peterdarrowsports

My thoughts and opinions on the world of sport

  • Vale JPR Williams-a tribute to a great player



    As we get older, we can admire the legendary rugby players from the past, who we can appreciate now for their status in the game of rugby union. Players who once upon a time were disliked, but secretly admired by Australian or New Zealand rugby followers. The players from the rest of the world will now form my theme of “favourite” players.
    Players who I distantly remember for their brilliance, courage and unique abilities. Those who are still revered fifty years later, did I just say fifty! How time flies.

    I will start with fullback, with the two prime candidates who shone out in my opinion, JPR Williams and Serge Blanco. After much research and thought I must go with the Welshman with the best sideboards and ankle high socks, JPR Williams. Blanco was a memorably brilliant player, but I feel a connection to JPR through the wonderful 1971 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand, the drop goal at Eden Park which I was fortunate enough to witness and the role of Williams in the Barbarians versus All Blacks match in 1972. He also extended his legendary status on the Lions tour of South Africa in 1974 where the Lions stood up to the Springboks and were not intimidated. JPR represented Wales during their” Golden Era” in the 1970s. He performed alongside other notables as Gareth Edwards, Barry John and Derek Quinnell.

    John Peter Rhys Williams was born 1949 in Bridgend Wales and attended Brynteg Comprehensive School and studied medicine at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London. He qualified as a physician in 1973 and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1980.

    If Williams had ignored his father’s life advice, he may well have pursued a career in tennis where he was a high achieving player in his younger years. His father advised him that while playing amateur rugby he could continue his medical studies as well. “The day on which Williams lost to Howe at Bournemouth would be a crucial one in his opting for rugby. By losing in straight sets, he left time for his father, Dr Peter Williams, to drive him back to Wales to play for Bridgend in a match against Newport.

    Williams, still to win his first cap for Wales, arrived at the Brewery Field just in time for the 7.15pm kick-off and played a blinder. ‘I pulled off two tackles on Stuart Watkins, who was the Wales international winger at the time, and I think that cemented my selection for the tour of Argentina in 1968,’ he says.
    The Observer 2008

    The rugby world is glad he chose rugby, although JPR himself states that if he had to choose today, tennis would receive the nod. Rugby is too physical now and tennis is more lucrative, “you are more likely to have a long career in tennis than rugby,” JPR shared.

    When he shifted his attention from tennis to rugby, he gained notice and was awarded his first cap against Scotland at Murrayfield in 1969. He went on to make 55 appearances for Wales and captained the side five times. JPR took immense pride in the fact he never lost to England and the Welsh side won Grand Slams in 1971, 1976 and 1978. They also won six Triple Crown’s, the competition between the Home Unions.
    From 1971 to 1974 he made eight test appearances for the British and Irish Lions, winning both series against the All Blacks and South Africa. The drop goal he kicked from halfway broke the hearts of New Zealanders who saw their side lose 2-1. In a provincial match against North Auckland, he defiantly withstood continued attacks by the Going brothers single-handedly.

    The 1974 tour will be remembered for the ferocious rugby and the infamous “99” call by the Lions, a signal for the  team to attack the Boks, the idea being that the referee could not send of the whole team!

    Due to his medical career he made himself unavailable for the 1977 Lions tour to New Zealand. When playing for Bridgend against the All Blacks in 1976 Williams found himself at the bottom of a ruck, not the ideal place to be against the All Blacks and was ruthlessly exposed to the boots of John Ashworth. Ashworth stomped on William’s head twice, leaving a gash requiring thirty stitches on the sideline from his father Dr Peter Williams. Graham Mourie can be seen checking on the welfare of Williams. Steve Fenwick was told to take charge, thinking that JPR would be off to the hospital, amazingly he returned to the field and continued playing. Williams vowed to never play against the All Blacks again. His father made mention of the incident at the after match gathering and several All Blacks walked out. I have viewed it on video and Ashworth appears to do it deliberately, the old, “but I thought it was the ball ref.”

    JPR Williams eventually retired from international rugby in 1981 but continued his club career for Tondu Thirds into his fifties.
    Carwyn James described him as “fearless, uncompromising. The competitor of competitors.” Some say that Gareth Edwards is the greatest Welsh player, but others including Steve Fenwick concluded that Williams was the best. He was an attacking full-back with a lethal side-step and was a fearless defender.

    JPR is now retired in the farmland of Glamorgan, plays squash regularly and is one of the most recognizable figures in rugby. He was one of the inaugural inductees into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997.

    If Serge Blanco was a better, braver and more skillful full-back than JPR then he was truly an unbelievable player.
    JPR Williams, my favourite “rest of the world” full-back.


    http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/life-jpr-70-courageous-welsh-15920882











  • John Hipwell, quintessential halfback.

    Listing all the attributes of the late John Hipwell as described by fellow players and journalists, I came to the realisation they were describing the quintessential rugby union halfback. A tenacious player who was a dynamic, brisk runner, providing potent defence and acting as an extra loose forward cover defending. His stocky build and slick, long pass added to his repertoire and throw in a sidestep for good measure. Bravery was another characteristic of Hipwell, as evidenced by him playing on after having his front teeth knocked out in the match for New South Wales Country versus the British Lions in 1966. He may have been motivated by fellow player Phil Hawthorne who told him if he wanted to become an Australian player he would have to carry on. Hipwell eventually did make his Australian debut versus New Zealand in 1968 after warming the bench for ten matches as understudy to Ken Catchpole. Iconic All Black Colin Meads ending Catchpole’s career when he severely injured his leg, according to the NZ Herald, “Meads “wishboned” Catchpole’s leg while he was caught in a ruck, tearing the hamstring from the bone and severely rupturing his groin, ending the Australian’s test career at the age of 28.” Meads defended himself by stating, “I just reached in and grabbed one leg. I was going to tip him up. I didn’t know his other bloody leg was stuck at an angle. So he did the splits.” One man’s misfortune is another man’s fortune, with John Hipwell going on to make thirty-six appearances for Australia from 1968 to 1982.
    John Noel Brian Hipwell was born in Mayfield NSW in 1948 and attended Wallsend High School. His first grade career began as a fresh faced 18-year old playing for the Waratahs Club in Newcastle in 1966, under legendary Australian halfback Cyril Burke. Hipwell was first selected for Australia on the first of his three tours to the United Kingdom in 1966-67, followed by tours to South Africa and France. He first captained his team against England in 1973, leading the side on nine occasions. He injured the cruciate ligaments in his knee on the 1975/76 tour to the UK, keeping him out of the game for almost three years.
    Hipwell made a triumphant return to the Wallabies in 1978, playing in the memorable third Test victory 30-16 at Eden Park, with Greg Cornelson scoring an impressive four tries. John Hipwell made the touring team as a replacement for fullback Roger Gould, with a third halfback deemed more important. Missing the next two seasons he was selected for the 1981-82 tour to the UK and played his final Test versus England at the age of thirty-three. The inimitable Mark Ella played outside Hipwell in this match and said in an interview with the Courier Mail that “to end up playing with him was a huge honour.”

    With no weaknesses in his game would Hipwell have been a better player behind a more dominant forward pack or did playing behind a beaten pack bring out the best in him? The player known as “Hippy” was widely respected in the rugby community and the rugby world was in mourning when he passed away in 2013, aged sixty-five years. He established a reputation as one of the preeminent halfbacks in world rugby over a period of fifteen years with the Wallabies. In the Sydney Morning Herald former teammate Geoff Shaw said Hipwell was “one of the great captains, astute at the game with a good sense of humour-a genuine leader,” and Simon Poidevin added that Hipwell took him under his wing on the 1981-82 tour. On X (Twitter) David Campese said, “JH was one of the nicest people you will ever meet, very humble and always smiling.”

    In 1982 John Hipwell received the Order of Australia Medal and in 2006 entered the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame. He was chosen by Gareth Edwards in his book, “100 Great Rugby Players.”

     No matter who your optimal choice of favourite halfback is, John Hipwell will be remembered as an archetypal halfback with an uncompromising, all-round game who endeared himself to rugby fans around the world.





  • Spencer Johnson, on the ride of his life!


    Young fast bowlers can only dream of emulating the career of shooting star Spencer Johnson, rising from landscape gardener to IPL millionaire. If he were a baseball player Hollywood movie makers would be salivating over this theme of their next movie, overnight sensation starts career promisingly, overcomes career threatening injuries to then be in demand by franchises around the world and gets offered the contract of a lifetime. At the age of twenty-eight he has not quite been an overnight sensation as he had a dreadful run with injuries and spent years fighting to get back into cricket and is now reaping the rewards for perseverance. A lesson to all cricketers, do not give up! Johnson suffered a foot stress fracture in his early twenties and you can only imagine the self-talk it took to convince himself that cricket was to be his chosen profession.
    With his smooth, easy, natural left arm bowling action Johnson attracted the attention of observers when he made his BBL debut for the Brisbane Heat in 2022, including noted fast bowler Brett Lee who stated, “Oh, that’s a very good action, I like this, I’m super impressed by the first two deliveries,” Wisden.com.
    Johnson’s ability to stifle attacking batsmen is what stood out for me when I saw his debut, that and the thought he would represent Australia in the future. He has remarkably become a death bowler without any real intention from himself, his ice-cool nerves making him ideal for the role.
    At this point Spencer Johnson is shaping up as an ideal replacement for Mitchell Starc with a like-for-like left arm bowling action. Starc has indicated he may give up white-ball cricket soon which presents an excellent opportunity for Johnson. Having a left armer adds variety to the attack and Wisden recorded that of the 120 fast bowlers to have taken a hundred Test wickets, only sixteen have been left arm. Travis Head confirmed, “I hope Johnson can be a match winner like Starc for us,”espncricinfo.com.
    Johnson appears suited to all formats, stating himself that “he does not want to go down the T20-only route and believes the red-ball game is actually where his strengths lie,” Espncricinfo.com

    Spencer Henry Johnson was born 1995 in Adelaide South Australia and went through age-group and representative cricket for South Australia, before moving to Queensland and playing for Redlands, the home club of Marnus Labuschange. A fresh start brought rewards with his breakout season for the Heat and instant attention. Teams he has played for so far include Australia, Heat, South Australia, Strikers, Los Angeles Knight Riders, South Australia under-19s, Australia A, Oval Invincibles and Surrey Jaguars in Canada. For the Invincibles he returned figures of twenty balls bowled, nineteen dot balls, one run and three wickets after flying to England and a day later making his appearance.
    During the Ashes series, Johnson was placed on standby in case Starc was unavailable for the final two Tests, with selector George Bailey stating on foxsports, “Johnson is a really exciting talent.”

    Is all this attention on Johnson coming all too soon? In 2024 he joins the Gujarat Titans in the IPL as their second most expensive player behind Rashid Khan. Similar spotlights were shone on Australian Cameron Green and Blackcap Kyle Jamieson who also landed big contracts, but are now battling form, injury and selection issues. Johnson has been confronted with injuries and is now coming out the other side and hopefully will have a long, productive career with Australia. Will he be too old for Test cricket? Ryan Harris may be an inspiration for Johnson as he was also a late starter to Test cricket and at the age of twenty-nine began a successful career.

    Spencer Johnson has the physical attributes, style and mental attitude to make a considerable mark in Australian cricket and could present an exciting combination with Lance Morris and Cameron Green. But on current form it is hard to see the current fast bowling cartel relinquishing their spots to heirs apparent.

    Let us hope that there are considerable opportunities for players of the calibre of Spencer Johnson.

















  • Rugby union-a game creating memories on all levels


    We often look with envy at the superstar rugby players and wonder what life would be like to be idolised, making considerable money as a professional player and enjoying the benefits of celebrity status. The gifted ones who possess ability us mere mortals respect and often envy. The fellow schoolboy who we admire for his natural ability and wonder “how far will this guy go in his career.” You just know the players who will go further than the rest of us, usually only one in the team that shines with talent. I played with Neil Ruddell at school and we all knew he was the one who would go on to play for Northland and if memory serves me right played in an All Black trial and for NZ Juniors.
    But for every elite player there are fourteen other players who make it possible for the chosen one to achieve their dreams. We all think about being All Blacks or Wallabies but do not have the exceptional talent, hard work ethic or focus to reach the top. We look back and think if I had stayed at home that Friday night, ran that extra mile in training or developed an insatiable desire to go further, but other things in life become priorities. It would not be humanly possible for all fifteen to become superstars of the game, with our lives dedicated to varying careers and goals.

    My article on cricket memories recently triggered me to think the same about rugby union and what memories I have of this game that gives so much to many people. Whether you are the average player, the star, referee, coach, medical person, rugby would have left a huge hole if it did not exist. Many of us work in average jobs to provide for our families, with the performance of our favourite team in the weekend to look forward to. I became an All Black fan when following the All Blacks on the 1970 tour of South Africa with an instant hero created in Bryan Williams. What a sidestep! And I like players who beat opposing players in the in-goal area in the act of scoring a try. Our Northland legend, Sidney Milton Going also made this tour and then contributed towards North Auckland winning the Ranfurly Shield in 1971, with huge crowds at Okara Park witnessing this pinnacle in their history. My father and I travelled by bus to the match, with me being the youngest on board, way too young to be imbibing. As an aside, it was around this time that I won tickets to go and see The Sweet in concert in Auckland too! Rugby and music, two great loves.
    With our parents owning a grocery store, it contributed towards us putting on weight and qualifying for prop positions in our local rugby team. The weight was soon shed and I was selected for the prestigious ASB Rugby Tournament in Kaitaia where we were billeted. School rugby did not advance until being picked for the Whangarei Boys High First XV as a flanker before choosing halfback as others were outgrowing me.
    The All Blacks toured the UK in 1972/73 with the Barbarians match and late night viewing the highlights. Bill McLarens call on that match and Gareth Edwards try unforgettable moments.
    The highlights from this time on are too numerous to mention, but personal memories include the water polo Test in 1975 versus Scotland which produced amazing rugby from the All Blacks. Joe Morgans try and Sid Going’s goal kicking stand out in 1976 against South Africa.
    Playing a club rugby match on Ballymore, Brisbane in the early 80s for me personally was memorable as I will always remember the considerable number of cars parked there as I drove into the ground! Rugby in Perth, Australia and then England followed on an adventure which included playing for the Esher Club in London. Frigid weather and cups of tea in large baths and a good bunch of guys featured. A trip up to Edinburgh to view the All Blacks draw with Scotland was a great occasion except for the result. The friendly locals and morning pub arrival a memory.
    On arrival back in New Zealand I encouraged my brother and some mates to play for a startup rugby club, which did not have it’s own ground until much later, with fill in players often getting the man of the match award! A ruptured achilles tendon playing, led to a job interview in a full length plaster.
    The 1987 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and Australia was a momentous occasion with the All Blacks win and John Kirwans try highlights. I personally moved to Auckland and tried out restricted weight rugby successfully with an appearance for a North Harbour team. It was at this time that my rugby came to an end due to work commitments at the age of twenty-seven, playing with my brother and joining overseas teams obvious highlights.
    The All Blacks have gone on to produce magnificent results, including two more Rugby World Cups and the establishment of immortal players including Richie McCaw, Jonah Lomu and Dan Carter.

    Whether you are the superstar or the average Joe, rugby will bring you everlasting memories of camaraderie, match highlights that enlarge over the years and bitter-sweet moments that help create who we are today.
    We may not have utilised all our talents and devoted ourselves fully to the game, but we have created memories that even the professional player would envy.

  • A Lifetime of Cricket Memories

    My father surprised me one day when he stated that cricket rather than rugby was his favourite sport, his full name after all was “Derek Rugby Darrow!” otherwise known as Bill, after his father William. As a rugby player he excelled at Kings College in Auckland as a halfback, along with his twin brother John, who he managed to swap rugby positions and girlfriends with! I never consciously thought I would be a halfback like him but that is exactly where I ended up. Bill made it to a Counties second XV team and that was as high as he went, I never felt any pressure from him to reach the top as rugby was just a game I loved to play and follow. I attended a small country school, Helena Bay Primary which only had a roll of thirty children, so rugby was not really an option. I have vague memories of playing softball. Possessing a good throwing arm which became more apparent as I got older.
    I did however play on my father’s cricket team in the annual match played in a paddock on our farm. All the local farmers and identities were invited to play in my first taste of this sport that can bring communities together. Which I also discovered later in life when reigniting an old cricket club in Australia and establishing a “field of dreams.”
    At high school I did not play cricket as a regular sport, preferring to focus on rugby, with a divide felt between the cricket coach and myself not helping matters! It was not until I joined my father’s social cricket side, the Geri-Hatricks, that my enjoyment of playing the game began. Yes, it was an elderly side with my brother Mike and I boosting the playing numbers when an old timer was not available. I discovered I had some pace and if the opposition were taking the game too seriously for a social occasion, my father would bring me on to sort them out! “Let ‘em have it” were often the words used. Most of the time the games were played in good spirit with a wonderful team of characters who excelled more at drinking than playing. My father described his bowling as “autumn leaves falling gently” onto the pitch. We always looked forward to the Wednesday night matches, with some of our mates also assisting with filling in for the old boys.
    Prior to this, an Australian cricket team toured New Zealand in 1969/70, captained by Sam Trimble while the senior team was touring South Africa. The team in South Africa was led by Bill Lawry with Ian Chappell the vice-captain, such luminaries as Doug Walters, Ian Redpath and Keith Stackpole featured in the side. The team in New Zealand included Greg Chappell, John Inverarity, Terry Jenner, Dennis Lillee and Kerry O’Keeffe, with the three matches against New Zealand not awarded Test status. NZ not deemed to be good enough to join the “big boys” just yet!
    This was my first taste of international cricket with great admiration for the mighty Australian team, even though they were the seconds, they were the “Gods” of cricket. NZ had previously toured England in 1969 with the team including such players as Graham Dowling, Richard Collinge, Bevan Congdon, Glenn Turner and Hedley Howarth.
    The 1973/74 tour by Australia to New Zealand was an important event for NZ with their first ever win over Australia, with great memories of Glenn Turner blunting the Australian attack. A memory of skipper Ian Chappell feuding with Glenn Turner features.
    1973 also saw the debut of the great Richard Hadlee, but it was not until 1976 that he found his rhythm in Test cricket, the sight of him bowling at Eden Park with the crowd right behind him is unforgettable.
    One of the great joys of cricket is listening to Test cricket on a hot summer’s day, which my father adhered to on his old transistor radio. In later years I followed the cricket in Australia through the dulcet tones of Jim Maxwell and the humour of Kerry O’Keeffe.
    The highlights of battles between Australia and New Zealand are too numerous to mention here, but some standouts would be Mark Greatbatch’s innings in Perth where he was at the crease for eleven hours. Of course, the underarm must be mentioned but if my memory serves me right, Greg Chappell received a standing ovation in NZ after the incident for scoring a century.
    Richard Hadlee’s clinical display of fast bowling to secure nine wickets for 52 in Brisbane is unforgettable. Lance Cairns became a Kiwi cult hero when he hit six sixes at the MCG. Shane Bond’s inspired bowling against Australia on their home turf. Martin Crowe’s classical batting style. Damien Martyn’s match winning exploits. The crushing defeats by Australia in 2019/20, when New Zealand were hoping to be more competitive. Mitchell Starc knocking over Brendon McCullum in 2015…the list goes on.
    My father got to see the best of Test cricket, with the true greats of the game, Hadlee, Chappell, Richards, Botham, Holding, Lillee, I am not sure how he would react to T20 and the demise of once great teams like the West Indies. Would he have been a fan of Bazball?
    I believe that cricket is in a better position than rugby union is at present and the old fella was right! The rules of cricket basically being far simpler than rugby.

    In memory of Derek Rugby “Bill” Darrow 1924-2004.

  • Winners take chances, time to listen to David Campese.


    After the Eddie Jones debacle, Australian Rugby will be gun-shy in using someone like legendary former Wallaby player David Campese in a major role moving forward. However, it is fascinating to think how Campese would have gone coaching the Wallabies in Rugby World Cup 2023, he could not have done any worse than Jones? At least the players would have had license to play with the freedom and expression Campese did in his playing days and what he is advocating for in his outspoken manner today. To lift Australian rugby out of the mire it finds itself in it needs to find a role for players like Campese who were part of the golden era of Australian rugby and possess a desire to return to those days. In what capacity I am unsure but a direct relationship with the players to mentor, motivate and inspire them would in my opinion be advantageous.
    In the 1988 Bledisloe Cup series after Campese was outplayed by his opposite John Kirwan, his mother gave him a poem, “Winners take Chances”, which he then read after each match following the All Blacks win. Campese was a risk taker as a player, would that Campo influence not be a breath of fresh air to overcome the overcoached and robotic style of play we see today? “The Australian legend fears for rugby’s very future unless ‘overcoached’ players start doing things off the cuff again and bring back the entertainment value,” walesonline.co.uk

    It appears that David Campese, like the late Jonah Lomu, is more revered overseas than he is at home, with a reluctance by bureaucracy to take advantage of his experienced and instinctive rugby brain. “The former Wallaby admitted to a rift with Hamish McLennan that has seen him overlooked for many roles by the code’s governing body,” Theroar.com. Or are independent thinkers and outspoken ex-players deemed to be too much thinking outside the square? Maybe a risk-taking individual from a small country town, like Campese, who reached stardom is deemed to be an outsider whose opinions are too confrontational?
    Yes, he does have opinions, take his latest controversial statement about current players crying over games lost. “I know I talk about the good old days, but it’s hard not to,” he added. “I’m an old fart, I admit that, but I’ve always been outspoken, and I can’t say things are good if they are not,” Planetrugby.com. We have seen sportspeople like Kim Hughes, Steve Smith and Roger Federer cry at emotional times so I may not agree with Campo on that one, but for every disagreed statement there will be many others I do agree with him on. Take his provocative question, “are the Springboks killing Test rugby?” which many commented on without realising Campo disagreed with the statement. “They play the game we all want to play; they have the support and culture many teams kill for and their mental strength and self-belief defines their brands. They are a magnificent team, iconic in stature and their status as world champions is nothing more than their brilliance and fortitude deserves.” Planetrugby.com. Until you visit South Africa and realise the passion they have for rugby and what it means to them, it is hard to degrade their style of play. Maybe that question is best presented to the English who Campese has labelled as boring since their Rugby World Cup semi-final win in 1991. He said, “playing that sort of boring stuff is a good way to destroy the image of the game.” Wikipedia. Times have not changed have they? is there a form of Bazball that could be applied to rugby?

    As with me, David Campese is a fierce critic of the modern game, but this comes from a passionate viewpoint rather than a negative one. He harks back to the days of sparkling players like Shane Williams and Phil Bennett who lit up the rugby stage and entertained the fans. “A maverick is not just someone who goes against the grain but is a player who genuinely wants to do something different.” There aren’t enough players like this and there’s not nearly enough flair on the pitch. Why? Because the modern game is too dominated by coaches.” Walesonline.co.uk.

    What will come of a brilliant talent such as Englishman Henry Arundell on the international stage? Will he have the instinctive style coached out of him?
    Television Match Officials, referees and coaches have had their fair share of criticism from Campo with referees aspiring to be the stars of the game and TMO’s ruining the spectacle. I agree with him that the game must be about scoring tries not kicking penalty goals and box kicking is far too common.
    “The laws have changed the game. The referees have got too much control.
    Australian rugby great David Campese believes the modern game has a lot of problems to address – chief among them the lack of entertainment value,” BBC.com.

    David Campese, the rugby player and Campese the media commentator are similar in that they express themselves in a maverick style, consistently good, but prone to the odd catastrophe! The player is acknowledged as being one of the great Wallabies, mercurial and a match winner as proven by his performance at the 1991 Rugby World Cup, where his famous no-look pass to Tim Horan will go down in rugby folklore. It was all calculated with Campese totally aware of where Horan was positioned, but what if it had not come off and the pass floated into touch? That is the risk taker and maverick making decisions. A pass that did not come off in the 1989 series against the British and Irish Lions will also go down in rugby folklore, but for the wrong reasons. A ball in the in-goal area that should have been forced, was instead offered to a fellow player in a mental lapse that cost Australia a try and the lead. Strange isn’t it that a no-look pass was more effective than a pass where he did look? As with David Beckham and his sending off for the England football team for an error, Campese was vilified by fans and painted as erratic by unforgiving supporters. A reputation he has not shaken off by those who forget his magnificent achievements over fourteen years of international rugby. A record setter in number of Tests played and tries scored and the accolades of rugby identities like Bill McLaren, the noted rugby commentator, who in 2001 nominated Campese as his favourite player, best rugby entertainer and the greatest rugby union player of all time. Journalist Spiro Zavos in the Sydney Morning Herald called Campese, “the Mozart of rugby.” Former coach Alan Jones even equated Campo to the great Don Bradman.
    Today’s Wallabies can only dream of having a career like Campese’s with regular victories over the All Blacks, a Rugby World Cup victory, audacious tries and a style of play from another planet. “Today, Wallaby legend David Campese has lamented the sorry decline of Rugby Union, saying the Wallabies have such a bad identity issue kids don’t even know who their biggest stars are anymore.” BBC,com.

    Before the youth of today dismiss rugby totally as a professional sports option why not at least pay attention to what David Campese says and give him the opportunity to work with Australian players.







  • Will overregulation suck the life out of rugby?


    The idea of writing is to pour out your feelings and welcome any support from those mutually aligned. It is meant to be cathartic, especially after a Rugby World Cup loss to South Africa. The Springboks know how to win with whatever means it takes. Win by a point? No problem, having no fear to play a style of rugby that will not be earning the raptures of new fans, sure thing. Winning is all that counts, it is their name appearing on the cup not New Zealand. As for the game itself, I was tempted to turn it off in the first half, my fear of having a referee/TMO negative influence becoming apparent. I will not go through the full list of grievances but will shorten it to the role of the TMO, box kicking and red/yellow cards. I will put this simply; you have the ball in possession and then you take a 50/50 call that you will get it back from a box kick? I will not go on; it pains me to do so.
    Just like many things in life, the final act is what people remember and a rugby world cup final is no exception. This was our showcase, our piece de resistance, the big kahuna, but have to say it fell flat. If you can produce some positives, please let me know, South African fans will pinpoint some.
    Yes, I know the losing side blames the ref and not the failings of their side, but did mental frailty get the All Blacks in the end or were they just unlucky? To lose Sam Cane to a red card had a significant impact and do the South Africans understand what it takes to be awarded penalties better than other teams? To win a match from a scrum penalty is not an onerous task nowadays.
    Does a loss override all other emotions and common sense? If the All Blacks had knocked over a drop goal in the last minute, would we be feeling better about the game of rugby? For some reason I was feeling a little flat before the final, as though the All Blacks had already achieved enough under Ian Foster with the win against Ireland. We had gone further than expected and anything else was a bonus. Were the All Blacks playing for Ian Foster rather than New Zealand?
    It is over now and we must wait another four more years, with an interesting time for many of the teams and will the negative aspects of rugby be reviewed and addressed?
    My STAN subscription was cancelled today and it will take some good games of rugby and lesser influence by officialdom for it to be reinstated. Who is the greater rugby fan, the one who sticks by the game through hell and high water or the person who advocates for change to make the game better? Both play a role and it is the combining of the two that will drive rugby forward.
    The purpose of this article? To express my disappointment at the direction rugby is going in with rules based on eliminating the risk of legal action and tactics used by teams that will lose fans. Will we ever see a game like the 2013 clash between the All Blacks vs South Africa in Johannesburg where exhilarating rugby was experienced? Were the conditions that bad in the 2023 final that restricted an expansive game? I remember a certain All Black/Wallabies encounter at Athletic Park in 1996 that belied the fact it was played in atrocious conditions. The dream would be for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia to be played on hard grounds, sunny weather with breathtaking rugby enjoyed by vast numbers of rugby fans! Oh, and with minimal interference by referees and the TMO, or am I deluded?
    The world we live in now will not allow a relaxing of regulations and we will be even more compliant with personal safety a greater priority than enjoyment of life. Yes, the two must coexist but not at one expense to the other. Ask the boxer if their sport should be banned as it is deemed “dangerous” or the motor bike rider what it feels like to ride without a helmet? Everything we do is risky, from work to driving to sport, overregulating will suck the enjoyment out of life.
    Rugby players know the risks of playing, personally I had to wear a collar for a neck injury and then ruptured my Achilles tendon, does it stop us playing? Of course not, my point?
    Sam Cane should never have been given a red card. The TMO and the ref were the stars of the show.

  • Can the All Blacks overcome subconscious overconfidence against Argentina?


    The thought just occurred to me that how I am feeling about the All Blacks match in the semi-finals against Argentina is  how the All Blacks may be feeling and fighting against. An “easier” opponent after the great mountain climbed against Ireland, will it turn out to be a greater mental challenge? Will the All Blacks be able to rise to the occasion again? In some ways it would have been better to be playing another heavy-weight opponent to ensure they rise again mentally. The All Blacks must trick their minds into believing they are up against the greatest opposition in the world to win on Saturday. That is sounding terribly arrogant isn’t it? I mean no disrespect to Argentina as they are an exceptional team, but in private if you had asked the All Blacks at the start of the tournament who they would rather not play in the semis, France say or Argentina, the former would be chosen.
    I’ve found myself saying to people that the All Blacks “should” beat Argentina and advance to the final of RWC 2023. Maybe correct but a dangerous place to go with overconfidence leading to failure. Will all of Ian Fosters redemptive work be unravelled in 80 minutes of rugby on Saturday?
    We have seen it countless times in international sport, the monumental effort to must win followed by a shock loss. “Ian Foster’s All Blacks have been there, too. Last year’s Ellis Park triumph will forever be marked as the victory that saved Foster’s tenure. In their homecoming match two weeks later, after New Zealand Rugby confirmed Foster to lead the team through to the World Cup, the All Blacks suffered a sudden comedown with their first home defeat to Argentina. No one predicted that upset in Christchurch,” from Liam Napier NZ Herald.
    “They played their Test match the week before,” is often the common call when a loss occurs. How will the All Blacks overcome this mental hurdle in preparation for the big game? I believe they have to focus internally on how they play, not who they are playing. Will the kicking game used against Ireland be repeated for Argentina or do they go for a more possession led running game? Will they name an unchanged side with Leicester Fainga’anuku retaining his spot ahead of Mark Telea? Can an unchanged side be up for the challenge of potentially winning three tough encounters or do you freshen the side up? Of course, it is one match at a time and if the All Blacks are leading with a healthy margin then the bench could be emptied with players like Damian McKenzie coming on. There is that overconfidence again! Must stop that, see it is not easy. My apologies to Argentinian readers!
    We won’t know how much physical and mental energy was taken out of the All Blacks after the Irish match until Saturday morning at about 8am when the result will be known. Will Argentina make it to an historic World Cup final against either South Africa or England? It would be tremendous for the game in Argentina if that were to happen and emotions will pour onto the streets of Argentina. If they were to win RWC 2023 it will mean they hold both rugby and football World Cups, I’m not sure how many other teams have that potential.

    I believe there is too much to squander for the All Blacks to lose this one as the past two years has galvanised the group into believing they can win this World Cup, a difficult period under Ian Foster can be forgotten with victory on Saturday. As long as they overcome the same presumed subconscious overconfidence I too am feeling.
     Ian Foster has copped a lot of flak from many, including myself, but you get the feeling that internally the players respect and like him and will see him out with a semi-final win in his last hurrah.










  • Novak Djokovic-the GOAT debate is over.


    It must be fitting that the most complete and perfect player is now regarded as the greatest men’s tennis player of all time. Novak Djokovic, or Nole to his friends, is now enjoying the spotlight of attention without the other two, you know, Roger and Rafael. Viewed as not being as popular, he sought “revenge” by becoming the dominant player in men’s tennis. Rafael Nadal himself recently stated that Novak is “the best in history,” Eurosport 2023. Everyone has their favourite and opinion as to who is the greatest, but based on pure statistics, Djokovic now stands alone as the best.
    After he won his 24th Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open the GOAT debate was over as he was moving ahead of his contemporaries. Nadal has stated he will retire next year, Federer has retired, but Novak has indicated he will keep playing while he is still beating the younger ones. With his devotion to health and fitness there is no reason he cannot keep going for another 3-4 years and what will he have achieved at career end?
    Roger Federer was the artiste, Nadal the street fighter and Djokovic is the achiever, the one who likes to dominate. Novak leads Nadal 30-29 in overall matches and Federer 27-23 and is one of only two players to beat Nadal at the French Open. I could list his overall achievements here but it is an extremely lengthy list! Here are highlights, the first male player to win the triple career Grand Slam, reclaimed number one ATP ranking for a record 390th week over twelve different years and became the oldest US Open men’s singles champion at 36 years in the 2023 event.

    With the domination of the Big Three subsiding people would have felt there would be a lull in men’s tennis but this has not been the case. Fans are realising they are witnessing the greatest men’s player and his enthralling battles with youthful players, including Carlos Alcaraz. Their marathon effort at the Cincinnati Masters was the longest best-of-three-sets final in ATP tour history. Djokovic has remarkably won seven of the last twelve Grand Slams and reached the finals of all four Slams in 2021 and 2023.
    The start of 2022 was a time to forget for Djokovic when his visa was cancelled     for being unvaccinated against COVID-19. He is not a supporter of the anti-vax group, more of an advocate for freedom of choice. Remarkably he would be the least likely health risk on the planet.

    I do wonder and this is purely imaginary of course, what the reaction would be to Novak Djokovic if he was an Australian with his record of achievement? Would his perceived faults and beliefs be overlooked considering his magnificent career? Just a thought to ponder.

    He is a remarkable man, born in 1987 in Belgrade, Serbia, the landlocked country in the Balkans, known for most of the 20th century as part of Yugoslavia. The “Joker” and yes, he does have a good sense of humour, can speak six languages, is the backbone of the Serbian Davis Cup team, founder of the Novak Djokovic Foundation and in 2014 donated his winnings from the Italian Open to victims of the Europe floods.

    Novak corroborates the power of dreaming, when as a seven-year-old he dreamt of being the best player in the world and winning the Wimbledon trophy. Little did he know that he would also win another twenty-three trophies as well!

    One of the great motivators for people is to prove others wrong, this is well supported by what Djokovic has achieved,     “His mindset. He is a conqueror and dominator. He loves to prove people wrong,” claimed Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams, “The fact that there were so many fans for the two others [Nadal and Federer] and less for him that he was not as liked as the two others, I felt that it created in him the will to make revenge one way or another. The best answer to that is to be undoubtedly better than them in terms of achievement.,”Tennishead.net.

    Some like to please all of the people, all of the time, others are more independently minded with their own opinions and beliefs, which can make for conflict, hence why Djokovic creates division.

    Novak Djokovic, the GOAT debate is over.















  • Will the demise of Australian rugby influence All Black standards?


    If any New Zealanders are enjoying the demise of Australian rugby, they may not realise the ramifications of an under-powered Australian team affecting New Zealand. I cannot get over how enthusiastic Kiwi supporters get when they beat a second rate Australian team, it is not that great an achievement considering the current Wallabies record. It builds an inflated view of the strength of New Zealand rugby, which compared to the strength of the Northern Hemisphere teams is inferior.
    For New Zealand rugby to dominate the world scene once again they need to be battling an Australian team in our corner of the world. If we are beating them by convincing margins, it will do little to boost the NZ game. If Australia slips to a Tier 2 team, well, they are probably already there, it will not assist the All Black desire to once again be the innovative leader we once were.

    If New Zealand are eliminated from the World Cup in the quarter final stage, we potentially have the two neighbouring countries languishing outside the elite level of rugby. Tell this to the devoted Kiwi fan and the she’ll be right mentality kicks in, but the reality does not invite positive thought. “We’ve been through this before and we will come out of it again,” but will we?

    Australian rugby is in deep trouble with no apparent desire to restructure the game from the ground up. Change the coach and pay for hopefully good rugby league players the only current means of repair. I wrote a recent article about my thoughts on how to fix Australian rugby and to sum it up here is to treat it like the building of a house, start with the foundations and build up.
    Former coach Alan Jones said in 2017 “we have to go back to the floor of the game.” Speaking of Alan Jones, why is a rugby brain like his not being listened to for ideas on how to improve Australian rugby? I can hear the groans already; the much-maligned Jones does not exactly adhere himself to the “identity politics” brigade in Australian society. If egos were taken out of the equation a suggested start for Australian rugby is to combine the best rugby brains around with a view to rebuilding what was once a proud rugby playing nation. For Kiwi fans of a mature age memories of past epic encounters with Australia are a distant rugby highlight. Would it not be wonderful to get back to that again? And we need to for rugby in both countries to aim for the number one and two rankings again.

    Maybe the early exits of potentially both New Zealand and Australia from the Cup will be the spark to take drastic action to lift both teams. If no action is taken, I can see both sides becoming the easy beats of world rugby. Doesn’t sound plausible? It is crystal ball gazing but if my prediction of early exits comes to fruition, a movement needs to begin.

    Eddie Jones deserves the flak he is getting and will get for his outrageous decisions, but when he is sacked and Hamish McLennan resigns, the wider rugby community needs to unite in a constructive mission to create better players who have the skills and the mental agility to rebuild Australian rugby. It is no fault of the players selected as they are the best available, with a few exceptions! We will never know if Quade Cooper and Michael Hooper would have made any difference, I have a feeling not a great deal. Dylan Cleaver, sports journalist, makes a good point when saying, “Dave Rennie’s stock, on the other hand, has risen. He might not have presided over the great team, but they always played hard for him – something you cannot accuse this morning’s team of doing for the full 80.”
    When you have a story about your coach allegedly applying for another job prior to the World Cup it does not do a lot for morale! An outrageous decision to make if true, they have said it did not affect them, but I have my doubts.

    Fans will want Australian rugby to get better, now it is not terminal but is certainly life threatening, will a cure be found?
    Strong Australia makes for a stronger New Zealand.