Bleacher Report - Articles by Steve Munford

England V New Zealand

Steve Munford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:08:33 -0500

England complete their three game Autumn International series against the might of the All Blacks this weekend. After an uninspiring defeat to Australia and an extremely disappointing win over Argentina in the previous fortnight, what chance, if any, do England have of a famous victory?

England have lost their last seven Tests against New Zealand, with their last victory coming in a 15-13 win in 2003. That day current head-coach Martin Johnson captained his world beaters to a phenomenal win, defending their line at one point with 13 men. Pundits are not so appreciative of Johnson now however, sending much criticism his way over the last two weeks along with his coaches John Wells and John Callard.

It should be noted that England have been extraordinarily unfortunate with injuries in the build up to this series, missing influential players such as Phil Vickery, Andrew Sheridan, Nick Easter, Riki Flutey and Mike Tindall.

Undoubtedly, these senior players would have made a difference to an England side seemingly bereft of confidence. However, this does not excuse the lack of imagination and basic mistakes made by the very talented players that have pulled on the white jersey this Autumn.

The players lack direction, appearing to be completely confused by the game plan. There is no tempo, no dynamism and no desire to keep the ball in hand. Even Jonny Wilkinson, England’s most coveted possession, has been reduced to aimlessly booting the ball long, giving the opposition’s back three perfect counter-attack ball.

We can only assume that this is being done under strict instructions from the management, but if this is the case, it is hard to accept.

With an exciting back-line consisting of the likes of Shane Geraghty, Matt Banahan, Ugo Monye and Mark Cueto, England should surely be looking to keep the ball alive. Instead they repeatedly and willingly handed the ball over to the opposition, a trait which was particularly noticeable in the first half of the Argentina game, one of the worst halves in English rugby history.

The Twickenham faithful booed the team off at half-time of the Argentina game and quite rightly so. Some seats cost £85 at the home of rugby and that performance didn’t merit £8.50.

It is a fact, however, that England came away with a win against a team ranked two places higher than them in the IRB rankings, and of course captain Steve Borthwick and Johnson were keen to highlight this fact. However, it is hard to find any other positives to come out of that game and they cannot hide from the daunting task that awaits them this weekend.

The All-Blacks are perhaps not the unbeatable force of years past, as South Africa ruthlessly demonstrated in the Tri-Nations. There are chinks in the armour which England must look to exploit, most notably their front five.

However, it is still a side packed with raw talent, with players such as Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, and Mils Muliaina. If England kick poorly to these players they will be punished.

Frustrated with England’s inability to execute his game-plan, Johnson has picked a team to carry out a more basic but more physical game plan. He has replaced the skillful, diminutive Geraghty with the powerful presence of Ayoola Erinle at inside-centre, in an attempt to get England over the gain-line and create quicker ball for the exciting back-three at his disposal.

Also, to the relief of all England rugby fans, Simon Shaw returns to the side. Shaw has only played two competitive games since his heroic displays for the Lions in South Africa, but if he can reproduce that sort of form on Saturday, he will more than vindicate his selection.

At 36 he also brings a wealth of experience to a team that lacks leaders and his presence in the second row alongside Steve Borthwick should take a lot of pressure off his captain’s shoulders.

If England have any chance of beating the All-Blacks, they will have to play at pace, put the Kiwis under immense pressure in every facet of the game and take every chance that comes their way. Undoubtedly a packed Twickenham will create a hostile atmosphere and get right behind their team and England will have their opportunities.

However, this will be the ultimate test of their credentials and ability to execute under pressure.

Steve Borthwick claims that “this Saturday we will go out and play as hard as we possibly can.” Meanwhile, Johnson maintains that "the guys have had their frustrations but their mood is good and they want to go out and play."

If England can somehow manage to overturn their illustrious opponents at HQ this weekend they will reignite a country desperate for success and relieve the pressure on their World Cup winning coach. However, if anyone can pull England out of their current slump it is Martin Johnson.

Jonny Wilkinson: The Pursuit Of Happiness

Steve Munford — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:41:15 -0400

Rarely has a triumph brought so much joy to so many whilst at the same time bringing so much pain to the individual responsible for that triumph. On the 22nd November 2003 in Sydney, Jonny Wilkinson dropped the most famous goal in rugby history and thus brought to an end England’s wait for it’s first world title in a major sport since 1966.

Whilst English pride swelled as Martin Johnson lifted aloft the William Webb Ellis trophy, Wilkinson was left to come to terms with a very personal despair, the realisation that at the age of 24 his most cherished goal, a goal which he had dedicated his whole life to achieving, had been achieved.

“The problem with reaching the peak of the tallest mountain in your dreams is that the path can only wind down the other side further and further away from this idyllic moment. I had pictured this image—worshipped it even—for years, maybe as long as I could remember. As we walked around the field in our celebratory lap of honour I could feel my dream beginning to slip away. The brightness was already fading and with each second that passed so was my happiness,” he admitted.

During the years which followed the World Cup, Wilkinson was forced to reassess his own values and mindset, even studying Buddhist teachings and principles to help him deal with his own perfectionist attitude.

After twelve seasons at his beloved Newcastle Falcons, Wilkinson made the switch to the south of France this Summer to join the new revolution of rugby galacticos at Toulon. Following years of disappointments including multiple injuries and a World Cup Final defeat to South Africa in 2007, England’s ‘perfect 10’ finally seems to have found some form of contentment.

In an environment completely alien to his familiar Jordi surroundings, Wilkinson seems right at home, speaking fluent French and sporting flowing golden locks and a permanent tan. More importantly to English rugby fans he is playing some of his best rugby and is poised to make a return to the International stage in the Autumn.

It is hard not to appreciate the professionalism of a man who would regularly stay two hours after his teammates had finished training to perfect his kicking.

“I complete every session with six kicks at goal from different positions. I have to make every one before I can go home. If I don’t, the sequence starts again. My conscience doesn’t allow me to stop before the set is complete. My record, and it is not one I’m particularly proud of, stands at five hours, set when I was seventeen."

However, it is also hard not to feel sorry for Wilkinson for this same professionalism. For here is a man who is so desperate to succeed over and over again, that he had forgotten to enjoy a moment that nearly every boy in this country dreams of: winning the world cup. Here is a man who is so desperate not to let anyone down that he confessed, “I refuse to go into a fast food outlet—to use the toilet even—in case anyone got the wrong idea and thought I was sneaking in a quick burger. I play with a fear of letting people down. That’s what motivates me.”

Wilkinson is spurred on by his belief that “perfection is not held by the man who has everything he wants but thrives in him who gives everything he has.” One suspects that such a driven individual will never be completely contented and that behind his healthy exterior there still remains, and always will remain, a deep sense of dissatisfaction with imperfection.

In many ways this motivation has paid off, seeing as Wilkinson has achieved so much in his career; he became the first English player to score over 1000 International points, is the highest points scorer in World Cup history, won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2003 and the IRB (International Rugby Board) Player of the Year award in the same year. This is not to mention the fact that he has been a key member in teams that have won the World Cup, a Grand-Slam Six Nations Championship, the English Premiership and the Tetley’s Bitter Cup. Perhaps the only accolade to escape Wilkinson’s grasp is a Lion’s Series winner’s medal (he was part of the 2-1 series defeat to Australia in 2001 and 3-0 whitewash to New Zealand in 2005).

Like every famous sporting star in this country, Wilkinson is worshipped by an adoring public. However, this is a side of fame that he is most uncomfortable with. During the final weeks of the 2003 World Cup he would dress in a cap, shades and heavy jumpers, even on the warm beaches of Sydney, indistinguishable to even his own team-mates, simply to escape autograph chasing fans.

Rugby runs through his veins. He lives, sleeps and breathes rugby and he plays simply for the love of the game. “I never asked to be famous. I just wanted to play rugby. If there were one man and a dog watching I wouldn’t care—I would still play the game. I just want normality again , I want to be similar to everyone else, to have the right to go out there and play , to start attacking my dreams and goals.”

Despite his amazing career, Wilkinson is a tragic story of intense self-criticism. He is in a constant pursuit of a happiness and peace of mind that he himself has made it almost impossible to reach. As a nation we can only hope that when the day comes for one of our dearest treasures to hang up his boots, he will look back on his career with few regrets and be satisfied with being the very personification of dedication. However, when this day comes, he will most likely have already outlined a whole new set of goals for the next chapter of his life.

British and Irish Lions Left To Lick Their Wounds

Steve Munford — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:08:29 -0400

Rarely has the cruelty of sport at the highest level been so clear to see as on the faces of the British and Irish Lions players after the second Test in Pretoria. As Morne Steyn’s kick flew between the uprights, the hearts of four nations sank along with those of their battered warriors.

The Lions now head to Johannesburg for the third and final Test with only pride to play for; ruing the injustice of Schalk Burger’s inexcusably generous yellow card, a multitude of injuries in key positions, and their own inability to close out the game.

Yet for all their disappointment, their courage and bravery in the face of adversity must be admired.

At the end of a season spanning almost an entire year for these players, the task of beating the the World Champion Spingboks in their own backyard, was considered to be nearly impossible. A task made harder by the fact that they would have only five weeks to prepare.

And so it proved to be a bridge too far, but only just. The fact that they pushed the Boks to their limits is a success in itself, and although they will return with another series defeat, the class of 2009 has showed that the ethos of the Lions is well and truly alive.

South Africa too must be credited for its resilience and ability to handle pressure, as well as for their whole contribution to two of the most exciting test matches ever played.

For over an hour, everything was going according to plan for McGeechan’s men, as they went into the final quarter leading 19-8. However, two wonderfully crafted tries for Bryan Habana and Jacques Fourie brought the Boks back into contention, before Steyn’s last-gasp winner.

The drama began as early as the first minute, when Schalk Burger, making his 50th Test appearance for South Africa, was spotted eye gouging Luke Fitzgerald by Linesman Brys Lawrence. Lawrence’s recommendation to referee Christophe Berdos was “at least a yellow card,” but it is hard to fathom how the Frenchman did not produce a red.

Comments following the game by South African coach Peter de Villiers that Burger did not deserve even a yellow card have incensed the Lions, and justifiably so. There is unquestionably no place for eye-gouging in the game of rugby and to suggest otherwise is "mind boggling" in the opinion of Brian O’Driscoll.

Unfazed by the event, the Lions went about their business to stunning effect as the imperious Irish full-back Rob Kearney, who had a flawless match, crossed the whitewash in the seventh minute. But having conceded 10 points with Burger off the field, the Boks scored immediately upon his return.

Juan Smith won a line-out at the tail and scrum-half Du Preez released wing JP Pietersen, who picked a superb angle to ease past Fitzgerald and over to the right of the posts.

Stephen Jones and Francois Steyn traded penalties to leave the score at 16-8 at half-time.

The Second half did not begin well for the Lions, as they lost both props, Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones, to injury. Witnesses to the first test may have considered the idea of uncontested scrums against John Smit and "the Beast" to be a godsend, but the two Welshmen were dominating their opposite numbers and the Lions missed them badly for the last half an hour.

Worse was to come as the influential Jamie Roberts followed his centre partner Brian O’Driscoll off the field, forcing stand-off Stephen Jones to move to inside-centre, and wing Tommy Bowe to slot into the 13 channel.

Ronan O’Gara came on at Fly-half, but it was to prove a desperately disappointing cameo for the Irishman.

First, it was his missed tackle which allowed Jacques Fourie to squeeze in at the corner and give the Sprinkboks the lead for the first time in the match and secondly, with his head strapped and barely able to see out of one eye, he hoisted an up-and-under with the scores at 25-25 in the last play of the match, instead of looking for the safety of touch.

Chasing his own kick, he only succeeded in taking out South African scrum-half Fourie Du-Preez in the air, providing Steyn with the chance to write himself into the history books and exact revenge for 12 years of hurt.

For a man who has had such success throughout his career, guiding Munster to European glory and Ireland to a Grand-Slam triumph, to have made such a costly error in what was surely the biggest game of his career is a very heavy burden.

The anguish was clear to see on his battered face following the final whistle, and one could not help but feel desperately sorry for a man who had nowhere to hide, and who will struggle to ever forget the closing events of this compelling Test match.

Nobody epitomized the Lions’ spirit more than Simon Shaw, making his Test debut at the age of 35.

The Wasps second-row was everywhere, seemingly untouched by fatigue or pain as he repeatedly smashed into rucks and tackles, and he was deservedly awarded Man of the Match.

Yet, as he himself admitted, that is little consolation. A massive opportunity has been missed by these players and the harsh facts remain that this was a seventh straight Test defeat for the men from Britain and Ireland.

“No one actually thought we were going to be competitive," McGeechan noted. "But we have been more than that. In both games we have been winners in a lot of respects."

Maybe, but unfortunately for the Lions and their marvelous fans, not on the scoreboard.

Rugby Titans Line Up for Tri-Nations Decider

Steve Munford — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:26:11 -0400

On 13th September in Brisbane, Wallaby coach Robbie Deans will have the chance to snatch both the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri-Nations crown from his own countrymen. A 27-15 victory over the Springboks in Durban, Australia’s first away victory in the Tri-Nations since 2000, set up the Suncorp Stadium showdown against the All Blacks.

Despite suffering the biggest Test loss in Australian rugby history last weekend, a 53-8 drubbing by South Africa, which surpassed the 61-22 defeat at the hands of the Springboks in Pretoria in 1997, confidence in the Australian camp is high.

After a successful start to his international management career, Deans is determined to finish off the job in Brisbane.

"We have genuinely started something," he said. "We've picked up something to show for it along the way, but the thing we'd really like to show for it is ahead of us.

"It's always good to get the confirmation that we are making progress and I guess we've got the opportunity now to show that we have made some headway."

However, injuries may hamper Australia’s efforts to win their first Tri-Nations since 2001. Deans confirmed that lock Dan Vickerman would definitely be unavailable for the Test with the All-Blacks, while prop Ben Robinson is also doubtful after coming off with an injured hand against the Boks.

Young prodigy Berwick Barnes, who was rated at no better than 50-50 to play by Deans a week ago, is making a miraculous recovery. After undergoing intensive physiotherapy on his shoulder injury sustained in Australia’s defeat of South Africa in Durban, Barnes has trained for the first time with the squad at Ballymore, much to the relief of Deans.

The lack of Barnes’ organisational skills in defence and attack, and his ability to take pressure of Matt Giteau inside him, were evident in the Wallabies’ record loss to South Africa.

New Zealand have injury concerns of their own. Anthony Tuitavake has been ruled out for up to six weeks following a fractured cheek bone sustained in the recent Samoa match.

However, influential skipper Ritchie McCaw, who missed the Samoan game in New Plymouth with a rib injury, lock Brad Thorne, winger Sitiveni Sivivatu and prop John Afoa should all recover in time for the Antipodean showdown.

Although the 101-14 mauling of Samoa should have done little more than boost egos in the All Black camp, Graham Henry saw the mid-week clash as a valuable exercise for his team.

"We needed to play together as a team before we go to Australia, so we were pleased to have the opportunity to play Samoa," he said.

Following two months of exhilarating Test match rugby, the 2008 Tri-Nations will be decided by a ferocious 80 minute battle between two of rugby’s most bitter rivals.

Securing the greatest prize in Southern Hemisphere rugby will be one of the biggest challenges of Deans' coaching career but surely one of the most satisfying.

"The Tri-Nations isn't over. It's a one-off encounter. One game that can make their season good. Whether they can do it remains to be seen," he said.

Guinness Premiership Countdown: A Review of the Dozen English Heavyweights

Steve Munford — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:30:55 -0400

With only seven weeks to go until the start of the new Guinness Premiership Rugby season, the 12 heavyweights of English rugby are making their final preparations for an assault on the most competitive league in the world.

More than 50,000 spectators are expected at this year’s London Double Header at Twickenham, involving Harlequins, Saracens, London Wasps, and London Irish. It proves that interest in the sport is at an all-time high.

A combination of 13 new law changes (ELVs) and the new agreement between the RFU and Premier Rugby, which will allow Martin Johnson increased access to his 32-man elite senior squad, could make this the most open season of Premiership Rugby yet. Each of the 12 teams is capable of beating any other on their day.

The champions, London Wasps, will be the team to beat. Despite the fact that nine front-line players will be missing on England duty for a large period of the year, and the gaping hole left by the injured Danny Cipriani at fly-half, Wasps’ performance last year means that they will again be a force to reckon with.

A multitude of stars were absent at the beginning of the 07-08 season due to World Cup commitments, yet Wasps managed to grind out 10 wins from their last 11 matches to finish second at the end of the regular season. They went on to claim their fourth title in six seasons.

Opponents may be glad to have seen the back of talismanic skipper Lawrence Dallaglio, but he has left the Adams Park club with a winning mentality the likes of Tom Rees and James Haskell will be desperate to continue.

A lot more pressure will be on last year’s Guinness Premiership player of the year, the now "English" Riki Flutey. But he should revel in his increased responsibility in the midfield now that Fraser Waters has left.

Under the superb guidance of Ian McGeechan and Shaun Edwards, Wasps are sure to reach the top four, and once the play-offs arrive, no team knows the route to victory better than they do.

Many will fancy Gloucester to go one better than last year and rid themselves of the nearly-men status. Dean Ryan has strengthened over the summer, adding Olly Barkley from neighbours Bath and New Zealander Greg Somerville to the wealth of talent already at his disposal.

Long-term injuries to ferocious Fijian flanker Akapusi Qera and to Gareth Delve will certainly not help their cause. However, under the control of the ever-improving Ryan Lamb at stand-off, the English back-line contingent of Barkley, Mike Tindall, and James Simpson-Daniel could run riot.

It will take a performance of the highest quality from a team at the top of their game to stop the cherry and whites from lifting the trophy that has eluded them and the Kingsholm faithful for so long.

Bath were the most exciting team to watch throughout last season, playing an exciting brand of running rugby with forwards and backs linking fluently.

Although they will continue to draw the plaudits for their adventure, they will struggle to repeat their achievements of last season. The departures of Olly Barkley and captain Steve Borthwick to Saracens have created a void that coach Steve Meehan has yet to fill.

Young starlets Michael Lipman, Nick Abendanon, and Matt Banahan are sure to impress. Still, it may be a season too soon for the West Country club to challenge for honours.

Leicester, as always, will be pushing hard for a top-four finish come the end of the season. With Blue Bulls goalkicker Derick Hougaard following new coach and fellow South African Heyneke Meyer to Welford Road to challenge another new arrival, Toby Flood, for the No. 10 shirt, the Tigers already appear a stronger unit than last year.

Martin Corry will be desperate for a successful finish to his 11-year Tigers career, but they are not the force they once were, and are likely to suffer heavily from international call-ups as they lack the strength in depth of Wasps.

Harlequins very unfortunately did not reach the playoffs last year, losing out to a last minute Tom Varndell try at Welford Road. They will fancy their chances of going one better this year and Dean Richards will demand success in his third season at the club.

Youngsters such as Danny Care, Mike Brown, and David Strettle should grow in stature, particularly Care who has the chance to establish himself as England’s first choice scrum-half after a successful tour of New Zealand.

Tom Guest and Chris Robshaw will also have benefited from their summer tour of Canada with the Saxons and if they can provide quick ball for their speedy backs, Quins have the ability to cut teams to shreds.

Most importantly, however, Quins seem to have finally found a top class No. 10, a position which has caused them problems ever since Thierry Lacroix left the Stoop. The acquisition of Nick Evans could prove to be Richards’ best signing yet. The composure and experience of the Kiwi stand-off should allow Quins' young starlets to fulfill their potential

Sale and Saracens should achieve comfortable mid-table positions, with Luke McAllister and Steve Borthwick playing major roles for both clubs respectively.

Worcester, too, with the strong Antipodean influence of Rico Gear and Chris Latham supporting the electrifying pace of Miles Benjamin in the back three, should stay well clear of the relegation tussle, as should London Irish despite the loss of influential backs coach Brian Smith to England.

It was a shock and disappointment to many rugby fans when Northampton were relegated. Now, however, they have made their expected immediate return to the Premiership and they will not want to settle for mid-table anonymity.

They have one of the best stadiums and biggest fan bases in the country and the pressure will be on Jim Mallinder to bring success back to Franklin’s Gardens. He has rebuilt intelligently and the signing of Ben Foden from Sale Sharks in particular will please Saints fans.

They will rely heavily on Carlos Spencer to spark some magic and whilst they may not threaten the top four, they are sure to consolidate their position back in the top flight.

That leaves Bristol and Newcastle battling it out for Premiership survival. Bristol have done extremely well since their return to the Premiership three years ago, but there were signs at the end of last season that their small squad was struggling to cope with the arduous nature of the long season and there is a lack of resources available for Richard Hill to strengthen.

Bristol’s home form is usually very strong, but until the work on the Memorial Ground is complete they will share Rodney Parade with the Newport-Gwent Dragons. Only time will tell as to whether they can create the same intimidating atmosphere for visiting opponents at their new home. And they will need to pick up more points on the road if they are to keep their Premiership status.

Falcons fans will be very apprehensive following the departure of two home-grown stars, Matthew Tait and Toby Flood, at the end of last season. They now lack the flair required to break down opposition defences and will be heavily dependent on Jonny Wilkinson kicking them to victory.

It will be a very long season in the Northeast.