and South Africa
95, and will have again in 2015 in England. (And please don’t tell me that
England should not get the event).
Why on earth were there not enough Kiwis with the energy and foresight to
demand - yes demand - that a giant, soaring signature stadium was built in
Auckland for the 2011 tournament, for the aspirations of the nation and for
the backdrop for the world? The lack of that kind of vision, that statement
of intent, will haunt New Zealand up until 2011 and well beyond.
What do you think? E-mail Stephen at rollingmaul@thetimes.co.uk
with your opinion and he'll reply next season.
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>>>>>LIST OF THE WEEK<<<<<
The 10 greatest rugby writers. Is your favourite in the list?
2. Norman Mair, The Scotsman - Brilliantly incisive in a grand old
essayist tradition. Funny, knowing, compelling and a glorious read on golf
as well as rugby. Still cruelly missed at his station.
3. Donald Cameron, New Zealand Herald and various others - Kindly old
Don was so quietly deadly with the velvet-encased dagger that many people
never realised that they had been filleted, and his Barbed Wire Boks is one
of the great rugby books.
4. John Reason, The Telegraph - In his heyday, John was vastly
influential and aggravating with a wonderful writing style and clarity of
expression (even if was often an expression of distaste).
5. Clem Thomas, The Observer - Rumbustious never covered it for this
foursquare, delightful, forceful, occasionally intemperate giant, sadly
missed on the hacks’ scene. To sit by him in the press box was to have sore
ribs for a month.
6. Peter Jackson, Daily Mail - Noted by the world game as, if not a
stylist of magical touch, then as one of the great sports reporters of his
generation - except for the splash that Eric Rush was joining Ireland.
7. Steve Bale, Daily Express and various others - The demands of the
Neath Guardian, Western Mail, Independent and Daily Express have not dimmed
Steve’s enthusiasm one jot, for the game and its characters.
8. Tony Scott, Rugby Magazine, USA - The only man ever to have begun a
rugby article with the following intro: “Hot Damn!” Scott is in for that
alone.
9. David Norrie, Rugby World and News of the World - The
recently-retired tufted Polecat had a unique vantage point (usually from
Langan’s Brasserie) on global sport.
10. Paul Ackford, Sunday Telegraph - Ackers must take credit, it’s not
easy hacking it out for so long with so few readers.
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>>>>>HERO OF THE WEEK<<<<<
David Moffett, former chief executive of New Zealand RU, Welsh RU, Sport
England, Rugby League (add your own governing body here, he will have led it
at one stage).
Moffett and I agree that we don’t see eye to eye. He carved up Wales into
chunks. I told him on Friday that I hold him responsible. He asked me what
about two Grand Slams then. Alright, clever dick.
He’s the hero this week because he has broken ranks. He is in favour of a few
of the ELVs but he savages many of the others. He savages the IRB for their
meddling, their procedure, their arrogance.
He has his own column in New Zealand and it is typically fierce and
influential and therefore not popular at the moribund New Zealand Rugby
Union. This is just a flavour of Moffett on the modern game and the ELVs:
“Despite all these variations one thing remains quite clear to me … we are no
longer watching rugby union … instead, we have a mishmash of sports
intruding into our game.”
“Because of weak leadership, the game has reached a crisis point where it is
now mandatory to keep tinkering with the laws.”
“The breakdown is still a shambles as players know they will not give up
points for anything other than offside and foul play.”
Not only is Moffett devastating on the threatened new game, he has also
demolished the political correctness in New Zealand which prevents people
speaking their mind. And finally, he has not fallen for the trick that
Australia is trying to pull on New Zealand: “New Zealand rugby is standing
on the precipice with the ruthless John O’Neill (ARU chief executive) ready
to kick us into the void.” Mr Moffett, I agree. Just this once.
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The Stephen Jones Debate
The majority of New Zealanders still think that Graham Henry is a great coach
despite the last World Cup result. Evidence of this is the reception that he
and the team received when they came back to New Zealand at the end of the
tournament. A Stewart, Wellington, New Zealand
SJ: Yes, I still think he is a great coach too, especially when bossing the
whole show and not allowing too many voices to intrude and too much
re-invention of the wheel.
You're dead right about Graham Henry. The New Zealand rugby set-up has always
struck me as a bit bizarre. I was taught at school that New Zealand, on a
geographical basis, was composed of North and South Islands. On a rugby
basis, it seems to take in virtually everywhere in the South Seas
(particularly when the average height is 6'4" and over). Referees
throughout the world appear to take the view that the All Blacks’ dirty play
is both forgivable and to be encouraged. The butchery inflicted by NZ
players in the Barbarian side the other week at Twickenham proves this. And
another thing, what is that “Haka” rubbish all about? It’s nothing but
intimidation. If they want to dance, why not do it in the changing rooms? I
don't think a team of South Sea Island monsters would be too impressed if
Martin Johnson got the lads to do a Morris Dance in front of them! Andy
Lavin
SJ: Andy, this is nothing less than a slur on the fraternity of Morris
Dancers.
I continue to be embarrassed by the way this country blames Wayne Barnes for
the All Blacks’ loss. It is the sourest of sour grapes. The French played
brilliantly, the ABs naively (going for a try when a drop goal would have
been enough to get our noses in front). Matt, Wellington, NZ
SJ: It was amazing that New Zealand’s set-up - and their maths - failed to
produce a conclusion that three points was enough.
If all and sundry were talking about Charlie Hodgson's career at an England
level being over following an abject defensive performance against a
strong-running All Blacks attack last weekend, how long will it be before
the same criticism is levelled against Danny Cipriani, who isn't the
strongest defender in the world? I seem to remember that Australia carried
Stephen Larkham throughout his international career by hiding him from the
opposition runners every time they lost the ball. Should England plan to do
something similar with a game-winning talent who might be a little less
capable of stopping a barnstorming back row forward? And if this is the
case, why shouldn't this work for Charlie? Kevin Broadbent, a Wasps fan
SJ: Kevin, I feel for Charlie too, as he is an outstanding player. However,
I think that Danny can defend and the fact that sometimes they line him up
at outside centre is just to give him some time and take him out of the
firing line. Come to think of it, I am surprised that more teams don’t
protect someone who may well be the smallest player in the team by taking
him away from the area where the heaviest tackles are made.
The 2001 tour was destroyed by the bruised egos of certain British players who
were used to being pampered. They didn't make it into their respective World
Cup squads if I remember correctly. Ian, London
SJ: No argument from me, and most of the egos were English egos as I recall.
I was fortunate to see, as a boy of 19, the 1959 Lions at Carisbrook and they
should have won that match. Instead, they lost to "The Boot", aka
Don Clarke. The Lions had a magic backline and the greatest of them was the
English winger Peter Jackson. Where is his like now? Wiremu, Wellington,
New Zealand
SJ: That must have felt horrible for the Lions, as they played all the
rugby. I never saw Peter Jackson but by all accounts he was an absolute
wizard and I can’t think of a player of his sort in the game at present.
How on earth can England field a decent team against the Barbarians during May
when, through exhaustion and injury, so many players are unavailable?
Likewise, how can the Barbarians field a quality side when most of the
players invited are either still playing in their leagues or are due home in
order to receive the England tour? They should end the stupid play-offs with
the rightful top-of-the-league finishers being crowned champions. I would,
though, hate to see the demise of the Barbarians. I'd buy and wear one of
their team shirts if it didn't have an enormous logo of some insurance
company on the front. Hugh Hubble, Evian-les-Bains
SJ: I think that the debacle that was the England-Barbarians match this
season will concentrate the minds. It may be a festival game, but ticket
prices for it are serious and it is yet another big match added to an almost
endless season.
Your comment about timing, cost and venue for the northern and southern
meeting of champions is well made. As an alternative, an annual match
between the winners of the English and French championships would be most
interesting. To follow the example of the round ball game it could become
The Charity Shield of Rugby, with suitable rugby charities nominated to
benefit from the takings, at the season end. Roger Baileff
SJ: Good point Roger. There are any number of tasty matches that could take
place, though we are now at the stage where to add another major occasion
would have to lead to the loss of an existing match. The season is full.
Do you know of any professional team (club or international) who week after
week only have the backs (minus the scrum halves) and four or five forwards
on the pitch for a warm up before any game? If so, do those sides have a
record of winning? That is the way that Biarritz warm up and it seems to be
the reason why they suffer a lot of niggling injuries and a deficit of team
spirit. As for NZ against England, the All Blacks were fallible but clinical
and have the makings of a very good team. However, Nigel Owens was terrible
and biased in favour of New Zealand. Two yellow cards against England should
easily have been matched against the All Blacks but he bottled it. Owens
should not have officiated at the Heineken Cup final and he should have done
better here. Tony Thompson, Biarritz
SJ: I have noticed that Biarritz run what appears to be a bizarre warm-up
with only half the squad out there. You sometimes wonder if their forwards
turn up late.
What can you predict with certainty of a Test match these days? That a forward
will leave the field with blood dripping from an horrendous eye injury? Just
look at a clearly irate Nathan Sharpe against Ireland, a visibly shaken Andy
Sheridan against New Zealand or Ali Williams in the World Cup. Why has
nobody mentioned these strangely recurring injuries? What do you think
causes them? Will it take a player going blind before anybody bothers to
care that this type of savagery is commonplace in the modern game? Alex
King
SJ: To be fair, Alex, the England squad have been saying all week that
Sheridan’s eye injury was an accident, possibly caused by a clash with his
own team-mate.
It seems that Australia have already forgotten their woeful World Cup exit.
The “Rugby Heaven” website in its usual cock-eyed manner reported an
excellent victory for Australia over Ireland with Australia now playing in a
structure-free environment. Obviously the piece forgot to mention the fact
that Ireland enjoyed 63 per cent of territory and scrummed the Wallabies off
the park. If the passive Ireland scrum managed to inflict such damage then I
worry for the health of Robinson, Dunning, and Baxter when the All Blacks
get hold of them. If Australia do not find a scrum then they will never win
another tournament. On a different matter, the key for England now is not to
make a knee-jerk reaction and pick solid, sturdy Premiership players.
Winning is clearly the goal but Michael Lynagh and David Kirk, two of
rugby's ultimate achievers, always stated that performance must be the end
goal, that conservative play at Test level will not elicit achievement.
England must not field a player like Noon ever again. Whilst he is an
honest, committed professional, he is symptomatic of what is holding England
back. There must be room for a Tindall and Tait/Waldouck partnership.
England must not become biased about the size of a player – they should pick
natural talent and not be guided by pragmatism. They have stuttered for too
long but now they have real talent developing in the midfield which is key
to how they compete on the future world stage. Ben Saunders, Beckenham
SJ: The trouble is, Ben, that the smaller players with less power tend be
exposed – note Charlie Hodgson against Ma’a Nonu. I am not saying it is a
good thing, and in many ways it is disturbing, but the game is going away
from the clever runners and flair players.
Your anti-ELV sentiments are clearly misinformed and borderline hilarious.
Whilst some of the new rules are stupid, they have turned the game into a
better contest. I hated the ELVs. I was born in Pretoria, the bastion of
tight five play and if I can be converted then I have very bad news for you
- most Englishmen will also be converted quite quickly. The forward contest
is now more important than ever. I live in Australia and, yes, they have a
prop crisis and forward play is not considered important by many people.
However, the real rugby fans are acutely aware of their shortcomings. You
have to get ready to embrace the ELVs, they are not going anywhere. Isn’t it
amazing how one nation can change a game completely? Whatever happened to
the English influence in our wonderful game? How could you allow this to
happen? Riaan de Jager
SJ: The game rejected all bar two of the 11 most nonsensical ELVs and so
those two are being trialled next season, together with the piffling changes
which make no difference to anything. But the good news is that the game
rejected most of them and will continue to do so. Enjoy the barmy
experiments while you can.
Your top five most fraudulent reasons to love rugby shows just how out of
touch you are with what the average fan thinks. Chris, Cambs, UK
SJ: Yes, as fans go, you sound average all right.
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, add some insight or come back firing next
season...
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Things you need to know about rugby: No 18
Here’s the key insight about rugby as of June 2008 … it’s fantastic.
Bye till September.
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