September - October - November

Scrum offer you an insight into the best rugby writing on the web with the return of our Rugby Today feature.

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September 29, 2008

ELVs an easy excuse for dearth of ambition

Former England hooker Brian Moore turned his attentions to the turgid Leicester v Wasps Premiership clash in his column for The Daily Telegraph, and wasn't convinced that the ELVs were entirely to blame for the lack of action.

"With the ELVs the commentators were trapped by accepting some of the nonsense parroted about their influence. It is clearly possible to have rubbish and brilliance whatever laws you apply. I recently watched the 1988 England v Australia match on the ESPN Classic channel, which was superb entertainment.

"In fact there were so many basic errors and aimless kicking that Plato could not have disentangled the relative influences of many contributory factors. If I were John O'Neill, the Australian Rugby Union chief executive, I would say that this game was poor. It was played under the ELVs; ergo, the ELVs are poor. The truth is that this game was deeply unsatisfactory for a host of reasons that had no link to any new laws.

"Neither side had sufficient ambition to risk much in attack - Wasps because they are chronically short of confidence and were making multiple unforced errors, and Leicester because they didn't feel they needed to until far too late."

September 28, 2008

O'Gara: End of the world, and we knew it

The Sunday Times publishes extracts from Ronan O'Gara's autobiography where the Ireland and Munster fly-half offers an insight into his side's 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign.

"Georgia was a disaster. Humiliating. They killed us up front. We lost too many collisions. The ruck area was a shambles. Every time we took the ball into contact it was slow coming back. At that stage it was about knocking their heads off. Half of that is technique, half of it is mental. Having the edge to go and do it. There's a phrase in rugby: Hammer the hammer. When their big men are carrying the ball you drive them back. One guy hits him and then another hits him. We weren't doing it.

"When we let Georgia into the game they grew another few inches. The crowd got behind the underdogs and they came lashing into us. They had a limited game plan but it was hugely effective. As a top team should we have been able to counter that? Absolutely.

"Things got heated in the second half. Drico ate the head off Peter Stringer for their intercept try. I had a go at Issac Boss near the end. People were shouting at the pack to sort themselves out. It was a bad scene. In that situation you don't have time to think about the big picture. All you're thinking about is the next re-start, the next possession, the next tackle. My head was fit to explode.

"Losing that match would have been the lowest point in the history of Irish rugby. Winning that match felt like the lowest point in the history of Irish rugby."

In this rule revolution the first victim is entertainment

Writing in the Observer columnist and former Wales international Eddie Butler rues the effect of the law tinkering on the game's entertainment factor.

"In England, one month into a new rugby season, it may be overzealous to suggest that a new charge is underway. Football fills our pages first, the dominant force in this medium, as in all other media. And yet rugby comes ever more warmly wrapped in wholesomeness, its traditional match-day welcome complemented by a commercial attention to good service.

"...This being rugby, there must be a but. It comes not so much in the form of the experimental law variations - called 'global ELVs', although they are peculiar to our hemisphere at the moment - as in the 'protocols' from the International Rugby Board. These were reminders to referees to apply the letter of the law at the breakdown, or the post-tackle situation, as I think they prefer to call the scramble for the ball after contact."

September 27, 2008

Eddie Jones on leadership

Talking in the Independent, Saracens boss Eddie Jones recalls what he has learnt about team leaders in his previous time working with the Wallabies and Springboks.

"I've been pretty fortunate with the senior players I've had. John Eales struck everyone as the nicest bloke in the world, but when he was captain of the Wallabies he could be pretty tough. I remember when a member of the staff came into the team room wearing a collarless shirt, which was against the very strict dress code. John took one look at him and said: "Out! And don't come back until you find yourself a proper shirt."

"More recently, I worked with the Springboks and was struck by John Smit's contribution. The South Africans still have an intense provincial rivalry within the Test squad: the Blue Bulls from Pretoria do things differently to the Sharks from Durban; the guys from Cape Town have a culture of their own. Smit was outstanding in stitching the different threads into something whole. He also had the guts to tell the coaches their fortunes. If he thought that day's training had been dreadful, he was prepared to say so. There aren't too many players with the confidence to do that in the up-front way he did it."

September 26, 2008

Blackett defends his criticism of referees

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, RFU disciplinary officer Jeff Blackett defends his recent criticism of Premiership refereeing.

"This week I took the unprecedented action of criticising rugby match officials in public as part of my judgment in the James Haskell case. I took no pleasure in so doing because their positions of authority are essential to the integrity and well-being of the game. Since I have previously taken disciplinary action against coaches who have publicly criticised referees, they are entitled to ask what was the difference in this instance?

"Rugby is a professional game. All those who participate in the elite end must be accountable. It matters when referees make bad decisions. There is no space for officials and administrators to hide from public scrutiny."

Hickey warms to daunting job

Sydney Morning Herald columnist Greg Growden has sympathy for new Waratahs coach Chris Hickey.

"One cannot feel envious about what Hickey has taken on. Following the ruckus surrounding McKenzie's departure, Hickey has walked into a very difficult position. The NSW Rugby Union administrative ranks are a hotbed of conflict and many of the Waratahs' off-field staff have left, but more crucially, three of the team's most vital players have also left.

"The task of finding a replacement for second-rower Dan Vickerman, the heart and soul of the Waratahs pack, is onerous enough. But there's more. Gone is Test back-rower Rocky Elsom, one of the few Australian forwards the All Blacks respect, and David Lyons, the type of No.8 a province needs to be successful."

September 22, 2008

Two Deans of the rugby world

Former England hooker and now outspoken commentator Brian Moore analyses the recent spat between Harlequins boss Dean Richard and his Gloucester counterpart Dean Ryan in the Daily Telegraph.

"A man goes to the supermarket checkout and puts on the belt an egg, two rashers of bacon, half a loaf of bread and a tomato. The checkout girl asks: "Are you single?" The man replies: "Yes - could you tell that by what I bought?" "No," she says. "It's because you're ugly."

"OK, it's an old joke, but the original butt of the joke was Richards.

"Never has there been the like of this man. His pre-game warm-up consisted of touching his toes, once, with bent legs. Never conventionally fit, or even actually fit, Deano had a natural strength that belied his appearance; furthermore, he appeared wherever the ball ended up."

Rugby players proud to help

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, ex-England international Will Greenwood reflects on the Help for Heroes Challenge Match in which he and a host of former stars took part in the aid of the worthy charity.

"As part of the England invitation XV, my pre-match nerves were as bad as I had ever had. Food was pushed around the plate, a sickness in my stomach.

"The bus was like a time warp. In the middle of the back row was Mark Regan. Always the same spot for me: aisle seat, one row from the back on the left. Boys from the Armed F orces dotted around us, open-mouthed as Martin Johnson, England's new manager, gets a going over, back to being one of the lads, and banter that's funny, harsh and fair.

"In the changing room you see why Wasps are missing Lawrence Dallaglio so much. Inspirational words, reminding us why we are there, of what it means for those watching and why we mustn't let anyone down."

September 21, 2008

If only greedy football could put on such a great show

In his column in the Sunday Times, former England international and Sky Sports commentator Stuart Barnes feels a sense of pride following the Help for Heroes Challenge Match at Twickenham.

"This was not a half-hearted attempt by the game to raise its image. It was a full-on effort to do its selfless bit for others, which is pretty much guaranteed when the former World Cup-winning captain of England is involved.

"The name Martin Johnson is iconic enough to lead to populist demand for his appointment as national manager without any experience at any lower level. And how the icon's selflessness shone through."

September 19, 2008

Game united in honour of Britain's heroes

Writing in the The Times, Mark Souster recalls how he became involved in the Help for Heroes charity.

"It started as a madcap but heartfelt idea on my part eight months ago to organise a game of rugby and raise money to assist in the care of soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will culminate in today's Help for Heroes Challenge match at Twickenham that has guaranteed in excess of £1million, which will go towards the provision of much-needed facilities at Headley Court, near Leatherhead, Surrey, where our often grievously injured servicemen and women are cared for and rehabilitated.

"It became a crusade - the more people said that it was a good thought but could not be done, the more determined I became."

September 18, 2008

Lions role will not compromise Wales

Talking to the Western Mail, Wales coach Warren Gatland insists any potential involvement with the Lions next year will not be detrimental to the national side.

Gatland claims there has still been no official approach about a role with the Lions, but is adamant he would not accept the role if it compromised his job as Wales coach.

"There hasn't been any official approach to the WRU, but there has been a lot of speculation," said Gatland. "People have asked me whether I would like to do it? It is an honour to be considered, but there are a lot of things that have to be put in place before something like that becomes a reality. The biggest thing for me is looking after Wales. It has to be the right decision and whether going with the Lions will help us for the World Cup."

September 16, 2008

November Tests loom for Johnson

The Daily Telegraph's Mick Cleary analyses the challenge awaiting new England manager Martin Johnson.

"The pressing question for this autumn is whether he knows what it takes to win as a manager. He's learning as he goes along. And learning fast to judge from the moves he's already made: the appointment of Brian Smith was shrewd and incisive. Smith has already received good notices from the players who attended the training camp in mid-August.

"They say that he is sharp, direct and challenging. Elite players don't differ much in their basic instincts from players in any environment. They want to feel that they are getting the best that is on offer."

Johnson plays from memory

England manager Martin Johnson is one of a host of former international stars lacing up his boots this weekend for th Help For Heroes Challenge Match at Twickenham which is on target to raise £1million towards the rehabilitation of British soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Talking to Mark Souster in The Times he insisted he was relishing his return to action.

"Johnson, the England team manager, has been keeping himself reasonably fit, but stepped up his training this week. His programme has included a rigorous workout with Will Greenwood, the former England centre, under Dave Reddin, the former RFU fitness coach, yesterday afternoon. "It was a very good session but it was quite hard work," Johnson said. "There was no rest and it was fairly painful. I don't know how fit I am rugby-wise, though.

"I still train and try to keep fit and I like to cycle. But running in a straight line on the pavement or on a treadmill doesn't replicate the rugby field, where you are changing direction and using other muscles. I know I will be very sore on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday next week, but it will be worth it and in a funny kind of way you miss the soreness. With the new job it hasn't been easy. But if nothing else adrenalin and memory will see me through. I am all right with the running bit. It is the grappling and wrestling in contact which gets the heart-rate going big time; that is what the body is not used to. I have done a session with a mate who is into wrestling and it was pretty hard."

September 15, 2008

Be patient, don't let ELVs ruin rugby union

Former England hooker Brian Moore pays tribute to the Tri-Nations winning All Blacks and their coach Graham Henry in his latest column for the Daily Telegraph.

"Given that background, Henry's continuing tenure is an achievement that should not go unmarked. I say this for two reasons; the latest Tri-Nations victory, claimed due to a narrow away win against Australia on Saturday, was the fourth title under Henry. Moreover, it was achieved without the services of 13 players that would still have been chosen in the All Blacks squad were it not for the ban against the selection of any player who plays abroad.

"Just take a second to consider the latter statistic, particularly when we know what happened to the England team following similar retirements of just a few of their World Cup stalwarts. Consider also that they have had to play under a succession of versions of the Law book, depending on when, where and against who they played."

Victory the fruit of coherent selections

Writing in the New Zealand Herald, Chris Rattue looks back on the All Blacks' latest Tri-Nations triumph.

"The stain of 2007 - the bizarre All Black World Cup campaign and the snubbing of Robbie Deans - will never go away. It is in the history books, as indelible as the Deans non-try a century ago, the 1981 Springboks tour, the 1987 World Cup triumph, the brilliant deeds of Michael Jones and Bryan Williams et al, the thuggery of Richard Loe. In other words all the good and bad and everything in between that make up any great sport.

"History is there to be studied, not revised by flinging around words such as "redemption". The only crumbs that can be offered to the revisionists is that the 2007 stain was given a light washing in Brisbane on Saturday night. It is still the tumultuous beast that is South African rugby which gets to polish the Webb Ellis trophy, for those who may have forgotten."

September 14, 2008

Rupeni Caucaunibuca: Wing and a prayer

In a piece for the Sunday Times, Stephen Jones questions whether Leicester Tigers should take the risk and sign Fiji speedster Rupeni Caucaunibuca.

"Rupeni Caucaunibuca. It is a name to stir the blood, and also to make the blood boil. I have encountered no significant opposition to the claim that Fiji's Caucaunibuca is the greatest attacking player in rugby, perhaps the best of all time. Brian O'Driscoll and Mike Tindall, two unsentimental men, are on record as saying that he is the greatest player they have seen. Now, in the next few days, Leicester will decide whether to sign him. Easy choice?

"...It was all so familiar. Caucau has missed games because of foul play suspension, and because he tested positive at Agen for cannabis. He has been ejected from the Fiji squad for missing camps, and missed the 2007 World Cup altogether. He once missed a game in Samoa because his wife, so he said, had an infected tooth. He once tried to renege on Fiji and declared himself available for the All Blacks, only to find that IRB laws rendered him ineligible. He missed 2006 Pacific Islands tour games because he said he had lost his passport. Seemingly, he has missed more flights than he has made."