WHEN I look back on my career, nothing gave me more satisfaction than making a good read at the breakdown and pulling off a jackal. Yes, I won the Premiership and played in some big Heineken Cup matches, but it was specific instances in games that really stand out. From an individual point of view, the adrenaline rush you got from stealing opposition ball was something else knowing at that moment you had affected a big moment for your team.
I’d competed to a fairly high standard in judo as a kid, so shifting my balance to absorb contact or using the opposition player’s body weight to my advantage came fairly naturally to me. I played to county level but eventually judo and everything else made way for rugby.
The Brumbies picked me up and, before long, I was representing my country overseas. It was incredible. Between 2004-06, I played in three Junior World Cups for Australia. Back then, they were split into U19s and U21s. I captained the U19s in South Africa, played in the U21s the year after in Argentina, where we won every game until narrowly losing to South Africa in the final, and then led the side in France the next year. Those tournaments were great for my development, mentally and physically. In Argentina, I remember there was a fence between the supporters and the pitch, just in case passions spilled over, and the pitch was surrounded by a moat so you had to come out from under the pitch to enter the field. It gave you a good idea of what pressure rugby was all about.
Denne historien er fra August 29, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra August 29, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
