What are the chances...

Great 'third eye' spot from the skysports team. I don't know what is more annoying, the fact that he has probably paid over the odds for the very average cup of cha he is carrying or that said beverage has possibly ruined his best rugby tweed. Either way, its bloody funny to watch and I hear his first degree burns should clear up soon.

Thanks to Saracens Amateur legend and notorious Enfield gangster Alex O'Driscoll for drawing RGN's attention to this clip. He is, and remains, the fastest second row I have ever seen.

The real reason behind the success of New Zealand Rugby

Profile. Passion. Aspiration. No not a description of the latest series of X-Factor, but New Zealand school boy rugby. Pundits often mull over the real reasons for this relatively small playing population having continued international success. Many think its their elite program, their meritocratic method of Super Rugby contract distribution and even the Maori battle-hardened mentality. However, what we always come back to is culture. 

School sports in the UK basically has no profile on any channel apart from once a year coverage of the county athletics championship in Gateshead on Sky. Watch New Zealand TV, or ESPN in the States, and there is no lack of information on their upcoming sporting talents. If you wonder where the current All Blacks get their skills and ability to perform in the most pressurised circumstances, spend the next five minutes watching this video. It will all become very clear indeed. 

Memory Lane - Deconstruction of the Irish scrum March 2012

I love scrummaging. Its unique to rugby and is a metaphor for the game as a whole. Never before had I witnessed such a overwhelming display of forward power in the set-piece at international standard until this game (with the possible exception of Sheridan owning the aussie scrum in the 2007 WC). It's ten minutes long this video, but it teaches a few lessons about scrummaging without really even trying to. And before you start, I know their tighthead was playing out of position, but its impressive nonetheless.

Size Matters: Still a game for all sizes?

Former England and Northampton lock Martin Bayfield is a huge man. 6'10 and 106kg at his peak. So huge in fact that rather than waste money on intricate CGI, he was used as the body double for Robbie Coltrane in his role as Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.

Scotland and Sale Sharks lock Richie Gray is another huge man. 6'10 also but weighing in at 130kg. He's not as yet broken into the movies, but if there was ever a calling for a giant Kurt Cobain I'm sure he'd be in the mix.

These are two players that are considered to be giants of their time in the game. However, a twelve year gap in their playing days has somehow accounted for a 24kg difference in weight.

Yes, I know Martin Bayfield played most of his career in the amateur era and yes, I know the advent of sport science's inclusion into the lives of all modern day professionals will inevitably lead to a more muscular and larger athletes. Despite this, the size difference is still staggering.

I remember when professionalism came in when I was at my age group club, Ruislip RFC. All of a sudden rugby fitness wasn't about a few press-ups during pre-season or aimlessly runnning bewteen try lines until someone was sick. This was about the first time I'd heard the terms 'sets' and 'reps', 'core-stability' and 'power-to-weight ratio'. There was an influx of 'fitness experts' from other sports ready to offer their two-pence about what rugby players needed physically to have the edge over others. Overnight it seemed like players went from being differentiated between along the lines of god-given genetic difference to who could shift the most weight in the gym. Front rows went from being short, squat balls of human to massive juggernauts whose sole purpose was to smash rucks, mauls and scrums, with the occasional lineout thrown in.

The toughest game I have ever had in the front row was back when playing for Saracens Amateurs in the national cup against Kingston about five seasons ago. I came up against a prop who was about 5'2 and couldn't have weighed more than 13-14 stone. I thought I was in for a very easy day at the office.

I was wrong. So very very wrong. He got under me at every oppertunity, put colossal pressure on my neck and back and turned me in with ease. I learnt a very important lesson that day, that technique and skill trumps bulk and size if used in the correct way. At key points in a players development and selection for higher plains, this often goes overlooked. In my time I have been involved with representative rugby through coaching and grading and seen very average players being pushed through by various people on the basis of their size and projected body mass, regardless of a poor trial or not even trialling at all.

I am encouraged by the recent trends I have witnessed in the fitness and conditioning of players. This is mainly because of two new methods and regimes being brought in. One is the advent of 'CrossFit' and the other is the introduction of more Mixed Martial Arts style fitness. These concentrate a lot more on bodyweight being the main source of resistance in training and it focus on explosive power from standing to sprinting and jumping rather than stationary weight lifting  It's sometimes circuit based so it is about all over fitness rather than just being about how much you bench or squat. This more functional approach to training helps with knowing the limits of your physicality, improves core and I think will ultimately leads to less injuries in players because they are not constantly overloading their joints with gargantuan proportions of added weight.

However, whilst conditioning can help you become more resistant to injury, it can also have a negative affect on those players you play with and against. Ben Woods and Craig Newby are both recent retirees from the professional game. Woods a wrist injury, Newby his knee. Woods is 30, Newby 33. Ok, not in the prime of their careers but a big loss to Leicester Tigers nonetheless. Some injuries can't be solved by surgery, and occasionally you are going to get ones that just can't be helped. But you can't tell me that the power, weight and speed of hits doesn't have a bearing on the abilities of some players to return to the game. Were you more likely to come back from an injury like theirs in the 80s or 90s than you are now, despite advancements in medical science?

I suppose the final message is this. Rugby is definitely still a game for all shapes and sizes, even at the elite end of the game with players like Christian Wade and Shane Williams showing us that the litte 'uns can still punch above their weight. However, the scope for their inclusion is becoming smaller and if you look across premiership squads these days, they tend to be the exception rather than the rule. Also, outside of scrum-half and the wing, where do you see this smaller players realistically making it at the top level? The amateur game is still wide open, and the 'all shapes and sizes' mantra is still very much alive, but even lower down the leagues with conditioning coaches at all standards and affordable supplements on the market, size and power can often be the difference between success and mid-table mediorcrity, something coaches at this standard are twigging on to.

I'm hoping Saracens fitness and conditioning coach Andy Edwards can set me right in our interview later this week.

Get this boy back in the game - Lawrence Okoye

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I saw this bear of a man play for Whitgift a couple of years back in the Daily Mail U18s Cup Final at Twickenham. It was the other winger, Marland Yarde, who stole the show on the day, scoring a hat-trick and consequently becoming a London Irish regular. However, Lawrence Okoye was noticeable bigger than any player on the pitch, had the same haircut as Jonah Lomu and boy could he shift for a big lad. He has since taken a different route into the discus, breaking the British record in his first senior year and going on to represent Team GB at this year's Olympics. He may be a little rusty, but the thought of him terrorising defences in the Premiership is an exciting one, and I hope he reconsiders his 'athletic direction'!

Check out Lawrence training with Saracens earlier this week

Need for Speed: Is bigger always better?

So popular was James Duward-Akhurst's article on the great Charlie Hodgson, he's done another one for your pleasure, about the odd shapes and sizes modern day wingers come in:

No one likes discussing size and certainly not comparing, but for this article I want to look at wingers in the world game today.

It must be argued that up until the late 2000’s the idea of a big winger was more of a myth than a reality with Lomu being an abnormality on the world stage. At 6ft 5 and 19st, Lomu could run the 100m in 10.8 seconds which is staggering! He is officially the RWC all-time top try scorer with 15 tries and proved in his glittering career that bigger IS better.

Fast forward to today and the scene painted is very different. A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has confirmed that ‘success at the top echelon of the game revolves around height and weight – with a little bit of experience thrown in for good measure.’ Borne from Wales’ success at the 2011 World Cup, the study confirmed that more successful teams had players which were 2kg heavier and 2cm taller than their less successful counterparts. This statistic was exemplified when England hosted Wales in last year’s 6 Nations. Wales boasted a back line which included Mike Phillips (6ft 3in), Jamie Roberts (6ft 3in), George North (6ft 4in) and Alex Cuthbert (6ft 6in).  A close fought 19-12 victory for Wales didn’t dispel the idea that bigger is better, but certainly didn’t confirm it either.

Former Wales wing Adrian Hadley said: “You can be big and strong but not be as much of a ball carrier as someone like Shane Williams.“But, if you put 15 Shane Williams and 15 George Norths against each other, I’d probably put my money on the George Norths.’ Whilst a match up of this magnitude is intriguing (North at 6ft 4in and Williams at 5ft 7in) could it not be claimed that we are entering back into Simon Shaw’s argument that rugby players are turning into “gym monkeys.” Shaw argued that “we should be looking more at the skill side of the game rather than the physical.” With this in mind is it possible to do a straight comparison, big wingers vs. small wingers.

In my mind small wingers have always held the edge over the bigger winger. Scanning through copious archives on the world’s best wingers, the usual suspects are thrown up; Shane Williams (5ft 7in), Bryan Habana (5ft 11in), Jason Robinson (5ft 8in), Rupeni Caucauibuca (5ft 11in), David Campese (5ft 9in) Jeff Wilson (5ft 9in), Rory Underwood (5ft 8in), and of course Daisuke Ohata who, standing tall at 5ft 9in has scored 69 tries in 58 tests for Japan! Whilst I would never disagree with a journal packed with extensive research, I might query the article’s bias to the Welsh rugby team. Remembering their ideologies that bigger was generally better, we witnessed a World Cup Final boasting Vincent Clerc, Alexis Palisson and Cory Jane all standing under 6ft tall.

Whilst I stand firm on my stance on the smaller winger, centres are a different matter and it is in this position the big boys stand up tall! Matt Banahan is a prime example of this. Used as a battering ram for Bath and England on the wing, his game was limited and his international career faltered. Since his move to the centres, his game has improved and his name is once again being banded around the international circuit. Sonny Bill Williams and Richard Kahui are two other examples of players who have thrived in the centres rather than out wide. Both standing over 6ft 4, their direct running and in Williams’ case his offloading have caused many teams problems time after time.

It is now that I would ask Warren Gatland (if I had his number) to consider his backline selection very carefully for the Lions Tour. I think George North is a very talented rugby player as is Tim Visser who recently qualified for Scotland. If we are to get the best out of the Lions I think we need a back 3 of Ashton, Halfpenny and Kearney! With this in mind, I would stick George North in the centres with Roberts and try to create the Nonu/Williams axis that was so successful for the All Blacks. Rob Howley stated that “Skill in international rugby is so important, ultimately international rugby is about creating space and being able to put the ball into that space.“Rugby is a passing game and one thing we stress to the players is that while having the physicality, you have to create that space.” Under Howley’s tutelage (certainly at a Welsh level) this could be a key element to the Lions success in Australia. Let Roberts and North dominate the midfield battle and with improved offloading ability we could set free a back 3 which has the potential to be world beaters. 

Great moves in rugby - The Oratory 'Salsa' Lineout

'99, 53, Orange, Aeroflot ball'

Lineouts and their calls have not only become bloody complicated at all standards of rugby, but also thoroughly boring and predictable. This is odd seen as the essence of an effective lineout is to be the exact opposite of that.

Thanks to Oratory school for blowing the cobwebs off this tired form of restart. If we could incorporate more dance into set-pieces, I think the world would be a happier place.

Memory Lane - Tony Buckley player toss 2010

Tony Buckley was never known for being subtle, and this video does not disprove that. Arnaud Mignardi is clearly doing the old 'I can't get out of the ruck sir, even though no one is holding me and I  have fully functioning limbs, it's impossible' trick. Tony Buckley takes matters into his own hands with quite hilarious consequences. Thanks to rugbydump.com for the clip.

Charlie Hodgson: An Indian Summer?

Guest writer James Durward-Akhurst gives us his thoughts on one of the most enigmatic players in the British Isles:

In June 2012, after his re-emergence in the Six Nations Charlie Hodgson announced his international retirement after a career littered with highs and lows. Ever in the shadows of Jonny Wilkinson, he will no doubt be remembered for his widely criticised defence and failed attempts to resurrect his international career. I would argue that this may have been a hasty move and that in fact Hodgson still has a lot to offer England and is maybe the only 10 that could ignite this current England backline.

What we have to remember, and what some people forget is that Hodgson has had a rugby career which most people would dream of. Within a year of making his debut in 2000 he was selected for England and by 2005 he had a Guiness Premiership winner’s medal and a spot on the Lions Tour. He still holds the record points score in an England shirt (44) and was named Player of the season at Sale in 2008,2009 and 2010.

What people seem far more concerned about is Hodgson’s weak defence. Blighted by this criticism throughout his career he will ever be remembered for the missed tackle on Ma’a Nonu which brought his New Zealand tour and England career to a shuddering halt back in 2010.

The Wilkinson Effect

I personally feel that the Wilkinson effect had massive implications for Hodgson’s demotion from the international ranks. Wilkinson tackled like a man possessed and gave the English backline an extra defensive edge. There was never a need to put a forward out in the 10 channel for a defensive scrum when he was playing. With Hodgson at 10 that was different.  Hodgson added a more attacking edge with a flat line pass arguably the best in the world, even today.  His defence at that time was mediocre and we have to ask ourselves, could more have been done to protect his defensive position at 10 and also his England career?

We also have to remember that Ma’a Nonu is a proper unit and Charlie Hodgson will not be the last player to be left on his backside after a rampaging run through the middle! Anything running at you from distance weighing in at 6ft and 229llbs will cause defensive problems!

A New Era!

Hodgson’s move to Saracens was wielded as a ‘new challenge’. A sceptic of Hodgson myself at the time I found the move puzzling. At the time in 2010, Venter, McCall, Gustard,  Farrell and Sanderson were creating a brand of rugby which although not flashy, was centred around a strong defence. The obvious question….Where does Hodgson fit into this?

Love them or loathe them, Saracens’ club ethos is built around unity and a never say die attitude. This was epitomised in the epic defensive display in the Premiership final when defending their line phase after phase.  Venter’s Mourinho style approach to rugby meant if you didn’t buy in to the Saracens way, you probably didn’t fit in at all!

Schalk Brits - Rugby player

Like a typically ignorant sceptic I stuck by my guns and refused to have my views shifted despite me having to eat humble pie, week after week, match after match.  Hodgson’s stats speak for themselves! In 17 games he has appeared, Sarries have only lost twice once against Wasps on the opening day where he was a subsitute, and against Leicester in the 2012 semi-final.  Hodgson probably hasn‘t played the attacking rugby he desires at Saracens, but his defensive contributions have been enough to warrant an inclusion into the ‘WolfPack’ ethos built by Paul Gustard, Saracens’ defensive coach. More importantly for Hodgson, he has changed my mind and he now sits alongside my other favourite Sarries players (although still below Schalk Brits, Jacques Burger and Richard Hill).

Saracens solid defence is still evident this season and to quote Dewi Morris in his ‘On the Attack’ article, Hodgson’s form has been ‘sublime. 

Morris also goes on to state that Hodgson shouldn’t come out of retirement and that the young guns in English rugby should be given a shot. As much as I am a fan of this ideology based on Farrell’s recent performances I think he should eat his words. Flood’s performances have been nothing more than average and his continuation in the team must be causing a stifling effect on George Ford’s career! Barkley has seen the $$$$$ and moved to France and Freddie Burns lacks consistency across all areas of his game! 

We also need to remember that the English backline is basically the Saracens backline so what better way could they gel together? With Hodgson’s attacking ability and improved defence along with Saracens’ pledge to play a more attacking brand of rugby, could this be the key to unlocking some of the southern hemisphere rugby super powers?  

Total Rugby Special on Cyprus Rugby

Following on from our BIG interview with Cypriot rugby player Christo Kasabi, this is a report about this new but highly successful team shown on Total Rugby back when they took on the Greeks in a match that was not lacking in significance.

Good luck to Cyprus in their first European Nations Cup Division 2C match in November against Austria. I really hope to see them at the World Cup in 2015. I can easily imagine the not insignificant Cypriot community in London making the pilgrimage to Twickenham or the Olympic Stadium to support their Moufflon brothers in their push for world domination!

So....much....stash

No comment, just enjoy and be jealous.

Five reasons why you should get your child to play rugby

Whilst I know I said I wouldn’t list the positives of our game the list below are really the reasons why all young girls and boys should give rugby a chance and what it can give them, not the big and shiny reasons as to why our sport is better than all others. I also know I said I was going to do ten points, but I was repeating myself in earlier drafts so did fiver broader themes instead.

A thick skin

A Steve Diamond Roasting -
Particularly thick skin needed

‘McKenzie, with pace like that there’s no need for a slow action replay’. My coach at school, Mr Maughan, was the king of the one line putdown. How do you respond to that? You laugh it off, laugh at yourself and realise that yes, in fact you are not the fastest player in the world and carry on about your day. He hasn’t done it to belittle you, he’s done it because he’s identified a flaw, but one which is not fundamental to your game. When teammates give you a ribbing, or even when you get sledged by the oppo, you learn to take stuff like this in your stride and laugh at yourself. Even better, it can actually hone your ability for quick thinking and deliver a witty one liner back to them. This particular skill never made itself known to me but I’ve seen a lot of evidence of it.

Confidence

You’re not necessarily going to be delivering state speeches as a result of playing for Red Lion 2^nd XV on a rainy November afternoon, but confidence is a key aspect of what rugby can give you. When you are a two stone winger ringing wet and manage to drag down a bulldozing number eight to the ground, you come to realise something. Those around you, no matter their size and demeanour, are also in fact, human. The physical confrontations that rugby throws up makes you fearless of others, and can help break down barriers put up by the social anxieties felt by some. Some people like Lewis Moody took this to another level and displayed a blatant lack of respect for his own well-being as well as others, but his nickname was ‘mad dog’ so he doesn’t count. If you get the balance right this is a very valuable lesson.

Communication

The most overused coaching point in any training session.  Coach stops the session, asks ‘What could have James done better then?’. Teachers pet says ‘Communicate’. Arrrrggggggghhhhh!

However the skills it gives you in this department if brought out correctly are invaluable. The American Military Academy at West Point, New York State, have compulsory rugby sessions and participation as the trainers there believe rugby accurately replicates the pressures of communicating clearly whilst being under fire. Barking orders and making a Neanderthal second row realise that he may not be needed on the wing during a live phase is harder than it seems, but a skill all players have to get a grasp of to be effective.

Respect

I love football and do get annoyed at the snobbery sometimes shown to it by rugby fans. However, just as football has traits to be envious of such as its commercial success and its ability to draw in the crowds, the obvious superiority of rugby in aspects of respect is plain to see. A case in point is the ‘fair play’ handshake players partake in before a Premier League match. This is an orchestrated act of sportsmanship which has little meaning as the players are told to do it. The backslapping and chit-chat post match between players is much more sincere. However, you don’t have to tell rugby players to do a tunnel post match, to sit down with the opposition, to show respect to the referee. These are traits that are hardwired into the very genetics of the game. Bloodgate and the Bath cocaine scandals hit rugby hard and proved that the players, coaches and supporters were not infallible as sometimes we might like to think. But the way the people were punished and/or supported by the rugby community says a lot about how we can adapt and change through always showing respect for all those involved in such matters.

Rugby teaches you how to fall

This is one of the great unsung bonuses of playing rugby. I remember as a nutcase preadolescent I would tear around the playground at school be it playing bull dog, kiss chase or running around the tarmac and randomly chanting the words ‘Thundercats – ho!’ when I got to every corner. I would often trip over my shoelaces, fall over a gate or get tripped by a cynical peer. Teachers would often expect a howling tantrum of tears and red faced wailing as soon as I hit the deck. But I never did, I’d fall hips first, face my back towards the floor and land on the fleshy part of my bum. This is not a skill local to me, when you learn to play rugby and start to do contact you gain an appreciation of how to fall without doing you a mischief and I have avoided more injuries than I would have had otherwise.

So these are my thoughts, and some may baulk at the perceived brutality of the game, both on and off the field in some cases. However, as with most things, rugby is a game that you get out what you put in. It is not a sport for the faint hearted and perhaps this is the most significant thing that rugby gives youngsters. You can start faint hearted but end up with all the confidence, friends and memories you could ever want. A little Disney I know, but ultimately true.

Not the greatest advert for the game

My article tomorrow about why young people should get into the game and what they stand to benefit from it I feel will be counter balanced by such events as below taking place on the pitch. Dean Greyling's assault on McCaw, because that's what it is, does as much to put parents off the game as all the community work clubs do to get young ones into it. Don't get me wrong, I'll jeer at a dust-up between players, this is not tiddlywinks as someone once said. However, this seems like a fairly measured forearm smash on McCaw, who admittedly is a pain in the rear end around the ruck, whatever your view in its legality, but he deserves more credit than Greyling's obnoxious response. Judge for yourself.

Finally...it's here

Here it is. Looks like the Nike one a lot but to be fair to Canterbury, they have not messed around with the concept that England play in a white shirt and white alone. Great to see the midnight blue socks back too, always looked like the England team were overly concerned with the threat of deep vein thrombosis when they wore the white ones. Thumbs up from RGN, classic Canterbury styling, modern shirt technology but with its roots firmly in tradition.

The purple one I'm not so convinced by. Inspired by the tracksuit the players used to wear in the 80s and 90s (or the 'purple nasty' as Matt Dawson referred to it in his autobiography) for me it's too garish and looks like an Arsenal away kit. However I can imagine it becoming a Christmas present favourite for the younger fans and it could be fun to try and beat the aussies or saffas basically dressed as aubergines.

Carlos Spencer vs Sonny Bill - Could it happen?

Carlos Spencer was a bright light for fly-halves in an age when stand-offs were a little more 'conventional'. An age when kicking was a preferred skill to, you know, being able to actually play rugby. Yes he did some silly things on occasion but he put bums on seats because he played with instinct and clearly loved making his living from making defending players look very average indeed.

Since retirement, he seems to have lived in a gym and consumed no carbohydrates whatsoever, training for a fight with former rugby league star Awen Guttenbeil which was called a draw despite Carlos knocking him down in the final round. 

One word...unit.

Latest French Top 14 Highlights

All the best from Round 4. Best try is Balshaw's for Biarritz on 2:06. Speed, width and great hands. Saracens vs Leicester it is not.

Memory Lane - Alesana Tuilagi vs Lewis Moody 2005

This was an almighty dust-up between the two from an autumn series match in the dark days of English rugby. In fact it was so dark, we couldn't even afford four stands at Twickenham. However, let's not get away from the real crime of this video, Lewis Moody's haircut.

Aviva Premiership Round 3

Great summary video of the weekend's action from the Aviva Premiership. Will be posting these regularly as it's more detailed than the 'wrap ups' I've done in the past and it shows the actual video! Very useful. 

New England Canterbury Strip Nearly Here!

I promise I'm not on commission. These teasers and link to the Canterbury shop will just about keep me going for the two day countdown until the new England Canterbury shirt is finally revealed.

 

http://www.canterbury.com/mens-c1/england-t61

This Week on RGN

The BIG Interview

We've had a coup this week and managed to bag an interview with Saracens and England Saxons Conditioning Coach, Andy Edwards. A former Saracens player himself, he has been on both sides of the fitness provision of a professional rugby club and he has a unique insight into the whole process. If anyone has any questions they'd like asking drop me a message on the Facebook page or send me a tweet @RuckingGoodNews.

Size Matters

This article was promised last week but I thought it would be better to comment on the issues of player size and power after I spoke to the expert and got the inside track of what exactly goes on in a rugby gym session.

10 reasons why you should get your child to play rugby

As a coach and a player, the benefits of rugby (aside from the effect on my physical well-being) have impacted on many aspects of my life. This is a shameless plug for the benefit of those friends and family dropping sprogs at the moment, to show them that rugby is the sport that just keeps on giving!

Special Guest Blogger Article

Sonny Bill Williams: The guest 
blogger looks nothing like him

One of my friends who knows considerably more about rugby than me is writing an article for RGN and it will be posted here this week. Obviously he will not be anywhere near as funny or witty as myself but he will at the very least be informative so watch this space.

Nevin Spence 1990-2012

Terrible and shocking news about the young and upcoming star of Ulster and Irish Rugby, Nevin Spence. No articles today, and whilst I know the rugby community will rally around the family and those affected, rugby, sport and anything else seems massively unimportant in the shadow of such events, and quite rightly so. RGN's thoughts go out to his family. 

Full article from the BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19614688

How the big boys do....

These are a great couple of videos which leads me nicely into my article tomorrow about the size of rugby players and the role fitness and conditioning plays. These seem like two that take their match fitness pretty seriously and it is refreshing to see front row forwards not just doing one rep max of bench, squat and deadlift, then leaving the gym to devour two tonnes of Nandos. Enjoy.

The BIG Interview - Doncaster Knights Centre Will Simpson

RGN: Hi Will. So how did you first get into playing rugby?

WS: In the beginning for me it was all about football. Then my Dad took us to a rugby session in Northallerton, he said he was taking me swimming but told me on the way there was this rugby session on. I went and never really looked back.

RGN: Was this your main junior club?

WS: From there I went to Ripon and then to York. While I was at Ripon we got beaten by York and I scored against them, one of only two tries they let in all season. Their coach came up to me at the end and said you should come over to us and my rugby really kicked on from then.

RGN: How important was rugby when you went to school?

WS: I went to Ampleforth and rugby was really important and has been historically. In my year we had a really promising team, but unfortunately four of the key players got injured, all with popped shoulders which was bizarre. This affected my last two years a fair bit and we didn’t get as many wins as we’d hoped, but rugby was definitely the main sport there. We trained 4 times a week and we had great facilities like the gym and the pool there which really helped.

RGN: Who were your main rivals at school?

WS: Sedbergh and St Peter’s, York were the big ones. For me personally it was St Peter’s because I played for York rugby club and some of my teammates played for St Peter’s.

RGN: How did your rugby take shape after school?

WS: When I left Ampleforth I had 5 months at Leeds Carnegie Academy and played against other academy sides. We played Leicester a few times, Sale and Worcester while I was there. It was the first time I was exposed to proper weights programs and a professional setup. Leeds was the first part of a gap year, I then went to Christchurch in New Zealand and played for a team called Waihora and had the best season over there. At Leeds it was very professional with protein shakes straight after the game but Waihora was more about having a beer after the match and being social. We went unbeaten for about 24 games out there.

RGN: So you’ve played a decent standard in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere, what do you think are the main differences between the too?

WS: There was a lot less structure in New Zealand. Playing for Yorkshire and Leeds there were more play by play patterns but in New Zealand it was much more ‘play what you see’ and I really enjoyed that side of it.

RGN: What attracted you to Loughborough University in the first place?

WS: The rugby mainly, as well as the reputation that Loughborough had. I went to an open day and it was mainly about my chosen course which was Geography. I met with the rugby head coach there and he said if you want to be a big fish in a small pond then Loughborough is not the place for you, but if you want to be part of the best university setup in the country for rugby then Loughborough is where you want to be. When I got to Loughborough it wasn’t a dead cert that I’d get in to the rugby squad. I had to trial with everyone else. A few of the players who had played age group for England or Ireland didn’t, but I did.

RGN: What was the difference between university and school rugby?

WS: Loughborough is such a professional atmosphere, it has great gym facilities, there are 130 players who get picked and that’s it for the year. There’s so much competition that you just get pushed. I didn’t start off the in the performance squad who played in the Saturday RFU leagues to start with, I started in the BUCS 1 and 2 squad and didn’t get any a games for the top team in my first year. In the second year there was an injury to the top inside centre and I played in his place about 2 games into the season and stayed there. I made the performance squad and then was then made part of the elite squad, the 7 or 8 players who got a bit of extra attention with regards to access to the physio and gym time, which was really appreciated. The head coach David Morris showed a lot of faith in me.

RGN: Speaking of David Morris, was he the most important influence on you as a player or were there other earlier influences that were important too?

WS: Dave was great as he understood what I brought to the team and he made me believe that I was a decent rugby player who could compete at that level. He really honed in on my defensive ability and he wanted me to bring this to every game and he set me targets to ultimately be a very solid number 12. Tosh Askew at Loughborough was also a great skills and backs coach. Before Loughborough, Dicken Edwards who was the academy manager at Leeds gave me a chance there and he helped me put on some weight and get stronger which helped a lot before I went to Loughborough.

RGN: Did you find it hard balancing such a professional atmosphere with a genuine university experience?

WS: You had to be careful about going out to close to a game but I think a lot of the social side came from being in the rugby club. Just because we were playing national league rugby, it didn’t take away the ‘social’ aspects of the game, so we managed it quite well. If we had a poor performance the week before there would be a few words said on the Tuesday about taking it easy, but we’d usually go out on a Saturday but this may have changed this year with the 1^st XV going up to National! I was tempted to stay on for another year to do a masters but then I was given a shot at Doncaster.

RGN: I’m sure you would have had a few interested clubs after your signature, why Doncaster Knights?  

WS: Dave Morris last Christmas got in contact with Brett Davey at Doncaster and mentioned I was interested in moving up a level and if I could go up and train with them for a couple of weeks. So went over and after I’d finished there Brett said keep in touch. I trained at London Scottish as well but Brett made an offer and I went with that.

RGN: What’s a typical training week for you like at Doncaster?

WS: Monday we meet at 10am for weights and rehab. We’ll do backs skills and a video review with regards to attack from the previous game and in the afternoon you have a rugby session, usually quite light because we’re a little stiff from the weekend. Tuesday is similar but we have a defensive review and a contact session. Wednesdays are our day off and Thursday we do some light weights and a team run through. On Friday we travel if the fixture is far away like Plymouth, but mostly we leave on the Saturday morning. Pre-season is a little more intense with a lot more weights then fitness, then more weights.

RGN: Do you think Doncaster have got a chance of making the playoffs?

WS: I think we’ve got a good chance, we came really close against Bristol last week. Bristol and Newcastle will be the main contenders. If we achieve our potential by performing the way we can there’s no reason why we can’t make it. I think we’ve got some really good players in the squad and seeing teams like London Welsh go up who weren’t favourites was encouraging. Anything can happen at that stage and it’s about who turns up on the day.

RGN: There's been a lot of conjecture about the state of rugby union (participation and match attendances being the focus) in the North-East, especially with Leeds and Newcastle now in the Championship. As a North East lad, where do you think the issues stem from?  

WS: Growing up Falcons were always a top side and its strange to have seen them gone down. I think the rugby league dominance up in the North and the attraction of moving down south to good players is very strong. The draw of football may also play a role, but rugby spectators tend to watch rugby and the southern teams probably attract more talent and then spectators as result.

RGN:  Finally, you once said in a cutting interview for Loughborough Rugby that you would prefer 'spooning' to 'forking', care to reconsider?

WS: Did I say spooning? I think I’ll keep with spooning as I don’t really understand what forking is.

Try of the Season - Already?

This is simply class. Manu Tuilagi seems to be getting quicker in my eyes and is offering more than a bulldozing function for the Tigers. May have to look at the Lions fantasy team again...

Am I taking stupid pills?

Everyone is banging on about this double tackle, and whilst I'm impressed by Adam Ashley-Cooper's determination, why can no one see his second is a HIGH TACKLE!

ME AND MY KNEE - WEEK 2

I know I said I wouldn't make this that regular, but there have been some developments so I thought I'd chuck a little update out.

 

Self-perception

I saw the physio on Tuesday, not much to report on this front except for I have to have this leg brace on for the next two bleedin weeks. It wouldn't be a problem, except for the following concerns:

• It's starting to smell
• It's starting to squeak like a rusty gate
• I can't wear trousers to work so have to wear shorts and PE teacher gear
• The students I suspect are calling me Forrest Gump behind my back

Unamused, he gave me a few more exercises and sent me hobbling away.

Everyone else's perception

The real excitement came at the surgical consultation the next day. I arrived for my appointment at 10:30am, was finally seen at 11:30am. This would usually irritate me, but the nurses on the ward had obviously taken on board some suggestion box submissions and they were playing the movie 'Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief' on the big screen in the waiting room. Rubbish film, but was far better than reading a three year old copy of 'Women's Own'. 

I finally got called in by the surgeon and he took me through the X-rays and MRIs of the surgery which I found genuinely fascinating. He said the wounds looked healthy and the stitches could come out. This was a massive relief as they had started to catch and were actually causing more pain than the surgery itself. 

So off I went to the nurses room, where I was greeted by a very happy, but trainee nurse. She prepared the instruments of her torture in front of me. Scalpel, alcohol wipes, saline solution, spare dressings. I have not had good experiences with trainee nurses. Once, when I dislocated my shoulder, a trainee nurse gave me unsupervised access to the gas painkiller 'Entonox' for 40 minutes, I tugged away at it willingly, even having it by my bedside as I had an X-Ray. It's hard to overdose on such things, but I think I came bloody close to it. Another trainee nurse tried to give me pill-form painkillers when my throat had closed up as a result of contracting glandular fever. 

Anyway, the surgeon came in and increased the range of my brace a bit which means I'm more manoeuvrable. I'm still only partially weight bearing and on crutches. There won't be any real changes to my state until this contraption comes off so I'll update in a couple of weeks when finally, I'll at least be able to get into a comfy pair of slacks. 

Something else to practice before the warm-up...

This is an exceptional bit of skill picked up upon by those clever rugbytruck.com people. Being a front row, naturally I have always thought of myself as a closet fly-half. Luckily no one else ever did, thus saving me from a lifetime of disappointment and embarrassment. The below kick from Juan Martin Hernandez is further proof that kicking should be left to the experts. Quite spectacular.

Lions Watch

So, as if on cue, the powerhouse line-up at Sky Sports 'The Rugby Club' finally dropped their 'if the lions played tomorrow...' selections on us, and there were signs of consensus and conflict with RGN. Have a look below (bold writing means the most picked player amongst all pundits).

Gethin Jenkins is the player of choice in the loosehead position. I can see Stuart Barnes' point of view but we simply have to take the aussies on up front and whilst Jenkins and Healy are both solid scrummagers, Jenkins pips it. He may not offer as much in attack as Healy, but he's there abouts.

Hooker is a tough one as I believe we have some good ones in the British Isles but no stand-out. I still think Ross Ford is the man as he seems to epitomise the modern hooker. Hartley is a solid back-up but I think he lacks Ross' dynamism.

Adam Jones is another overwhelming favourite for the most important position on the pitch and rightly so. His experience with Wales and the Lions in South Africa will be crucial and he seems to adjust mid-game if experiencing problems and get back on top. Dan Cole definitely has a role but this will probably be from the bench. 

Richie Gray seems a slam-dunk for a second row birth but Sale are going to have to pick up in form if they are going to advertise his best assets. Paul O'Connell seems to be a favourite for the second slot, having captained the last tour and being of a very aggressive nature. However, I think with such a heavyweight front row, we can afford some athleticism in the lock position which is why I have opted for Lawes. 

Back-row seems to be locked down on the flanks, with Warburton and Ferris the overwhelming favourites. Both physical, fast, they get over the ball and are big game players. No.8 seems to have caused more of a debate. Faletau is a strong footballer, of which there is no doubt, but he feels to similar to the 6 and 7, so I'd pip for a bulldozing No.8, my choice being Morgan but Heaslip more than fits the same mould.

Scrum-half, Mike Phillips. No explanation needed. Ben Youngs needs to mix his game more and Danny Care's service is quicker. Youngs could struggle to make the midweek team given his recent international form. 

Jonny Sexton is the man for 10 at the moment. He leads the Leinster backs with guts, grace and nouse and when on the front foot is simply irresistible. He is also supremely combative, which may unnerve people like Quade Cooper if they end up in the opposite 10 shirt.

Centre also seems to have a degree of consensus, apart from a couple of shouts for Jonathon Davies. He has been in some excellent form but Roberts can do what he does from a physical and line running perspective and Brian O'Driscoll gives you more life in the centres. Plus the aussies always seem to struggle with ODs running lines. 

Leigh Halfpenney needs to be involved on some level, possibly on the wing. He is not the complete full-back as Kearney is but he is very fast and has a place kick like a howitzer. I cannot believe all the other pundits have overlooked Ashton so readily. George North had a good Six Nations but I think he faded a little towards the end and Ashton gives a more wiley option out wide. Ashton supporting players like OD and Roberts in the midfield is a genuinely exiting prospect. North as an impact sub definitely though. 

Rob Kearney, full-back. Catches 99.9% of anything sent towards him, loves to counter-attack from pretty much anywhere, has a great nudge and gets in people's faces. Everything you'd ever want from a loony sweeper. 

So some evidence of 'great minds...' and all that but I'm more interested in your opinions. Give me some comments with your teams and lets see how they match up. 

This Week on RGN

I am back at work full-time now so I may be blogging less but I will still be updating at least once a day so keep checking back. Don't forget we're on twitter (@ruckinggoodnews) and facebook (http://www.facebook.com/RuckingGoodNews) so get following to make sure you're always on the pulse!

So what do we have in store for you this week:

The BIG Interview

Last week's interview with Cyprus International Christo 'The Butcher' Kasabi was a massive hit with the RGN fans. In light of this, I have snared another big interview with Will Simpson, centre for RFU Championship side Doncaster Knights, former Leicester Academy and, until last season, a key cog in the Loughborough Students side that gained promotion to National One. We'll be discussing issues such as stepping up through the leagues, the future of union in the North-East and having played in New Zealand during his gap year, the real differences between the Northern and Southern hemisphere games.

Lions Watch

Gatland is apparently ruling no one out of making the tour. 

After the official appointment of Warren Gatland last week, every rugby pundit and their dog seems to be publishing their dream team. I'll be collating these under one post and seeing where RGN and its followers may disagree. The last 'Lions Watch' certainly caused some controversy so it only seems right to stoke the fires of debate once again.

Andy Powell looks to avoid being
pulled over by the fuzz again with his
'Flintstone' powered golf buggy

Mutant Rugby

I'll be looking at the size and power of the modern day professional and the impact this has had lower down the leagues. Is our sport still one for all shapes and sizes? I'll also be looking at how strength and conditioning coaches are taking a more pragmatic approach to match related fitness these days and how much of an impact on the physical resilience of the players this is having.

Me and My Knee - Week 2

Again this won't be every week, but with physiotherapy starting, post-surgical appointments happening and having the stitches out on Wednesday, this could prove to be another enthralling entry as we follow my 'not very intense at the moment' rehabilitation.

Aviva Premiership Round Up - Round Two

Leicester made life hard for themselves on occasion but their champion mentality won out in the end as they gained their second round of full marks against Worcester Warriors (34-26). Two early tries from Manu Tuilagi may have made Leicester a little over confident and former Tiger Andy Goode's boot and diligent tackling kept them in the game in parts despite two sin bins for the Warriors. This indiscipline seemed to play into Leicester's hands and they managed to keep in front of the struggling away team and get clear enough to deny them a losing bonus point.

Northampton were tested almost to breaking point but managed to hold on for their second win of the season (24-21). Man of the match Dylan Hartley, Ben Foden and Vasily Artemyev provided all the go forward the Saints needed and coupled with a dominant peformance in the scrums, it all proved too much for Exeter in the end. Northampton still can't nail down their fly-half issues with nervous displays from Ryan Lamb and Stephen Myler. However, the highlight of the match was new Northampton signing Luther Burrell's try, who made the most of a mismatch out wide and scoring a try displaying the power and speed he was brought in for. In the absence of Downey and Clarke, could he be the long term answer for the Saints in the centre?

Luther Burrell - Unit

Latest Highlights from the Rugby Championship

I remember the days when I didn't have Sky and the only Southern Hemisphere rugby I ever saw was an old VHS tape of the 97/98 Super 12 season which I wore out, fascinated by the style and skills on display. Now, if you subscribe to the right youtube channels, you can be inundated with loads of rugby from across the world on a daily basis. Part of my job is finding you the best the web has to offer!

So below are two sets of highlights, the first from the Austrialia vs South Africa game where the Aussies dug deep to overturn a half-time springbok lead for a deserved win (26-19).

The second set is from the New Zealand vs Argentina match-up in which the Pumas yet again proved why their inclusion in a top tier competition was well overdue. Unfortunately they could not convert their spirit and sometimes brutal defence into points and the All Blacks eventually cut loose in the closing 20 minutes (21-5).