The Fishing Coach

Picture courtesy BBC Sport

I have always been a great fan of rugby and can remember going to games with my Dad when I was about seven or eight. He played for Staines Rugby Club and was quite a gifted wing forward. He had played for a team representing the Army in Northern Ireland during the war. When I went to grammar school a new chemistry teacher arrived and started a ruby club. His name was John Dawes and he later captained Wales and the British Lions in the late sixties and early seventies. Under his tuition I developed the ability to tackle well but never had the speed to follow my father and become a good flanker. I had a few games in the army where I spoilt games for a few opposing centres, but the ability to tackle without fear came in more useful in later years.

Nevertheless I never lost my love of the game and have followed it throughout all its changes, I was at Twickenham when Hancock scored his try against the Scots and only got three points for it because that’s all a try was worth in those days (1966?). I also remember when all the measurements were in yards and instead of refering to the twenty two meter line, it was the twenty five yard line.

In those days the Five Nations Championship was played for second place, Wales usually won the Championship and often the Grand Slam. The Triple Crown was a matter of formality. There were times when I must admit I played up my Welsh ancestry (Dad was Welsh) but there was never any doubt who I was suporting when England was playing.

Over the last couple of decades or so I have seen a golden age for English rugby, with names like Bill Beaumont, Paul Ackford and Wayne Dooley and the up and comming Martin Johnson in the English pack. My eyes were always on the back row and to see Neil Back, Richard Hill and Lawrence Dallaglio packing down together always made me proud to be an England supporter. After so many close calls finally in 2003 England reached the pinnacle and won the world cup.

Despite the coverage given to the final drop kick by Jonny Wilkinson, this tournament was really won by two people - Clive Woodward, who gave English rugby the platform to build a winning team and Martin Johnson who led that team so well.

Once again Clive Woodward is in the spotlight as the manager of the British and Irish Lions who are about to climb the biggest mountain in world rugby and tour New Zealand. I was so pleased to see that old English back three in the touring party. Hill, Dallaglio and Back may no longer be at their peak but they have had that vital experience of the big game. This will be of immense value to the rest of the team and may explain why some of the better players from the rest of the UK and Ireland have not been picked. Hopefully Woodward is picking his party to give as many options as possible in the game plan of each game.

O’Driscoll, a centre, has been chosen as captain and I am worried he will not be able to carry that great big stuffed toy the Lions captain always runs on to the pitch with. That’s why a forward is usually chosen as captain - besides would you have dared to take the mickey out of Martin Johnson for cuddling a big fluffy toy?

Best of luck to the lads, I will be following the tour closely and I hope they vary their game to keep the Kiwis on their toes.

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