I’ll do an overview of the super 14 so far sometime next week, for I’m getting mighty shirty about Greg Crowden’s off-field obsessions and continuous putdowns of what is for mine a tremendous competition. What does this guy want? Continuous all-singing all-dancing rugby? All I can think is that the bloke’s never packed-down or collected a corner-post in his life. In the meantime, it’s four-and-a-half hours till the Tahs face up again. Bring it on!

No doubt about it, a corner post cover defence tackle on a screaming winger is a showstopper. Who’d be a winger?!

Glad you enjoyed the story. I’m sure you knew exactly what Steve went through in making it. He played a lot at breakaway, too, and he may have been playing there at that time above, not sure – but it was a classic number 8 cover angle. Just as you know, once the ball left the halfback’s hands he was off, and had it booked in. I imagine a number 8 taking out a winger through the corner post would be like blood to a rogue shark.. once tasted, gotta have it. (Surely wingers nightmare over it). Great to know you lived it.

You know, that’s how League 8s also once played, or at least how one J Raper did, who I only saw live once, as a boy at his first League game. Three times he came from nowhere to take the opposition wouldbe try-scorer, along with the corner post. I can still remember wondering what had happened, and looking up at all the old blokes around me, who just looked at each other with big smiles and said “Raper”.

(I was supposed to be with you, on that, above, and fully appreciated what you said.)

Bugger it. Must relay a story from the (good) old days. Pull up a pew, tucked away here in the Club, and feel it as you will.

Twenty minutes into the second half, score competitive, and it’s been on all day. The winger, an extreme finisher of high regard was hooling down the sideline. The play had started way over on the other side of the field, ten yards (then) out from the 25, and spun through the backs, setting this winger free. He had the fullback to beat, with a long belt to the try line.

We saw it from the crowd, which gathered on the one side of the field, that being where the clubhouse was. It was a good crowd, rowdy and buzzed by the “it’s on” arvo of no nonsense ACT rugby. I was kid, and had played in the morning, and like the rest of ‘em watching, riveted.

The winger outsped the fullback, with forty yards to go and an open line. The crowd was screaming. Then, fell silent. The players, too, stopped, and fell silent, as wide eyes as one, players and crowd alike, saw the opposing Number 8 was doing just what you said. It was cover defence out of the book: except for one thing. That, was a young man called Steve Rawlings.

Rawlo was a legend even then, at just 18 years of age. He’d played Australian Schoolboys, and was on his way, everyone thought, to full Australian colours. At that age he’d singlehandedly taken out much older and experienced players in the senior game. He’d played against Wales, when ACT beat the then invincibles [which included this winger], and tore courageously into them, again and again. Later, people came to learn he’d been pulled out of a nightclub at 5.30 that morning to do it. That was Rawlo, huge on everything.

Rawlo knew cover defence. And he hurt people.

In the silence of this particular moment, you could see him leaving the forward pack way over there, with that winger in his aim. He was big, fast, and mad. Could he get him?

Thirty yards out and everyone realised he just might.

Fifteen yards out and you could hear them, two men, only, hurling towards a moment of destiny, in a contest where only one would win: the sound was the sound of a full herd in stampede. Bodies were at stake. The crowd must surely have been holding their breath.

In the last moments before the line, which I recall like yesterday, the winger, well beyond the stage of shitscared, and totally committed blasted the last bit of focus up from somewhere deep inside and one stride, two… launched himself towards the line, right in front of us, the corner post three yards to his right. Flying, and then above the line, and over, in the air.

Then he was hit.

In the air. Rawlo had launched a millisecond – he’d not have seen when, it’d've been instinct – and had flown, man missile, those last yards.

The impact bent the winger around him, the sounds shocked us, two now locked together, one crumpled the other missile-like and flying still, but now in only one direction. Rawlo had won. Both landed way, way out of in-goal touch, a lost, breathless planewreck mess.

In those days there were St John’s Ambo’s, who tended to each of them. Neither moved for a full fifteen minutes. The winger did not return.

It was a legendary tackle, the best I’ve seen. It’s still talked about down that way.

Years later, I had the gift fortune of coaching Rawlo. A thorough gentleman and a true champion. He was older, but onfield just the same. One night we talked about the tackle, and he gave his side of the story. The winger was marked, in his mind, simple as that. And, he said simply, “it hurt.”

Just a day at the office, as you say, Chris.

That’s picked it, right there. Go Barnesy. (The ‘Berrick’ brand isn’t too bad, internationally. Who ever gets called Berrick? He’s gotta be good!!).

And on that ‘no place to hide’ thing, is that you being a Number 8 again, after your brief stint at five-eighth? ….Sheesh, every forward wants to be a five-eighth, even props: you can see them at training doing little airswipe field goals, still.

Incidentally, on Number 8′s not getting to the halves.. true. But as a halfback I happened across the odd Number 8. Still hurts, made moreso by that slippery slope.

Re Robert’s “And then there’s Barnes!” I noted in that linked article how Tuney already has no doubts he’s going to be a Wallaby. As we’ve all noted from the glimpses he’s already shown, he’s definitely one to watch. Obviously, all the other provincial coaches have also studied the early vids, and he’s already being targeted to good effect, failing to finish his last two games and missing last week altogether through injury.

Barnsey (it’s good to have another ‘Barnsey’) is now going to have to learn that there is no place on the paddock for a playmaking 10 to hide, if he’s to be a Bernie of the future. This is one of Bernie’s great strengths, i.e the guy can never get enough footie per game, no matter whether it’s attack or defence and no matter what the risks. Anyone see the man dive on that ball late in the second half last weekend? The antithesis of the posing back. Talk about ticker! Take note Barnsey.

I could have a stab at what Connelly is on about, and it could be considered reason to have heart. Gits has a very particular running style, low and compact, and his angles are also sheer. Even his stance is particular, showing an explosive potential with those inbuilt angles. At fly half, those angles just don’t work. Pappy had similar angles but his running style was much more balanced and his choices more varied. At a stab, Connelly might be seeing Gits’ style out there at 13 helping to cut inside – his slight inside angle – which can be devastating: it straightens the attack (why Gits is also good at IC in the right lineup) and allows for inside breaks, but it also throws open the room for the winger should there be an offload, especially a creative one. Take away Gits’ size, or, pretend him bigger, and you have a classic creative 13. Why I say that’s heartening, if that’s a correct stab, is that Connelly would be thinking of running!!

However, yes, straight to halfback and train him up. Why not have that explosive energy right there? His kicking game would suit halfback, once he learns to kick over his head, and his angles and style all work at halfback, slicing in and around the ruck or bulleting up the short side. Add his skills and experience of offloading at speed under pressure, and he’d be pretty deadly. (Did I say he had to learn the halfback pass?).

But at 5/8, it’s just a total waste. Wrong angles, he’s uncomfortable – looks it, says it – and what for? To explode straight into the pack – his natural angle? Or to waste that exploding, send it out wide, and then run like hell like any other bugger to back up before being effective? Gits at 5/8 is just all wrong. And then there’s Barnes! A specialist, and obviously a natural and gifted sportsman, ideally suited for fly half. I understand he rep’d Australian Schools at rugby, league, and cricket! That’s the sort of 5/8 we need.

That last statement, I’m afraid, is one bridge too far. Like me Chris, you’re a slow old man now, and it’s time you came to terms with the slippery slope. Not even Christ or Mohammed at 5/8 could make you look good. As the Monty Python crew put it apropos a parrot: Mate, this bird wouldn’t “voom” if you put four million volts through it! ‘E’s bleedin’ demised!

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2006/03/08/1141701575196.html

Spoke with a mate who caught the Reds in action last: reckoned Cordingly to be a stand out, and Barnes was brilliant indeed. Very welcome stuff.

Tahs at home, little ripper.. could be quite physical by the looks!

I reckon you’re being too precious. Gits has had heaps of experience at fly-half, and has played half-back before. Sure, I wouldn’t throw him in to start against the Blacks, or to start against anyone for that matter. But if we were in a comfortable lead, or a definite loss, I’d blood off the bench immediately.

Incidentally, I’ll get my first live look at the Tahs tomorrow … and in a very special bonus for us much put-upon rugby fans, it starts at 3.30 in the arvo! Whacko!

So polite, Chris. You’d put him nigh-night, is what you really mean.

How long since you had a halfback for breakfast? Staple diet, with a dash of second five, no? Or you prefer wingers on toast down the sideline?

(Pat, beware the looseys who can type two words together mate.)

I respect Robert’s comment about giving him provincial experience in the position, and also reckon Nick naturally under-rates this experience. Farr-Right was a very quick but often shit server, and his career owes quite a lot to Noddy’s awesome hands. There is a trade-off here that the Gregan nay-sayers won’t admit. George gives much better service to Bernie than Nick ever did to Noddy, but, yes, the trade-off is that it’s slower.

Gits, however, bristles with all the finest of the fine skills. I’d use him off the bench to replace Gregan, instantly.

However, on a very positive note, one of the great joys of rugby is to watch it grow and turn and reflect. As a game it really does embody creativity.

It began, I believe, with kicking out from the full allowed all over the paddock, then reverting to the 25 yard line. And so on.. from no lifting in lineouts, scrum changes, ruck and maul changes.. some good, some not so good.. but all the while rugby was seeking to explore itself. What other sport does this? And can do it, as rugby can? There may be some.. I can’t think of one just now.

It’s not just about rule changes. It seems to me to be an inherent need it has, to reach into its corners, or depths, bring back an idea, give it light, and explore it on the field. It’s highly evolutionary. From that creative perspective, rugby has been a delight.

At the moment, it appears to me to be an explorative journey through ruck and maul phase play.. loosening up the ‘breakdown’ so as to give more air to the ball. (Part of this could be the effect of tv pressure, requiring the ball to be more visible, and one reason why rugby league has played well for itself on tv). This flattens the advantage line, making it harder for backs to attack. And so the exploration of seeking to score from counterattack.

I can’t see this current incarnation lasting overly long, if the top international teams have counterattacking as their prime scoring agenda. Yet it’s fascinating nevertheless. It will take one top team only to tighten the forwards (laterally, that is, across the field), and spin it out thru the backs as a prime attacking agenda and once again the game will metamorphose.

Where will it come from? I recall a short moment when England!! planned and played running rugby, and buzzed us all out happily. Anything can happen, as long as they keep singing hymns and arias.

I read an interesting article in one of our papers this morning some of which I would like to share with you. It relates to England but I think it is relevant to a number of nations at present.

‘Rugby’s high priests of ‘winning ugly’ are in retreat but don’t hold your breath for an outbreak of artistry as England will doubtless roll out the same old heavy weaponry in Paris and try to bully the hosts. England are rumbling back towards the dark age. A rhino pack tries to scatter the Celtic herd and width and ingenuity are mistrusted. Playing like that they will need a miracle to win the World Cup. They need to be reminded what the game is about. A lack of dynamism and mobilty in the back row is compounded by sterile muscularity in midfield but it goes much deeper than that. The best teams find ways to open up a pitch. England look to close it down.’

Given that Connolly gave us a master class in this ‘demolition crew’ type of rugby which all but destroyed Bath’s beautiful, flowing, inventive style of back play, I do hope he does not intend to get your national team playing in such a sterile manner. I hear he is in the UK at the moment finalising his coaching team so it seems like ‘bye, bye’ to Foley and Johnson. Bath is already a better team under Brian Ashton, I suspect Wales too will rise again with a Welshman at the helm.

Giteau has been tried at 5/8 a few times and been found wanting. He simply lacks Larkham’s fluidity, vision and creative flair, and looks very unlikely to develop it. OTO Giteau has looked promising at half the few times he’s been tried there. Australia has a couple of potential 5/8 successors if Larkham’s battered body doesn’t last to the World Cup. Mat Rogers has looked promising there on occasion, and the Queensland Reds’ new 5/8 Berrick Barnes has shown flashes of brilliance. So I don’t think there’s any need to push Giteau towards a 5/8 spot for which he isn’t naturally fitted, but there’s a crying need for another halfback contender, which he might well end up fitting like a glove (as Farr-Jones reckons).

It is interesting to see that the majority of national teams seem to be going through a period of transition and, apart from New Zealand, all seem to be struggling to develop a style of play and a group of players who will offer the chance of success in the world cup – by being adventurous and different.

I think that having a new coaching set up can often be the fillip that a team needs to spark them into playing a brand of rugby that wins games and entertains the fans – look at Wales last year. The problem seems to be in the lack of consistency and the ability to continue to surprise the opposition. Doing it once is ‘easy’, keeping on winning is hard!!

Do you feel that a lot of teams are of similar ilk these days and so cancel each other out? I notice it happening in our 6 nations championship this year and it will be interesting to see how it pans out for you in the tri-nations.

I would love to see Australia taking a few risks this year although fear of losing does seem to constrain teams (and coaches) and long term development is often sacrificed for instant results. If Giteau can grow into the No10 shirt, then I think you will be on to a winner as he is certainly the sort of player who could free your back line and open up gaps for others to score. I know that, in a team sport, no indivual is more important that the whole, but fly half is such a pivitol position that a ‘general’ is needed here. Is Giteau the man for the job? Only time will tell.

I find Nick Farr Jones’ statement interesting, coming from a specialised half, and not unrelated to your ideas, Ken. To have confidence enough in suggesting Giteau I believe Nick is acknowledging the change in skills focus (in the game style as we’ve lately come to know it). It also suggests the validity of test match experience over specialised skill. Both of these point to the risk averse professional agenda. Where the nursery system is now is indeed hard to say. Who owns what? Who loses what?

To me that’s one of the disappointing elements of the professional era, something we’ve lost. It was a brilliant nursery to grow through the under 7′s and on thru the representative ranks; each rep team held the player’s heart and yet the next step beckoned powerfully. Inspiration flowed naturally from top to bottom and vice versa. And sideways, too.. to play alongside players in rep teams otherwise opposed held a beautiful symmetry, which was taken back again in later matches when opposing again.

Now, for Nick to say Giteau could play halfback at test level so quickly shows the piecemeal nonquality of the professional era, and cuts off the natural energy of the nursery. The ‘who owns what who loses what’ scenario throws the focus onto loss, not gain.

But I wonder if our test style has been hijacked, and set off on the wrong path, for Nick to say those things. Ripping backlines, attacking from set play with the aim to score not only have validity in the modern era, but serve to shred an opposition’s reading of your game in the attempt. Under Jones we saw fifteen phase rugby, with the hope of scoring by capitalising on an individual break. I see now other international teams are seeking only to score from counterattack.

The fact remains that the ball beats the man. Spinning quality setpiece ball through the hands early is the holy grail of rugby and should be maintained. No need for it to be the only plan, but I believe the plan should at least a pillar built into it.

This requires then the skills of the halves to be sharp, and would disqualify Giteau until fully trained and proven in provincial grade.

On that basis, I would agree entirely that Giteau should be tested at provincial level, improving his and Cordingley’s play [or their counterparts], and establish absolutely the setpiece attacking backplay pillar, and have them both required to deliver for it. To me, though there are doubts with Connelly, that is where Australian rugby has a golden future. There are simply no stats that can counter that sort of creative style. Yes, revert to phase play if needed during the game, but let’s plan to run it creatively together, not just individually.