Harrison bearing down on the end zone for his record-breaking score
Thursday 28 January 2010
NFL: 'The Best Play of All Time'
More on the Super Bowl next week, but in the meantime, here's an interactive piece from the ESPN website looking at the critical moment of last year's big game, James Harrison's 100 yard interception return for a touchdown. It was the longest play in Super Bowl history, and taking views from those who were involved or who witnessed it, ESPN have dubbed it 'the best play of all time'. That's a bold claim, but there is no doubt that it was one of the most memorable sporting moments of last year, and if this year's Super Bowl features anything nearly as spectacular, fans are in for a treat.
Harrison bearing down on the end zone for his record-breaking score
Harrison bearing down on the end zone for his record-breaking score
Rugby: Ruben Kruger
How sad to hear of the death, aged 39, of former South Africa flanker Ruben Kruger, who was part of the World Cup winning side in 1995. Kruger was the epitome of the tough South African flanker, strong in the tackle and the carry, not playing a flashy game. He could go unnoticed at times, but he was an important part of that world champion side, memorably scoring the only try of a waterlogged semi-final against France in a drenched Durban.
Highlights of the 1995 semi-final begin five minutes into this clip
With Invictus in cinemas this week, recounting the tale of South Africa's historic victory in that tournament, it is easy to forget just how close that game was, ending 19-15. Kruger's try was the difference, and without it, history could have been very different.
Highlights of the 1995 semi-final begin five minutes into this clip
With Invictus in cinemas this week, recounting the tale of South Africa's historic victory in that tournament, it is easy to forget just how close that game was, ending 19-15. Kruger's try was the difference, and without it, history could have been very different.
Wednesday 27 January 2010
Cricket: Development vs Tradition in Samoa
There's a fantastic piece on The Guardian's website about the growth of cricket in Samoa and its clash with kilikiti, the distinctively local sport that evolved out of a previous attempt to introduce the game to the country in the 19th century. As Andy Bull, the writer, points out, we're used to hearing about the clash between modernity and tradition in the cricket world, especially when Twenty20 is involved, as it is here, but this particular clash has a unique flavour.
The links in the article are also worth looking at, particularly this video, which gives the viewer a proper look at kilikiti:
The links in the article are also worth looking at, particularly this video, which gives the viewer a proper look at kilikiti:
Tuesday 26 January 2010
Cricket: The Greatest Female Cricketer of All Time
Before today I'm ashamed to say I had never heard of Betty Wilson, but reading her obituary, it is clear that she was a remarkable cricketer, and quite possibly the greatest female cricketer of all time, as you would expect from someone who was compared to Don Bradman. In fact, she went one better than her fellow Australian by being a superb bowler as well, completing the then-unheard of feat, in male or female test cricket, of scoring a century and taking 10 wickets in the same match in the 1957-58 series against England.
A test average of 57.46 with the bat and 11.80 with the ball is a remarkable achievement in any form of the game, no matter what the standard, and although the women's international scene may not have been as well developed as it is now, those figures demand respect. Indeed she gained that respect, becoming the first woman to be inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame. There's a brief interview with her from a couple of years ago on Cricinfo, which does not reveal that much, other than a single-minded and driven individual, as one might expect.
A test average of 57.46 with the bat and 11.80 with the ball is a remarkable achievement in any form of the game, no matter what the standard, and although the women's international scene may not have been as well developed as it is now, those figures demand respect. Indeed she gained that respect, becoming the first woman to be inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame. There's a brief interview with her from a couple of years ago on Cricinfo, which does not reveal that much, other than a single-minded and driven individual, as one might expect.
Rugby: Borthwick's Captaincy
Amongst all the doom and gloom in the press surrounding the retention of Steve Borthwick as England captain, Bryn Palmer has broken the decision down on the BBC website. He concludes, much as I did back in the autumn, that Borthwick may not be the most inspirational choice, but right now he is the only logical one, and that is a realistic reflection of England's place in the world at the moment, and their talent pool, rather than blind loyalty on the part of Martin Johnson.
Northampton's Lawes is pushing for Borthwick's starting place
England will no doubt have mixed results in the Six Nations, and Borthwick will cop a lot of criticism, but until a more qualified candidate comes up either in the second row, or for the captaincy, he is the man for the job. It is easy for pundits to throw around names like Courtney Lawes, but the truth is that England's pool is very shallow when it comes to second rows and captains, and Lawes cannot even get into the Northampton team on a regular basis. Hopefully come the autumn, more players will have established themselves, and there will be alternatives in both roles, but for now England actually have greater concerns, such as establishing a regular team and some positive results. Focus on those, and the captaincy will take care of itself in due course.
Northampton's Lawes is pushing for Borthwick's starting place
England will no doubt have mixed results in the Six Nations, and Borthwick will cop a lot of criticism, but until a more qualified candidate comes up either in the second row, or for the captaincy, he is the man for the job. It is easy for pundits to throw around names like Courtney Lawes, but the truth is that England's pool is very shallow when it comes to second rows and captains, and Lawes cannot even get into the Northampton team on a regular basis. Hopefully come the autumn, more players will have established themselves, and there will be alternatives in both roles, but for now England actually have greater concerns, such as establishing a regular team and some positive results. Focus on those, and the captaincy will take care of itself in due course.
Friday 22 January 2010
Great Sporting Nicknames: The Chiropractor
Samoans are known throughout the rugby world as the biggest hitters in the game, and in this nation of big hitters, Brian Lima was, for many years, king. The only Samoan to be banned from tackling his team mates in training, such was the damage he could inflict, despite the history of Samoan tacklers such as Va'aiga Tuigamala and Trevor Leota, Lima became known as 'The Chiropractor' for rearranging his victims' bones with each hit.
Lima tackles Derick Hougaard at the 2003 World Cup
Unfortunately his tackles strayed into illegality too often for a player with such a long career, and despite being the only man to play in five World Cups, he never seemed to learn his lesson. Fittingly, his international career finally ended with a three-week ban during the 2007 World Cup for a typically robust high tackle on Jonny Wilkinson. However, when he got it right, he was thrilling to watch, utterly fearless and completely dedicated to the cause, and like so many great hard-tackling Samoan players, he dished out the big hits without malice, and played the game in an earnest and honest manner.
The tackle which led to the ban that ended Lima's career
The attention on his tackling meant that his other skills were often overlooked, but he was a world-class wing and centre, and one does not play in five World Cups, nor for top-flight clubs in England, New Zealand, Wales, Ireland and France without being a multi-faceted player. The fact that he played so long, despite his uncompromising style also speaks of a remarkable athlete, and the game was always a more eventful place for his presence.
As a nickname, 'The Chiropractor' has a great balance of humour and menace, you can picture it being given to a mafia enforcer or a Guy Ritchie-esque cockney villan. That is, however, if you would even consider giving the name to anyone else. Like all great nicknames, it was clear that there could be only one 'Chiropractor'.
Lima tackles Derick Hougaard at the 2003 World Cup
Unfortunately his tackles strayed into illegality too often for a player with such a long career, and despite being the only man to play in five World Cups, he never seemed to learn his lesson. Fittingly, his international career finally ended with a three-week ban during the 2007 World Cup for a typically robust high tackle on Jonny Wilkinson. However, when he got it right, he was thrilling to watch, utterly fearless and completely dedicated to the cause, and like so many great hard-tackling Samoan players, he dished out the big hits without malice, and played the game in an earnest and honest manner.
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The tackle which led to the ban that ended Lima's career
The attention on his tackling meant that his other skills were often overlooked, but he was a world-class wing and centre, and one does not play in five World Cups, nor for top-flight clubs in England, New Zealand, Wales, Ireland and France without being a multi-faceted player. The fact that he played so long, despite his uncompromising style also speaks of a remarkable athlete, and the game was always a more eventful place for his presence.
As a nickname, 'The Chiropractor' has a great balance of humour and menace, you can picture it being given to a mafia enforcer or a Guy Ritchie-esque cockney villan. That is, however, if you would even consider giving the name to anyone else. Like all great nicknames, it was clear that there could be only one 'Chiropractor'.
Highlights of the Decade: Cricinfo's list
Thursday 21 January 2010
Rugby: Bill McLaren
The death of Bill McLaren has already brought forth tributes from around the rugby world, as befits the game’s most iconic voice. McLaren was one of those rare commentators whose voice became entirely synonymous with their sport, much like Murray Walker, to the degree that, like Walker, even those who knew nothing about rugby recognised his voice, and the context in which it would be found. Whenever Rory Bremner broke out his impression of McLaren, it needed no explanation, unlike some of the politicians in his repertoire.
His voice was ideal for broadcasting, and rugby in particular, its rich and lyrical tone evoked the rugby heartland of the Scottish Borders, where McLaren was born, in Hawick. He added to this a passion for the game and a meticulous approach to research, which was all the more impressive when one considers that he was a part-timer for much of his career, teaching PE during the week. His ability to impart a remarkable amount of information, both statistical and anecdotal, without breaking stride or appearing to try too hard, only added to the viewing experience. Many of those facts and anecdotes stick with fans to this day, such as the tale of referee Derek Bevan, whose home club of Vadre in Wales framed his picture with a toilet seat, which was closed over him whenever he had a bad game. Only McLaren could weave that tale into the commentary of an international match without seeming contrived. Similarly his repertoire of one-liners, the product of preparation rather than spontaneity, steered clear of self-indulgence, and always seemed intended to add to the colour of a match, rather than to draw attention to his commentary.
Above all McLaren seems to have been a well-liked and respected man, and that goes a long way when someone spends so much time in a specialised field. Rugby never sounded the same after his retirement in 2002, and although Eddie Butler (whose own heartfelt tribute to McLaren is here) has his merits on television, as does Ian Robertson on radio, there is currently no-one who captures the spirit in the way that McLaren did. Maybe they never will, his voice and his spirit harked back to the amateur era, an age that already seems like ancient history. It seems strange to think that there is already a generation of fans that has grown up without his commentary, whereas there were 50 years’ worth who did prior to that. McLaren sits alongside greats like Walker and Richie Benaud and his commentary will conjure up evocative images of rugby’s past for those fans until the last of those generations is gone.
Of the coverage of his death, I particularly like this tribute from the UK-based American journalist and broadcaster, Mike Carlson. It is interesting to see the regard he in which he was held by a professional from another part of the world, with a very different sporting background, Carlson being (amongst other things) the pre-eminent NFL pundit in the UK. It is also interesting to note the tributes that have come in from all around the rugby world, and it is clear that as far afield as New Zealand, his was a voice that was heard and respected.
His voice was ideal for broadcasting, and rugby in particular, its rich and lyrical tone evoked the rugby heartland of the Scottish Borders, where McLaren was born, in Hawick. He added to this a passion for the game and a meticulous approach to research, which was all the more impressive when one considers that he was a part-timer for much of his career, teaching PE during the week. His ability to impart a remarkable amount of information, both statistical and anecdotal, without breaking stride or appearing to try too hard, only added to the viewing experience. Many of those facts and anecdotes stick with fans to this day, such as the tale of referee Derek Bevan, whose home club of Vadre in Wales framed his picture with a toilet seat, which was closed over him whenever he had a bad game. Only McLaren could weave that tale into the commentary of an international match without seeming contrived. Similarly his repertoire of one-liners, the product of preparation rather than spontaneity, steered clear of self-indulgence, and always seemed intended to add to the colour of a match, rather than to draw attention to his commentary.
Above all McLaren seems to have been a well-liked and respected man, and that goes a long way when someone spends so much time in a specialised field. Rugby never sounded the same after his retirement in 2002, and although Eddie Butler (whose own heartfelt tribute to McLaren is here) has his merits on television, as does Ian Robertson on radio, there is currently no-one who captures the spirit in the way that McLaren did. Maybe they never will, his voice and his spirit harked back to the amateur era, an age that already seems like ancient history. It seems strange to think that there is already a generation of fans that has grown up without his commentary, whereas there were 50 years’ worth who did prior to that. McLaren sits alongside greats like Walker and Richie Benaud and his commentary will conjure up evocative images of rugby’s past for those fans until the last of those generations is gone.
Of the coverage of his death, I particularly like this tribute from the UK-based American journalist and broadcaster, Mike Carlson. It is interesting to see the regard he in which he was held by a professional from another part of the world, with a very different sporting background, Carlson being (amongst other things) the pre-eminent NFL pundit in the UK. It is also interesting to note the tributes that have come in from all around the rugby world, and it is clear that as far afield as New Zealand, his was a voice that was heard and respected.
Wednesday 20 January 2010
Olympics: Blood in the Water
It's only up on the iPlayer for a few more hours, but if you have 15 spare minutes, listen to 'Blood in the Water', the story of the clash 1956 Olympic water polo clash between the Hungarian and Soviet teams, played against a backdrop of revolution in Hungary. Whilst the Soviet army was ruthlessly crushing the uprising, the encounter in Melbourne was a famously bloody encounter.
The third part in this series of 'More Than a Game' deals with the 1969 war between Honduras and El Salvador, which broke out following World Cup qualifying matches, and promises to be just as interesting.
The third part in this series of 'More Than a Game' deals with the 1969 war between Honduras and El Salvador, which broke out following World Cup qualifying matches, and promises to be just as interesting.
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Ed Smith on Professionalism in Sport
Former Kent, Middlesex and England cricketer Ed Smith has written a fascinating article in Intelligent Life magazine about the rise of the cult of professionalism in sport and in life in general. Specifically, he looks at the endless pursuit of the professional attitude, and wonders whether we have gone too far as a society, and that balance between the obsession with process and with a more amateur, fun-based approach to the world, needs restoring.
Whether or not one agrees with his views, he does raise some good points, and it is certainly true that many coaches in sport have been guilty of obsessing over copying the most professional model for coaching, rather than stopping to consider the merits of such an approach.
Whether or not one agrees with his views, he does raise some good points, and it is certainly true that many coaches in sport have been guilty of obsessing over copying the most professional model for coaching, rather than stopping to consider the merits of such an approach.
Saturday 16 January 2010
Cricket: Cricket on Ice
Looking at this article on Cricinfo, it seems that cricketers around the UK have missed an opportunity to get some unseasonal play in during the recent cold snap. During the winter of 1878-9, keen players around the country seized the chance to hold an impromptu winter season.
Matches took place on skates, and some surprisingly good scores were posted, alongside some more predictably bad ones, and there was enough action taking place for Wisden to report on the scene in the following year's edition.
There has seen plenty of sledging, but not in a Steve Waugh way
In reality, there probably was not enough ice in the south for this sort of game this winter, but in the north of England, or in Scotland, it might have been briefly possible. There was thick enough ice for some curling to take place, although plans for a big match were abandoned. Still, the idea is worth remembering for future winters. It would certainly be a memorable day's cricket.
Matches took place on skates, and some surprisingly good scores were posted, alongside some more predictably bad ones, and there was enough action taking place for Wisden to report on the scene in the following year's edition.
There has seen plenty of sledging, but not in a Steve Waugh way
In reality, there probably was not enough ice in the south for this sort of game this winter, but in the north of England, or in Scotland, it might have been briefly possible. There was thick enough ice for some curling to take place, although plans for a big match were abandoned. Still, the idea is worth remembering for future winters. It would certainly be a memorable day's cricket.
Wednesday 13 January 2010
Rugby League: GPS Tags for Players
Bradford Bulls players are going to lead the way in Super League by wearing GPS tags during matches that will relay real-time information about their movement and heart rate to coaches. The data could be used to help make substitutions during a match, as well as analysing player fitness and performance afterwards.
Bradford coach Steve McNamara (right) has embraced technology
Apparently the idea came from Aussie Rules Football, and if anything, it is surprising that this has not arrived sooner. One would imagine that many sports will follow suit now that the equipment is so unobtrusive. Expect to see American sports sides, who are never shy of using technology, following this trend, as well as top European football teams and the more advanced Olympic programmes.
Billy Beane (left) is known for his pioneering use of statistics
Assuming sports' governing bodies approve the technology, it makes one wonder where it will go next. How long before coaches in all major sports are reading detailed real-time biological data about their players, not only during matches, but also in training? The potential applications for the sports programmes that can afford it are huge, especially when one bears in mind the large amounts of data already analysed by high-tech organisations such as AC Milan or the RFU. The statistics-obsessed world of baseball has already shown other sports the immense possibilities of proactively using data, most famously in the case of Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane, whose ability to use "Sabermetrics" to make unusual but highly successful decisions based on statistics have made him a legend (and subject of a famous book - "Moneyball", the film adaptation of which seems to have stalled).
It seems that despite the fuss over cricket's referral system, and the lack of goal-line technology in football, as far as technology in sport goes, we have only just seen the beginning.
Apparently the idea came from Aussie Rules Football, and if anything, it is surprising that this has not arrived sooner. One would imagine that many sports will follow suit now that the equipment is so unobtrusive. Expect to see American sports sides, who are never shy of using technology, following this trend, as well as top European football teams and the more advanced Olympic programmes.
Assuming sports' governing bodies approve the technology, it makes one wonder where it will go next. How long before coaches in all major sports are reading detailed real-time biological data about their players, not only during matches, but also in training? The potential applications for the sports programmes that can afford it are huge, especially when one bears in mind the large amounts of data already analysed by high-tech organisations such as AC Milan or the RFU. The statistics-obsessed world of baseball has already shown other sports the immense possibilities of proactively using data, most famously in the case of Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane, whose ability to use "Sabermetrics" to make unusual but highly successful decisions based on statistics have made him a legend (and subject of a famous book - "Moneyball", the film adaptation of which seems to have stalled).
It seems that despite the fuss over cricket's referral system, and the lack of goal-line technology in football, as far as technology in sport goes, we have only just seen the beginning.
Tuesday 12 January 2010
A Glimpse Into Sporting History
ESPN has an article on its website about the sporting memorabilia held by the Smithsonian Institution. Well worth a read to find out just what sort of artifacts they value, and to see what endorsements previous generations of sportsmen signed up for. Baseball-themed condom anyone?
Monday 11 January 2010
Football: Wenger on the African Cup of Nations
Arsene Wenger has expressed concerns that the calls from club managers for the cancellation of the African Cup of Nations, and for the tournament’s European based players to return home, following Friday's attack on the Togolese national side, may be influenced by self-interest on the part of their clubs.
Wenger told The Telegraph:
"Behind things like that, is it a selfish motivation or is it a real issue over security? We, here, are not in the best position to judge the security of this competition.”
Although no-one would suggest that the managers of clubs like Hull and Bolton are not concerned about their players, they also stand to benefit from any withdrawals, as they are battling relegation. The tournament is unpopular with European clubs, taking players away at a critical time during the season.
Wenger coached Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor at Arsenal
Wenger, who also has players at the tournament, makes the point that it is for those on the inside to judge the best course of action:
“If you organise the European Championship and you have an incident like that — it can happen and has happened — you do not want all your players suddenly to move home. When you hear sometimes there’s unrest in the suburbs of London, you still live well in London. When I speak to my friends in France, they ask me: 'Is a revolution happening in London?’ It’s the same in Paris. You immediately think it’s a revolution everywhere. It’s not always the case. You have to judge the place, whether the competition can go on or not, and I don’t know enough about the situation.”
Whatever the rights and the wrongs of continuing with the tournament, those decisions should be left to the players and administrators in Africa. Although it may be well-intentioned, any advice from European clubs is best taken with a pinch of salt, given their self-interest, difficult relationship with international football, and a dismissive view of non-European international football.
When he makes observations like these, Wenger comes across as an intelligent and calm man with a strong sense of perspective – the man he is generally held to be in private. Such a shame then, that he has often been responsible for some less dignified outbursts and bouts of partisanship.
Wenger told The Telegraph:
"Behind things like that, is it a selfish motivation or is it a real issue over security? We, here, are not in the best position to judge the security of this competition.”
Although no-one would suggest that the managers of clubs like Hull and Bolton are not concerned about their players, they also stand to benefit from any withdrawals, as they are battling relegation. The tournament is unpopular with European clubs, taking players away at a critical time during the season.
Wenger, who also has players at the tournament, makes the point that it is for those on the inside to judge the best course of action:
“If you organise the European Championship and you have an incident like that — it can happen and has happened — you do not want all your players suddenly to move home. When you hear sometimes there’s unrest in the suburbs of London, you still live well in London. When I speak to my friends in France, they ask me: 'Is a revolution happening in London?’ It’s the same in Paris. You immediately think it’s a revolution everywhere. It’s not always the case. You have to judge the place, whether the competition can go on or not, and I don’t know enough about the situation.”
Whatever the rights and the wrongs of continuing with the tournament, those decisions should be left to the players and administrators in Africa. Although it may be well-intentioned, any advice from European clubs is best taken with a pinch of salt, given their self-interest, difficult relationship with international football, and a dismissive view of non-European international football.
When he makes observations like these, Wenger comes across as an intelligent and calm man with a strong sense of perspective – the man he is generally held to be in private. Such a shame then, that he has often been responsible for some less dignified outbursts and bouts of partisanship.
Press round up
Courtesy of The Observer: Ten technical innovations that changed sport.
An interesting list which harks back to a different era, one of independent, and often amateur, innovators. It is hard to imagine many of the sports mentioned without the equipment in this list.
Photographer Tom Jenkins chooses his pictures of the decade.
Eddie Butler rounds up England's selection options for the Six Nations, with the squad due to be announced on Wednesday. He proposes some interesting ideas, including the suggestion that Delon Armitage might play at centre, although the obsession he shares with other pundits about playing Jonny Wilkinson at inside centre I think overlooks Wilkinson's lack of dynamism. Even if the inside centre is picked as a second fly-half, he still needs to be able to offer traditional inside centre traits, such as crash ball options, which Wilkinson does not. Similarly, Courtney Lawes has become the darling of several leading journalists, but he cannot get into the Northampton team at lock, and is not an obvious pick at blindside flanker. One excellent performance against Munster and Paul O'Connell brought him to national attention, but he needs more performances of that standard before he plays for England.
Meanwhile The Times looks at the risks of eye-gouging, and the importance of Julien Dupuy's disciplinary hearing to the future of the game.
Simon Barnes looks at the ball-tampering row engulfing England's tour of South Africa, and points out the hypocrisy of blaming bowlers for all the game's ills (I'm not sure about the taking of a wicket as the "ultimate point of arousal" mind you).
Mike Selvey suggests that South Africa should be careful what they wish for before they instruct the groundsman to prepare a result pitch for the final test match which starts in Johannesburg on Thursday.
An interesting list which harks back to a different era, one of independent, and often amateur, innovators. It is hard to imagine many of the sports mentioned without the equipment in this list.
Photographer Tom Jenkins chooses his pictures of the decade.
Eddie Butler rounds up England's selection options for the Six Nations, with the squad due to be announced on Wednesday. He proposes some interesting ideas, including the suggestion that Delon Armitage might play at centre, although the obsession he shares with other pundits about playing Jonny Wilkinson at inside centre I think overlooks Wilkinson's lack of dynamism. Even if the inside centre is picked as a second fly-half, he still needs to be able to offer traditional inside centre traits, such as crash ball options, which Wilkinson does not. Similarly, Courtney Lawes has become the darling of several leading journalists, but he cannot get into the Northampton team at lock, and is not an obvious pick at blindside flanker. One excellent performance against Munster and Paul O'Connell brought him to national attention, but he needs more performances of that standard before he plays for England.
Meanwhile The Times looks at the risks of eye-gouging, and the importance of Julien Dupuy's disciplinary hearing to the future of the game.
Simon Barnes looks at the ball-tampering row engulfing England's tour of South Africa, and points out the hypocrisy of blaming bowlers for all the game's ills (I'm not sure about the taking of a wicket as the "ultimate point of arousal" mind you).
Mike Selvey suggests that South Africa should be careful what they wish for before they instruct the groundsman to prepare a result pitch for the final test match which starts in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Friday 8 January 2010
Rugby: Brendan Venter on Refereeing
The rant by Saracens Director of Rugby, Brendan Venter, about English refereeing standards has split the press this week, with a number of prominent pundits agreeing with his assessment that the laws are not being interpreted consistently.
Venter undoubtedly has a point, something that has been already discussed at length this season. However, all the pundits queuing up to support him are doing so because they have been making this point themselves for months, which has blinded them to the manner of his comments. He fully deserves to be punished for his outburst, not because the RFU should crush any dissent, but because his good point was buried under an avalanche of angry and disingenuous remarks about referees, and this needs attention, as much as the refereeing standards.
There are two separate issues here, and both are important. Making the interpretation of the laws more consistent, especially at the breakdown, is a big one, but so is ensuring that officials are treated with respect. Venter would have been better off biting his tongue and waiting to make a more measured statement at another time, rather than after Saracens’ second defeat in two games, their first losses of the season. Although this is more than just a case of sour grapes, it is noticeable that there was no ranting from him when his side was unbeaten.
Venter criticised the decision to award Steve Borthwick a yellow card against Leicester
Moreover, the game in question, with Saracens losing away to Leicester was not the inexplicable turnaround that their head coach made it out to be. The reversal of a 9-3 first half penalty count in favour of Saracens to 10-4 count against them is an interesting statistic, but not as clear cut as he would like to think. Penalty counts reflect many things, most relevant to this match was the fact that Leicester’s second half performance was greatly improved, and they were on the front foot for much of it. Regardless of interpretation, decisions tend to favour the side going forwards. Penalties are not awarded on an alternating basis, they tend to come in a series for the side on top, followed by a series for the other side when they are on top. An overall penalty count for the match of 13-13 is not controversial. The scale of the turnaround in points terms was actually very small, only three points.
Stuart Barnes and Will Greenwood assessed the game on the Rugby Club on Sky, and concluded that none of the decisions were unusually controversial. Even the sin-binning of Saracens’ captain Steve Borthwick, which seemed harsh on first viewing, was consistent with at least two similar incidents this season, one of them involving another Saracens player. If anything, Borthwick was the victim of consistency, rather than a lack of it.
Venter stated that he thought the referee “was influenced at half time”, a big accusation to be making without any proof – just ask Jose Mourinho. He stated that players talk too much to referees, which may be true, but is the case in every top-flight fixture around the world, so nothing out of the ordinary there. He then raised the Sale v Leicester game from the previous week, stating that Richard Cockerill had been angry at the refereeing, but the Saracens staff felt that if anything Sale had been hard done by. This is baffling, as Venter is using this to illustrate inconsistent refereeing, when in fact he is highlighting inconsistent perceptions of refereeing by those involved in the match. Cockerill later commented: “I wasn’t happy with the referee [but] I went home and watched the video and he was OK”. Moving on, Venter said:
"We cannot (have referees) just rock up and say: 'Hi boys, I am here, where is the whistle? Chuck me an orange.' It can't work like that."
This is obviously wrong, and he must know it. If he wants referees to take responsibility for their conduct, so must he.
Leciester Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill has defended referees following Venter's outburst
This whole situation is at most, only partially the fault of referees. It is down to the IRB to devise laws that work, and then in tandem with the RFU offer clear guidance on interpretation. There has been so much tinkering in recent years that it is a wonder that anyone knows the laws, and it is very clear that many players and coaches do not know them as well as they should.
Eddie Butler thinks that that officials do not need protection, and criticism will not spark a football-esque breakdown of respect, but it is hard to know until it is too late. It is true that rugby and football have different cultures, but the game is expanding all the time, and if it wants its values to remain intact, it has to protect them. There is a right way and a wrong way to raise concerns, and whilst Venter may feel that he had exhausted official channels following some unproductive discussions with the RFU, he could have made his comments to the media in a more balanced way.
As for all those jumping on the bandwagon, they would do well to be wary of turning Venter into a martyr for what was a rather unpleasant rant, and instead properly direct their concerns to those with the power to change things, rather than the referees themselves. Venter meanwhile, has deflected attention from his side’s back-to-back losses, and criticism of their style of play, something his players will thank him for at least.
Venter undoubtedly has a point, something that has been already discussed at length this season. However, all the pundits queuing up to support him are doing so because they have been making this point themselves for months, which has blinded them to the manner of his comments. He fully deserves to be punished for his outburst, not because the RFU should crush any dissent, but because his good point was buried under an avalanche of angry and disingenuous remarks about referees, and this needs attention, as much as the refereeing standards.
There are two separate issues here, and both are important. Making the interpretation of the laws more consistent, especially at the breakdown, is a big one, but so is ensuring that officials are treated with respect. Venter would have been better off biting his tongue and waiting to make a more measured statement at another time, rather than after Saracens’ second defeat in two games, their first losses of the season. Although this is more than just a case of sour grapes, it is noticeable that there was no ranting from him when his side was unbeaten.
Moreover, the game in question, with Saracens losing away to Leicester was not the inexplicable turnaround that their head coach made it out to be. The reversal of a 9-3 first half penalty count in favour of Saracens to 10-4 count against them is an interesting statistic, but not as clear cut as he would like to think. Penalty counts reflect many things, most relevant to this match was the fact that Leicester’s second half performance was greatly improved, and they were on the front foot for much of it. Regardless of interpretation, decisions tend to favour the side going forwards. Penalties are not awarded on an alternating basis, they tend to come in a series for the side on top, followed by a series for the other side when they are on top. An overall penalty count for the match of 13-13 is not controversial. The scale of the turnaround in points terms was actually very small, only three points.
Stuart Barnes and Will Greenwood assessed the game on the Rugby Club on Sky, and concluded that none of the decisions were unusually controversial. Even the sin-binning of Saracens’ captain Steve Borthwick, which seemed harsh on first viewing, was consistent with at least two similar incidents this season, one of them involving another Saracens player. If anything, Borthwick was the victim of consistency, rather than a lack of it.
Venter stated that he thought the referee “was influenced at half time”, a big accusation to be making without any proof – just ask Jose Mourinho. He stated that players talk too much to referees, which may be true, but is the case in every top-flight fixture around the world, so nothing out of the ordinary there. He then raised the Sale v Leicester game from the previous week, stating that Richard Cockerill had been angry at the refereeing, but the Saracens staff felt that if anything Sale had been hard done by. This is baffling, as Venter is using this to illustrate inconsistent refereeing, when in fact he is highlighting inconsistent perceptions of refereeing by those involved in the match. Cockerill later commented: “I wasn’t happy with the referee [but] I went home and watched the video and he was OK”. Moving on, Venter said:
"We cannot (have referees) just rock up and say: 'Hi boys, I am here, where is the whistle? Chuck me an orange.' It can't work like that."
This is obviously wrong, and he must know it. If he wants referees to take responsibility for their conduct, so must he.
This whole situation is at most, only partially the fault of referees. It is down to the IRB to devise laws that work, and then in tandem with the RFU offer clear guidance on interpretation. There has been so much tinkering in recent years that it is a wonder that anyone knows the laws, and it is very clear that many players and coaches do not know them as well as they should.
Eddie Butler thinks that that officials do not need protection, and criticism will not spark a football-esque breakdown of respect, but it is hard to know until it is too late. It is true that rugby and football have different cultures, but the game is expanding all the time, and if it wants its values to remain intact, it has to protect them. There is a right way and a wrong way to raise concerns, and whilst Venter may feel that he had exhausted official channels following some unproductive discussions with the RFU, he could have made his comments to the media in a more balanced way.
As for all those jumping on the bandwagon, they would do well to be wary of turning Venter into a martyr for what was a rather unpleasant rant, and instead properly direct their concerns to those with the power to change things, rather than the referees themselves. Venter meanwhile, has deflected attention from his side’s back-to-back losses, and criticism of their style of play, something his players will thank him for at least.
Wednesday 6 January 2010
2009: The Year of the Cheat?
A final thought on 2009: was it the year of the cheat? After all, this was the year of fake blood, Henry’s handball, Piquet’s whistleblowing and McLaren’s lies. Andre Agassi admitted to conning his way out of a failed drug test and eye gouging came back into fashion in rugby.
Every year brings its sporting scandals, cheating is as old as sport itself so nothing new there. What made 2009 stand out was the scale and effort of some of these schemes, and the fact that there were so many in one year.
Richards masterminded Harlequins' almost comical scheme
The most alarming side of the Harlequins fake blood affair was the premeditation. Rugby players have always set out to see what they can get away with, nothing new there to a veteran of the amateur era like Dean Richards. What has changed is the media coverage and the money. When Richards devised his scheme, it was not just a match he was trying to fiddle, but the biggest club rugby competition in the world, and the huge financial rewards associated with it. Had Leinster not made it to the semi-final, they would have been robbed of their classic encounter with rivals Munster, followed by a win in the final, but also a significant payout. This is part of an ongoing growing process for rugby union, still in its professional infancy. Hopefully these are nothing more than growing pains, and a new moral code will emerge at the top. Then again, looking at the rest of the professional sporting world, that might be too much to ask for.
Premeditation was not surprising in Formula 1, a sport where everything is planned and ruthlessly evaluated. The decision of Flavio Briatore and Renault to order Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash deliberately during the Singapore Grand Prix took place in 2008, but was uncovered in 2009, and was only shocking because of the risks involved in crashing a car at high speed. It would not be surprising however, if it were discovered that other teams had done this before. That is the sad reality that F1 faces at the moment, especially when the efforts of McLaren and Hamilton to swindle their way to another driver’s points at the start of the 2009 season are taken into consideration.
Nelson Piquet Jr. admitted to crashing his Renault on purpose
At least Thierry Henry’s handball was a heat of the moment decision, the kind of spontaneous cheating that is no less immoral, but says less about the state of a sport than that resulting from planning. Football has seen this kind of thing before, as England fans know well.
It is hard to know what to make of all this organised cheating in 2009, if anything. There is a suggestion that as the stakes in sport rise higher and higher, because the money has got bigger and bigger, this sort of thing will happen more often. Whilst the economy has squeezed some sports, cutbacks have largely come around the fringes, leaving the big-earners untouched, and conversely, raising the stakes even higher for those fringe performers who had livelihoods on the line.
Meanwhile the attitude to this sort of cheating seems to be that it is up to the authorities to police it, rather than to the cheats to put morals and the wellbeing of their sport ahead of their own success. This is a demoralising and cynical view, but perhaps a realistic one. Simon Barnes for one, takes it very seriously.
Then again, perhaps it means nothing. Maybe 2009 was just one of those years when a number of bizarre episodes coincided, and the elaborate deceptions should just be laughed at, comical as they are. Formula 1 has problems, that is clear (especially in light of today’s ruling lifting Briatore’s lifetime ban), as do the other sports. Whether there is a pattern is hard to say at the moment. Maybe fans should be reassured that the cheats are being caught, after all, cycling has been through the wringer in recent years, with positive drugs tests hitting its credibility, but at least that showed that the cheats were being caught. This year’s Tour de France featured not one failed test, perhaps the cheats have evolved again, or perhaps, just for now, the authorities have caught up and cleaned their sport up.
If (and it is a big if), sportsmen and women, coaches and administrators think twice about cheating after last year’s scandals, then the cathartic pain of 2009 will have been worth it for sports fans. Nothing stands still in sport though, and it is only a matter of when, not if, there will be another elaborate cheat exposed in the media.
Every year brings its sporting scandals, cheating is as old as sport itself so nothing new there. What made 2009 stand out was the scale and effort of some of these schemes, and the fact that there were so many in one year.
The most alarming side of the Harlequins fake blood affair was the premeditation. Rugby players have always set out to see what they can get away with, nothing new there to a veteran of the amateur era like Dean Richards. What has changed is the media coverage and the money. When Richards devised his scheme, it was not just a match he was trying to fiddle, but the biggest club rugby competition in the world, and the huge financial rewards associated with it. Had Leinster not made it to the semi-final, they would have been robbed of their classic encounter with rivals Munster, followed by a win in the final, but also a significant payout. This is part of an ongoing growing process for rugby union, still in its professional infancy. Hopefully these are nothing more than growing pains, and a new moral code will emerge at the top. Then again, looking at the rest of the professional sporting world, that might be too much to ask for.
Premeditation was not surprising in Formula 1, a sport where everything is planned and ruthlessly evaluated. The decision of Flavio Briatore and Renault to order Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash deliberately during the Singapore Grand Prix took place in 2008, but was uncovered in 2009, and was only shocking because of the risks involved in crashing a car at high speed. It would not be surprising however, if it were discovered that other teams had done this before. That is the sad reality that F1 faces at the moment, especially when the efforts of McLaren and Hamilton to swindle their way to another driver’s points at the start of the 2009 season are taken into consideration.
At least Thierry Henry’s handball was a heat of the moment decision, the kind of spontaneous cheating that is no less immoral, but says less about the state of a sport than that resulting from planning. Football has seen this kind of thing before, as England fans know well.
It is hard to know what to make of all this organised cheating in 2009, if anything. There is a suggestion that as the stakes in sport rise higher and higher, because the money has got bigger and bigger, this sort of thing will happen more often. Whilst the economy has squeezed some sports, cutbacks have largely come around the fringes, leaving the big-earners untouched, and conversely, raising the stakes even higher for those fringe performers who had livelihoods on the line.
Meanwhile the attitude to this sort of cheating seems to be that it is up to the authorities to police it, rather than to the cheats to put morals and the wellbeing of their sport ahead of their own success. This is a demoralising and cynical view, but perhaps a realistic one. Simon Barnes for one, takes it very seriously.
Then again, perhaps it means nothing. Maybe 2009 was just one of those years when a number of bizarre episodes coincided, and the elaborate deceptions should just be laughed at, comical as they are. Formula 1 has problems, that is clear (especially in light of today’s ruling lifting Briatore’s lifetime ban), as do the other sports. Whether there is a pattern is hard to say at the moment. Maybe fans should be reassured that the cheats are being caught, after all, cycling has been through the wringer in recent years, with positive drugs tests hitting its credibility, but at least that showed that the cheats were being caught. This year’s Tour de France featured not one failed test, perhaps the cheats have evolved again, or perhaps, just for now, the authorities have caught up and cleaned their sport up.
If (and it is a big if), sportsmen and women, coaches and administrators think twice about cheating after last year’s scandals, then the cathartic pain of 2009 will have been worth it for sports fans. Nothing stands still in sport though, and it is only a matter of when, not if, there will be another elaborate cheat exposed in the media.
Monday 4 January 2010
Highlights of 2009: England's New Stars Shine at the Oval
In the end, it was all so simple. Win the toss, bat first, then bowl the opposition out with a sizeable deficit, post an improbably high target with two and a bit days left, bowl them out with plenty of time to spare. One suspects that for England, an Ashes victory will never be as easy as that though. Yes, with hindsight it seems so simple, but this was a series that twisted and turned, and although it lacked the sense, present in 2005, that this was cricket of the highest quality, the 2009 Ashes would earn its own place in history as another series of compelling high drama.
England's win secured the Ashes in dramatic fashion
The ten-day gap between the fourth and fifth tests turned out to be the best marketing tool that anyone could have dreamed up, something administrators would do well to heed in light of the number of back-to-back tests in modern schedules. The media was filled with speculation about selection, particularly the England number three position vacated by the out of form Ravi Bopara. Would Mark Ramprakash, the great unfulfilled talent of his era alongside Graeme Hick, earn a fairytale recall? Should Marcus Trescothick come out of retirement for a swansong? Should Ian Bell, another man under pressure, retain his place? Amazingly, given the havoc that constant chopping and changing had wreaked upon past England sides, some pundits advocated a complete gutting of the middle order to reinvigorate a team that had been humiliated in the third test at Headingley.
As it was, the selectors chose the man they had been lining up for the role, the form player of the domestic scene. Despite his South African accent, Jonathan Trott would be cast as England’s saviour.
In any event, two stars were born at the Oval. Trott looked composed in his first innings, as England struggled on a difficult pitch, and was unfortunate to be run out for 41. England fans were initially disappointed with their first innings total of 332, but with each passing over it became apparent that on this pitch, it would be a competitive score. It looked even more competitive after the Australian reply, when Stuart Broad, heir to Andrew Flintoff’s role as all-rounder, came to the fore in his predecessor’s final test match. In a possibly career-making performance, Broad took 5-37, all of them top order wickets, and suddenly England were in the driving seat.
Stuart Broad seized the momentum for England on day two
Broad’s performance was the moment his career came into focus, as his potential suddenly turned into achievement. Bowling at a good pace, with a disciplined line and length, and an ability to bowl wicket-taking deliveries on a pitch that responded to him, he seized the moment, and the initiative. For an afternoon, a sort of mania overtook the Oval, and every time the tall Englishman ran in to bowl, anything seemed possible. The feeling was reminiscent of Kevin Pietersen’s assault on Brett Lee’s bowling on the final day at the Oval four years prior, a sense of momentum inexorably shifting.
Then it was over to Trott, whose nerveless second innings century brushed all the selection controversy aside almost effortlessly. Combined with Andrew Strauss’ second half-century of the match and some quickfire cameos from the tail, including a Flintoff farewell knock, England now had a commanding lead on a deteriorating pitch.
Australia dug in manfully as Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke fought for all they were worth. However, with Broad establishing himself as England’s new all-round star, Andrew Flintoff gave the younger man one final lesson in seizing the initiative, running Ponting out with a jet-propelled throw. It was now a matter of if, rather than when, England would win. Steve Harmison, for possibly the last time for England, and Graeme Swann, fresh from a quickfire 63 with the bat, and after a summer in which he had become a bona-fide match-winner, did the rest.
Flintoff celebrates Ponting's run-out with his team-mates
The final five wickets fell in only eight overs, making what had been an attritional fourth day seem strangely surreal under the August sun. England had won the Ashes at for the second time in four years, and like the previous win in 2005, it had been a series that had reminded the world just how compelling test cricket could be. It was not a definitive series, Australia were no longer the world’s best side, and England were not about to fall into 2005’s trap of thinking that they had arrived. However, the home nation had seen new stars emerge, and both nations could look forward to a rivalry that seemed as intense and competitive as it had ever been.
The ten-day gap between the fourth and fifth tests turned out to be the best marketing tool that anyone could have dreamed up, something administrators would do well to heed in light of the number of back-to-back tests in modern schedules. The media was filled with speculation about selection, particularly the England number three position vacated by the out of form Ravi Bopara. Would Mark Ramprakash, the great unfulfilled talent of his era alongside Graeme Hick, earn a fairytale recall? Should Marcus Trescothick come out of retirement for a swansong? Should Ian Bell, another man under pressure, retain his place? Amazingly, given the havoc that constant chopping and changing had wreaked upon past England sides, some pundits advocated a complete gutting of the middle order to reinvigorate a team that had been humiliated in the third test at Headingley.
As it was, the selectors chose the man they had been lining up for the role, the form player of the domestic scene. Despite his South African accent, Jonathan Trott would be cast as England’s saviour.
In any event, two stars were born at the Oval. Trott looked composed in his first innings, as England struggled on a difficult pitch, and was unfortunate to be run out for 41. England fans were initially disappointed with their first innings total of 332, but with each passing over it became apparent that on this pitch, it would be a competitive score. It looked even more competitive after the Australian reply, when Stuart Broad, heir to Andrew Flintoff’s role as all-rounder, came to the fore in his predecessor’s final test match. In a possibly career-making performance, Broad took 5-37, all of them top order wickets, and suddenly England were in the driving seat.
Broad’s performance was the moment his career came into focus, as his potential suddenly turned into achievement. Bowling at a good pace, with a disciplined line and length, and an ability to bowl wicket-taking deliveries on a pitch that responded to him, he seized the moment, and the initiative. For an afternoon, a sort of mania overtook the Oval, and every time the tall Englishman ran in to bowl, anything seemed possible. The feeling was reminiscent of Kevin Pietersen’s assault on Brett Lee’s bowling on the final day at the Oval four years prior, a sense of momentum inexorably shifting.
Then it was over to Trott, whose nerveless second innings century brushed all the selection controversy aside almost effortlessly. Combined with Andrew Strauss’ second half-century of the match and some quickfire cameos from the tail, including a Flintoff farewell knock, England now had a commanding lead on a deteriorating pitch.
Australia dug in manfully as Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke fought for all they were worth. However, with Broad establishing himself as England’s new all-round star, Andrew Flintoff gave the younger man one final lesson in seizing the initiative, running Ponting out with a jet-propelled throw. It was now a matter of if, rather than when, England would win. Steve Harmison, for possibly the last time for England, and Graeme Swann, fresh from a quickfire 63 with the bat, and after a summer in which he had become a bona-fide match-winner, did the rest.
The final five wickets fell in only eight overs, making what had been an attritional fourth day seem strangely surreal under the August sun. England had won the Ashes at for the second time in four years, and like the previous win in 2005, it had been a series that had reminded the world just how compelling test cricket could be. It was not a definitive series, Australia were no longer the world’s best side, and England were not about to fall into 2005’s trap of thinking that they had arrived. However, the home nation had seen new stars emerge, and both nations could look forward to a rivalry that seemed as intense and competitive as it had ever been.
Sunday 3 January 2010
Highlights of 2009: South Africa vs the Lions
2009 was a strange year in rugby union. There was near-hysterical criticism of the way the game was played, the ELVs were abolished, there was more criticism of the way the game was played, the people who had criticised the IRB for changing the laws and introducing the ELVs criticised them for not changing the laws, there were drugs scandals and eye gouging and fake blood, and in the middle of it all, one of the most compelling test series of all time.
The 2009 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa will live long in the memory. Ian McGeechan, a man forever associated with the Lions, restored the soul of the side after Clive Woodward’s ill-fated venture in 2005. He also showed that it was possible to pick and coach a side that was willing and able to play good rugby against the reigning world champions in their own back yard, a point that many coaches and critics would do well to take heed of in 2010.
McGeechan reinvigorated the Lions in 2009
The midweek and non-international games were played with real intensity, as unheralded players from South Africa saw their chance to shine on the world stage, and Heinrich Brussow showed that a big performance against the Lions could catapult a young player to great things. With the Southern Hemisphere sides all playing midweek games on their tours in the autumn, with exciting results, perhaps 2009 was the year that the tour match, a relic which appeared to have been lost with the arrival of the professional game, made a surprising return.
The test series itself had everything: inventive play, strong defence, tragic mistakes, moments of brilliance, passion and stories of failure and redemption. The first two tests were unmissable sporting drama; to take one’s eyes off them for a moment was to risk missing a colossal tackle or moment of high skill. Stars were born, particularly Jamie Roberts for the Lions, and Brussow and Tendai Mtawarira on the home side. South Africa roared out of the blocks in the first test, led by the unflinching John Smit, but the Lions stormed back, before missed opportunities and stout defence left them narrowly defeated. The second test saw the Lions establish a lead, but the world champions showed their mettle, and with seconds remaining, a moment of madness from a battered and dazed Ronan O’Gara, who tackled Fourie du Preez in the air, gave Morne Steyn a chance to win the match and the series with a penalty, the final kick of the game, which he took with aplomb.
O'Gara's intervention decided the series, but not in the way in which he would have hoped
What this meant was that the only thing the series was missing was a third test decider, but that match was still eventful, the Lions winning an open and exciting encounter, restoring some pride, and ending what was remarkably, given that series wins have been few and far between over the years, their longest losing streak.
It was not all heart-warming fare, Schalk Burger’s callous gouging of Luke Fitzgerald’s eyes took a little of the sheen off the South Africans’ aura, as did the nonsensical defence raised by his coach, Pieter de Villiers. There was a bitter taste in the mouth too for Lions fans, who had seen their side come so close to a memorable victory, but the rugby world was a better place for a truly classic series, and the South Africans could rightly be proud of the way that they had built on their World Cup success, and established themselves as one of the best sides of all time. All that was left was for fans to start counting the days until Australia 2013.
The 2009 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa will live long in the memory. Ian McGeechan, a man forever associated with the Lions, restored the soul of the side after Clive Woodward’s ill-fated venture in 2005. He also showed that it was possible to pick and coach a side that was willing and able to play good rugby against the reigning world champions in their own back yard, a point that many coaches and critics would do well to take heed of in 2010.
The midweek and non-international games were played with real intensity, as unheralded players from South Africa saw their chance to shine on the world stage, and Heinrich Brussow showed that a big performance against the Lions could catapult a young player to great things. With the Southern Hemisphere sides all playing midweek games on their tours in the autumn, with exciting results, perhaps 2009 was the year that the tour match, a relic which appeared to have been lost with the arrival of the professional game, made a surprising return.
The test series itself had everything: inventive play, strong defence, tragic mistakes, moments of brilliance, passion and stories of failure and redemption. The first two tests were unmissable sporting drama; to take one’s eyes off them for a moment was to risk missing a colossal tackle or moment of high skill. Stars were born, particularly Jamie Roberts for the Lions, and Brussow and Tendai Mtawarira on the home side. South Africa roared out of the blocks in the first test, led by the unflinching John Smit, but the Lions stormed back, before missed opportunities and stout defence left them narrowly defeated. The second test saw the Lions establish a lead, but the world champions showed their mettle, and with seconds remaining, a moment of madness from a battered and dazed Ronan O’Gara, who tackled Fourie du Preez in the air, gave Morne Steyn a chance to win the match and the series with a penalty, the final kick of the game, which he took with aplomb.
What this meant was that the only thing the series was missing was a third test decider, but that match was still eventful, the Lions winning an open and exciting encounter, restoring some pride, and ending what was remarkably, given that series wins have been few and far between over the years, their longest losing streak.
It was not all heart-warming fare, Schalk Burger’s callous gouging of Luke Fitzgerald’s eyes took a little of the sheen off the South Africans’ aura, as did the nonsensical defence raised by his coach, Pieter de Villiers. There was a bitter taste in the mouth too for Lions fans, who had seen their side come so close to a memorable victory, but the rugby world was a better place for a truly classic series, and the South Africans could rightly be proud of the way that they had built on their World Cup success, and established themselves as one of the best sides of all time. All that was left was for fans to start counting the days until Australia 2013.
Friday 1 January 2010
Highlights of 2009: Ireland's Year at Last
There was no doubt that in the Northern Hemisphere, 2009 was Ireland’s year. For all the success that Warren Gatland and Eddie O’Sullivan had had during their tenures in charge of the national side, the Irish had no serious silverware to show for it. Meanwhile Leinster remained alongside Stade Francais as the biggest sides never to have won the Heineken Cup, despite years of close encounters, and the pain of watching their close rivals Munster lift the trophy twice in three years.
For both sides, captained by talismanic centre Brian O’Driscoll, the waiting was finally over. In a year when rugby was under attack for being boring and uninventive, Ireland and Leinster, with their stellar backlines, set out to play rugby, and even when they did not succeed, they still won. Best of all, both teams won their trophies in dramatic fashion, providing neutrals and die-hard fans with fantastic finales. The decider in the Six Nations came 61 years after the last Irish grand slam and 24 years after the last title, and remarkably, it was settled right at the death. Had the last-ditch penalty from Wales’ Stephen Jones not fallen inches short, it would have been another near miss for the Irish, and the “plucky losers” tag would have followed them around for 12 more months.
Ronan O'Gara's late drop-goal won the Six Nations and a grand slam for Ireland in Cardiff
Meanwhile, Leinster had spent much of the professional era with the image of Dublin city slickers, lacking the grit and determination of their rivals from Munster. But the luck of the draw offered O’Driscoll’s side a golden opportunity with a Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster. The event was an assault on the senses, with the blue of Leinster and the red of Munster filling the stands, the crowd cheering their support at volumes rarely heard in the domestic game. In one of the most memorable and atmospheric matches in the competition’s history, they finally produced the high-pressure result they needed, a cathartic win over their perennial rivals. Weeks later, in the final at Murrayfield, they overcame Leicester, and finally came out from the shadow of their neighbours.
Croke Park was a sea of colour, as Leinster and Munster contested their Heineken Cup semi-final.
Finally, with the disappointing result of the Lions tour still in everyone’s minds, the player returned home and regained some pride for a faltering Northern Hemisphere, drawing with a gritty Australian side, and earning a modicum of revenge for the Lions by beating the world champion South Africans at Croke Park.
With O’Driscoll cementing his place as one of world rugby’s great players and captains, Paul O’Connell being named captain of the British and Irish Lions, numerous team mates from the Irish scene making the Lions tour party, and bold new talents such as Jonathan Sexton emerging, this was a great year for Irish rugby, one that will live long in the memory for neutral fans around the world too. Whilst the game as a whole suffered in terms of quality this year, there was no lack of drama, and the Irish produced it in bucket loads.
For both sides, captained by talismanic centre Brian O’Driscoll, the waiting was finally over. In a year when rugby was under attack for being boring and uninventive, Ireland and Leinster, with their stellar backlines, set out to play rugby, and even when they did not succeed, they still won. Best of all, both teams won their trophies in dramatic fashion, providing neutrals and die-hard fans with fantastic finales. The decider in the Six Nations came 61 years after the last Irish grand slam and 24 years after the last title, and remarkably, it was settled right at the death. Had the last-ditch penalty from Wales’ Stephen Jones not fallen inches short, it would have been another near miss for the Irish, and the “plucky losers” tag would have followed them around for 12 more months.
Meanwhile, Leinster had spent much of the professional era with the image of Dublin city slickers, lacking the grit and determination of their rivals from Munster. But the luck of the draw offered O’Driscoll’s side a golden opportunity with a Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster. The event was an assault on the senses, with the blue of Leinster and the red of Munster filling the stands, the crowd cheering their support at volumes rarely heard in the domestic game. In one of the most memorable and atmospheric matches in the competition’s history, they finally produced the high-pressure result they needed, a cathartic win over their perennial rivals. Weeks later, in the final at Murrayfield, they overcame Leicester, and finally came out from the shadow of their neighbours.
Finally, with the disappointing result of the Lions tour still in everyone’s minds, the player returned home and regained some pride for a faltering Northern Hemisphere, drawing with a gritty Australian side, and earning a modicum of revenge for the Lions by beating the world champion South Africans at Croke Park.
With O’Driscoll cementing his place as one of world rugby’s great players and captains, Paul O’Connell being named captain of the British and Irish Lions, numerous team mates from the Irish scene making the Lions tour party, and bold new talents such as Jonathan Sexton emerging, this was a great year for Irish rugby, one that will live long in the memory for neutral fans around the world too. Whilst the game as a whole suffered in terms of quality this year, there was no lack of drama, and the Irish produced it in bucket loads.
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