SHERYLLE Calder’s capacity to make a difference as a visual skills coach can be measured by the three-year contract she has signed with England until after the 2019 World Cup. Eddie Jones rates the former South African hockey international so highly because he has been on the winning end, as well as the receiving end, of her work.
This week Calder started working with England backs like Anthony Watson, but she got her first big break when Clive Woodward’s obsessive search for marginal gains in the build up to the 2003 World Cup brought her into the spotlight.
It was not instantaneous. Woodward was extremely secretive about England’s preparations, with more security around the squad than at an American presidential rally, and requests for interviews with Calder were invariably turned down.
However, her innovative eye-training got an airing during England’s World Cup-winning campaign, and with the Wallabies, coached by Jones, beaten in the final, her stock rose. It did not take long before Jones saw her visual skills work at first hand, because at the same time that Jake White asked the Aussie to become a consultant to South Africa ahead of the 2007 World Cup, he also signed up Calder.
South Africa’s win over England in the 2007 World Cup final gave Calder added kudos as a backroom double World Cup winner. Jones is clearly hoping that her visual skills magic rubs off a third time, with Calder’s return to the England camp an integral part of his plot to overthrow New Zealand as world champions at the 2019 World Cup.
While Jones last week highlighted the influence of Calder in turning Springbok wing Bryan Habana into an intercept king through her peripheral vision training, England’s 2003 World Cup-winning centre Will Greenwood was also singing her praises.
Esta historia es de la edición January 29, 2017 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 29, 2017 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
