Sonny Bill Williams has reflected on the achievements of his idol, boxer Muhammad Ali ahead of his quest for Olympic gold.
Williams already has a Rugby World Cup, Super Rugby and NRL title to his name along with a national heavyweight boxing championship but he believes winning Olympic gold would eclipse everything.
“To be able to say you’re an Olympian and get a medal, that’d just be another level,” the New Zealand Sevens star told ESPN.
“It would be unbelievable. I get butterflies just thinking about it. God willing it all works out.”
Williams, a devout Muslim, added that former boxing legend Ali is an idol of his and draw much inspiration.
“From an athlete’s point of view, for me, there was no one bigger than Ali,” added the rugby league convert.
“He’s my man. He won a gold medal, he was an Olympian and it would be awesome to say I am an Olympian as well.
“His faith [was inspiring] and I guess, though he didn’t always say the right things, he always backed it up. I appreciate that from an athlete. I can only imagine the scrutiny and amount of people that would want to see him fail. But he kept on trucking on.
“There was that fight against George Foreman where no one expected him to win, the odds were stacked against him but somehow he did. It showed the character of him, the man he was.
“It wasn’t just about his mouth, he had something deep inside him that allowed him to go to those dark places and come out on top.”
I think everyone will disagree with this in some shape or form either through omissions or where the players should be within the Top 50 but very interesting to look through
Mr Consistency. Man of the Match time and again for club and country. A footballing openside, this popular and highly respected centurion went on three Lions tours.
49. Will Genia (AUS)
One of those players who, at his peak, could win a game single-handedly, either with his own sniping breaks or by putting others into space. A real pocket dynamo scrum-half.
48. Alun Wyn Jones (WAL)
Now with 100 Test caps to his name, the Ospreys second row has grown into an inspirational and talismanic figure and would feature in most people’s world team right now.
47. Julian Savea (NZ)
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Yes, I know he’s only been playing international rugby for three years, but the impact he has made in that time demands inclusion, with 38 tries in 41 Tests. A modern-day Lomu.
46. Scott Quinnell (WAL)
After a short spell in league, returned to Union when the game went open. One of the most effective ball-carrying No 8s in the world, he was like a one-man pack for Wales at times.
45. Tana Umaga (NZ)
A great reader of the game, the Hurricanes centre was the focal point of the New Zealand back-line for years and a hugely successful skipper, winning 19 out of 21 games at the helm.
44. Gary Teichmann (SA)
This Rhodesian-born No 8 captained South Africa to a record 17 Test winning streak in the late 1990s, leading by example, before launching the Bok and Amber revolution at Newport.
43. Rob Howley (WAL)
Rob Howley
Shone brightly despite spending much of his Test career behind a beaten Welsh pack. Confirmed status as a world class scrum-half with the Lions and won Wasps the Heineken Cup.
42. Will Greenwood (ENG)
A tall, stylish and astute centre who had a particular penchant for scoring tries against Wales. Two Lions tours, but his finest hour was lifting the World Cup with England in 2003.
41. Joe Rokocoko (NZ)
The Fijian-born wing boasts a remarkable strike rate, having scored 47 tries in 68 Tests. When you’ve got speed and strength, you’ve always got a chance and he had both in bucketloads.
40. Bakkies Botha (SA)
Bakkies Botha
The second row enforcer in South Africa’s World Cup winning team of 2007, this was a man you didn’t mess around with. Rounded off his career with three European Cup wins with Toulon.
39. Carl Hayman (NZ)
We just hadn’t seen a tight-head prop like him before. At 6ft 4ins and 18st 13lbs, the Otago powerhouse was a man mountain in the All Blacks pack ahead of a lucrative move to Europe.
38. Juan-Martin Fernandez-Lobbe (ARG)
Look for the ball and the Pumas back rower is certain to be somewhere in the vicinity. He’s either scrabbling for it on the deck, plucking it out of the air, fielding it deep or carrying it on the charge.
37. Thierry Dusautoir (FRA)
David Rogers/Getty Images
Produced one of the individual performance of modern times when he made an eye-popping 38 tackles and scored a try in France’s 2007 World Cup win over New Zealand. World player of year in 2011.
36. Jean de Villiers (SA)
A hard-running centre who has also shown himself able to do all the pretty stuff. The king of the interception, he scored 27 Test tries and proved a fine leader of his country. On his way to Leicester.
35. Ma’a Nonu (NZ)
Known initially more for his braided hair and eyeliner, he added passing and kicking to his raw line-breaking power to become one of the great centres, capping his Test career with that superb World Cup final try.
34. Adam Jones (WAL)
His record speaks for itself. The scrum cornerstone of three Grand Slam winning teams and the Test tight-head on two Lions tours. A true legend of Welsh rugby who has also been one of the game’s great characters.
33. Conrad Smith (NZ)
Nicknamed The Snake because of his ability to slither through the smallest of gaps and strike with a sudden burst of speed. Brought fluidity to the All Blacks midfield with his intelligent passing and vision.
32. Scott Gibbs (WAL)
Responsible for one of the great moments in Welsh rugby history, with his Wembley try against England in 1999, and a seminal Lions image with his dumping of Os du Randt two years earlier. A wrecking ball centre.
31. Justin Marshall (NZ)
Some players talk the talk, some walk the walk. Justin Marshall could do both. Backed up his chirping by running the show for the All Blacks in an 81-cap Test career ahead of a high-profile spell with the Ospreys.
30. Percy Montgomery (SA)
Percy Montgomery
Test days appeared to be over when he joined Newport in 2002, but the move actually re-ignited his international career and he went on to be the top points scorer at the 2007 World Cup, excelling at 15 as the ‘Boks took the trophy.
29. Doug Howlett (NZ)
A star sprinter as a schoolboy, once clocked a personal best of 10.94 seconds for 100 metres. Used his speed to great effect in his rugby career, scoring a record 49 tries for the All Blacks. A wing with a high work rate and strong defence.
28. Stephen Larkham (AUS)
Australia attack coach Stephen Larkham
A converted full-back, the elegant Larkham proved a worthy successor to Michael Lynagh as the Wallaby outside-half. Pulled the strings to great effect during Australia’s 1999 World Cup winning campaign.
27. Gethin Jenkins (WAL)
Huw Evans Picture Agency
Has revolutionised the role of the loose-head prop. Like an extra back rower with his ability over the ball and his defensive work-rate. The medal haul for club and country says it all. Wales’ most capped player of all time.
Blessed with enormous natural ability, has been able to turn his hand to scrum-half, fly-half and centre. Test career seemed over when he headed off to win three European Cups with Toulon but returned to sparkle at this autumn’s World Cup.
25. Jason Robinson (ENG)
Jason Robinson
Known as Billy Whizz, this former rugby league star proved a hugely successful convert to Union. A lethal runner from full-back or wing, he was a nightmare to mark in one-on-one situations. Had a knack of scoring memorable tries on the big stage.
24. George Smith (AUS)
The scourge of the Lions at the age of 20 and more than 100 caps to his name for the Wallabies before he was 30. An absolute pest and nuisance at the breakdown, made a living out of slowing down or stealing opposition ball. Still going strong with Wasps.
23. Richard Hill (ENG)
Richard Hill
The ultimate players’ player. Did all the unseen, grafting work and just got on with his job in unassuming fashion, putting his body on the line. Able to excel right across the back row, he was a pivotal figure on two Lions trips and an England World Cup winner.
22. Christian Cullen (NZ)
Just about the most exciting player in the world game for a few years in the late 1990s. Nicknamed the Paekakariki Express, he had a remarkable strike rate, scoring 46 tries in just 58 Tests for New Zealand, with his elusive running and pace from full-back ripping sides apart.
21. Schalk Burger (SA)
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One of the most physical flankers in the game, he was dubbed a “threshing machine” by former Springboks coach Nick Mallett. Came back from injury and life-threatening illness to enjoy an immense international swansong at the recent World Cup. A carrying king.
20. Lawrence Dallaglio (ENG)
Huw Evans Picture Agency
Went from being a schoolboy chorister to one of the most formidable physical presences in the game of rugby. Had it all in his prime – pace, power, aggression, pride and a steely mind-set. A Lions series winner, a World Cup winner and a trophy magnet with Wasps.
19. John Smit (SA)
One of the great captains of the professional era. Led South Africa a record 83 times in 111 Tests, guiding them to victory at the 2007 World Cup, a series triumph over the Lions in 2009 and two Tri-Nations titles. A teak hard performer in his own right, mainly at hooker, but also at prop.
18. Fourie du Preez (SA)
South Africa’s Fourie Du Preez runs in to score the winning try against Wales
Any aspiring scrum-half should watch this man in action. A master tactician, with a great kicking game, he was the lynchpin of the South African team that won the World Cup and defeated the Lions. Then came back from injury to excell once again at the 2015 global tournament, breaking Welsh hearts.
17. David Pocock (Australia)
A worthy successor to Richie McCaw as the most influential player in world rugby, either at 7 or 8. There is simply no-one better in the game over the ball. He is just perfectly built for the role and when he locks himself onto a tackled player, there is no moving him. A fascinating character off the field too.
16. Zinzan Brooke (NZ)
A dynamic ball carrier, this Kiwi No 8 also had better kicking and handling skills than some fly-halves. Heaped the ultimate indignity on England in the 1995 World Cup semi-final, landing an audacious drop goal from 40 metres after they had already been demolished by four-try Jonah Lomu.
15. Paul O’Connell (IRE)
Alun Wyn Jones and Paul O’Connell on Lions duty in 2013
Munster fans will tell you that Superman wears Paul O’Connell pyjamas! The Irish second row was certainly blessed with special rugby powers having been one of the world’s leading tight forwards for more than a decade. A three-times Lions who captained the tour of South Africa in 2009.
14. Victor Matfield (SA)
Dubbed the best centre in South Africa for his love of running with the ball in midfield, this ultra athletic second row has also been a supreme lineout technician. Man of the Match in the 2007 World Cup final, he came out of retirement to serve the Springboks once more after a three year break.
13. George Gregan (AUS)
A talkative figure on the field, was responsible for one of the great on-field jibes, taunting the All Blacks with the words “Four more years” during the dying moments of Australia’s 2003 World Cup semi-final victory. Born in Zambia, this complete scrum-half won a whopping 139 caps.
12. Bryan Habana (SA)
Bryan Habana
Anyone who races cheetahs in his spare time is likely to be reasonably rapid and the Jo’burg-born speedster has scorched his way to 64 Test tries – joint second with David Campese on the all-time list – including a record-equalling eight to help the ‘Boks win the 2007 World Cup. Further trophy triumphs followed with Toulon and he’s still a razor-sharp presence as he proved this autumn by drawing level with Jonah Lomu at the top of the pile with 15 career World Cup tries.
11. Martin Johnson (ENG)
Action Images/Andrew Budd
A player who led by example and the kind of man you would always want alongside you in the trenches when the chips are down. Would never ask someone to do something he wouldn’t do himself. Holds the unique distinction of having captained the Lions on two tours, including the triumphant 1997 trip to South Africa, while he will always be remembered as the man presented with the 2003 World Cup, which England won in Sydney. As well as being an inspirational leader, the Leicester lock was also a formidable player in his own right. A rock like presence in the tight, whose rugby motto was if in doubt, go forward.
10. Jonny Wilkinson (ENG)
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In some ways, you could argue Wilkinson has been the epitome of the professional era. He has set new standards in terms of dedication and an almost obsessive pursuit of perfection. He’s also been one of the great match winners of the era and one of the game’s greatest ever accumulators of points. In fact, only Dan Carter has scored more in Test rugby, with Wilkinson having garnered 1,246 during his 97 caps for England and the Lions. His finest hour, of course, came in 2003, when he slotted the drop goal that won the World Cup. The fact he landed it with his weaker right foot speaks volumes for his hours and hours of diligent practice. Bowed out on a high, earning two more trophies with Toulon.
9. John Eales (AUS)
Legendary Aussie captain John Eales lifts the trophy in 1999
Nicknamed “Nobody” because “Nobody’s perfect” and his record is certainly pretty close to perfection. One of a select band of players to have won two World Cups, skippering Australia to glory in Cardiff in 1999. Captained the Wallabies 55 times during his 86-cap Test career, establishing himself as one of the most respected figures in the game. He was also very much a one of a kind as a player. It’s hard to believe now, but he scored 173 points in international rugby. An agile, athletic second row lineout ace, he was also a top-class place-kicker, who landed 65 Test shots at goal. A real ambassador for the game and a great player.
8. Shane Williams (WAL)
Everyone remembers his side-stepping magic and wing wizardry, but it’s easy to forget just how hard Shane Williams worked in order to be able to hold his own physically on the international stage. Having burst onto the scene in exciting fashion, he spent two years in the Test wilderness amid concerns over his size. But having grabbed his chance at the 2003 World Cup, he worked diligently to complement his God-given ability by working on his physique, emerging as the greatest Welsh player of his generation. Named world player of the year in 2008, he ended up with 60 Test tries, leaving him fourth on the all-time list behind behind Daisuke Ohata, David Campese and Bryan Habana. He was The Great Entertainer.
7. Tim Horan (AUS)
When he made his Test debut for Australia against New Zealand in 1989, he impressed his opposite number, Joe Stanley, so much that Stanley gave him his jersey. The Kiwi knew talent when he saw it.
After emerging as one of the young stars of the 1991 World Cup, Horan returned from a horrendous knee injury to be player of the tournament eight years later as he lifted the Webb Ellis trophy for a second time. Possessed pace, balance, great ball skills and courage, with his attacking prowess, formidable defence and play-making ability marking him out as one of the finest centres the game of rugby has ever seen. Scored 40 Test tries at a rate of one every other game.
6. Sergio Parisse (ITA)
There’s no such thing as a one-man team in rugby, but it’s got pretty close to that with Italy at times over the past decade. That one man, of course, is their talismanic skipper Sergio Parisse.
The Argentinian-born No 8 has been a key figure for the Azzurri since making an eye-catching debut as an 18-year-old against New Zealand in 2002. Big and strong, he has the size to make holes in any defence, but also has hands to die for and the subtlety to execute passes out of the back of his hand as though he were a fly-half. Add to that an astute brain for the game and an absolute refusal to bend the knee and you have pretty much the complete rugby player.
5. Joost van der Westhuizen (SA)
Joost van der Westhuizen
One of the game’s great competitors on the field, the former Springboks scrum-half has carried that attitude into his off-field battles since hanging up his boots. You only have to watch the legendary Living With Lions video from the South African tour of 1997 to understand just how highly he was rated by the opposition and what a threat he was seen as.
Aggressive and fearless, he was arguably the finest running scrum-half the game has ever seen, scoring 38 tries in 89 Tests, a remarkable tally for a No 9. Despite standing 6ft 1ins tall, he was able to find and penetrate the tiniest gaps in opposing defences. An inspirational force as a player, he has inspired people once again in recent years with his fight against motor neurone disease.
4. Jonah Lomu (NZ)
PA Wire
Jonah Lomu scores a try against Ireland at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa
Has one man ever done more to popularise the game of rugby than Jonah? When he burst onto the scene at the 1995 World Cup, it was like a meteor landing from outer space. We had never seen anything like him before and his incredible feats grabbed the attention of folk who had never previously been interested in the sport.
The physical impact Lomu had on the 1995 World Cup was beyond the effect of any other player in the history of the game. He scored seven tries in 1995, including four in an unforgettable one-man demolition job of England in the semi. Lomu went one better in 1999 to finish with a record 15 tournament tries, before going on to show his dignity with his brave fight against debilitating kidney disease.
One of a kind and the impression he left on so many lives was vividly illustrated by the reaction to his death earlier this week. Rest in peace big man.
One of the most feared players in the game, O’Driscoll was also one of the most consistent. His 141 Test caps, including eight for the Lions, place him second on the all-time list behind Richie McCaw. Ireland’s record try scorer with 46 touchdowns, O’Driscoll also led his country more times than any other player and his brilliant defensive qualities and dazzling attacking skills made him a threat all over the field.
Provided some magical memories with his hat-trick against France in Paris in 2000 and his wonderful solo try for the Lions against Australia in Brisbane the following year which evokes memories of the ‘Waltzing O’Driscoll’ song that epitomised the 2001 tour. Holds the Six Nations record for most tries with 26 and was chosen Player of the Tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2009, leading Ireland to one Grand Slam and three Triple Crowns. Europe’s finest.
2. Dan Carter (NZ)
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Dan Carter can’t contain his excitement after the All Blacks are crowned champions
Dan the man. The greatest back of the professional era, his record speaks for itself. Way out in front as the leading points scorer in international rugby history, with 1,598 points from his 112 caps. Throw in a further 1,708 points for the Crusaders and the fly-half’s impact on the game cannot be emphasised enough.
A prolific goal-kicker, a wonderful silky runner and a masterful controller, he possesses the lot and has been a genuine match-winner at the highest level. The maestro made his Test debut against Wales in Hamilton in 2003, playing at inside centre and giving a sign of what was to come by scoring 20 points. It was also against Wales in 2010 that he kicked a penalty from halfway at the Millennium Stadium to overtake Jonny Wilkinson as the world’s top point scorer.
He averages almost 15 points a Test, the highest of any player in history who has scored more than 500 points. One of his greatest performances came in the second Test against the Lions in 2005, when he outshone Wilkinson in their fly-half battle to lead New Zealand to an emphatic 48-18 triumph in Wellington. He scored two tries, five penalties, and four conversions and ended the match with 33 points, easily eclipsing the previous record of 18.
There was to be injury-enforced World Cup frustration in 2007 and 2011, but he ended his Test career on the perfect note as he produced a Man of the Match display in this year’s final to guide the All Blacks to glory. A fitting farewell.
1. Richie McCaw (NZ)
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Richie McCaw
Who else? You only have to look at the 49 names below Richie McCaw on this list to recognise what a legend the Kiwi flanker has proved over the last 15 years. His stats are quite remarkable. He earned a world-record 148 caps for the All Blacks, winning 131 of those games and captaining his country 111 times. Perhaps my favourite stat is he has played in 32 per cent of New Zealand’s Test match victories since 1903!
When he first emerged from Otaga Boys’ High, he was far from the finished product, as Steve Hansen confirms. “He was good at pinching the ball, but he couldn’t catch, couldn’t pass and couldn’t run,” recalls the Kiwi coach. “But he had a massive desire to be good. He wanted to be good at everything.”
Richie McCaw and Steve Hansen at the press conference
Complementing his natural prowess over the ball, McCaw worked and worked at his game, adding handling skills and dynamic running to turn himself into the complete openside. Unflinchingly brave, he has remained a quite outstanding exponent at the breakdown throughout the career, while also possessing the athleticism and footballing ability to serve as the classic link man and the ball carrying dynamism to consistently break the line. He had the lot.
Add to that his leadership and you have the perfect package. Lifting the 2011 World Cup in his backyard was a fitting tribute to one of the greatest ever All Blacks, but he went on to secure true legendary status as he continued for four more years, breaking record after record and uniquely hoisting the Webb Ellis trophy for a second time. It was to be a perfect ending not just to his international career but also his playing career, as he confirmed his retirement from the game this week.
He could easily have taken up a lucrative contract in France, but that’s not his style. “I really had no desire to play overseas. To go and play rugby just to earn a fat cheque really didn’t spin my wheels. If I felt I could continue to play, I would stay right here in New Zealand.” Classy until the end. Richie McCaw – the single most influential player I have ever seen play the game of rugby and my No 1.
Toulon fly-half Quade Cooper has confirmed he is leaving the club in a message to supporters on Tuesday.
Cooper thanked his “brothers and the family I now have in Toulon who I will miss.”
The 28-year-old joined the three-time European champions last year and is now expected to return to Australia, with a return to the Reds speculated in recent months.
Cooper, who has 58 Test caps for Australia, last appeared for the Wallabies during the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Uruguay.
After the Super Rugby season finishes the following are moving to new clubs away from South Africa:
Vodacom Bulls Dean Greyling (Oyonnax), Marcel van der Merwe (Toulon),Werner Kruger (Scarlets), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier), Le Roux Roets (Racing Metro), Lappies Labuschagne (Kubota Spears),
Deon Stegmann (Honda Heat),Grant Hattingh (Kubota Spears), Jacques Potgieter (Fukuoka Sanix Blues),Duhan van der Merwe (Montpellier)
Toyota Cheetahs
Maks van Dyk (Toulouse), Coenie van Wyk (Toshiba Brave Lupis), Henry Immelman (Montpellier),
Willie Britz (NTT Shining Arcs), Francois Uys (Toyota Verblitz)
DHL Stormers
Vincent Koch (Saracens), Schalk Burger (Saracens), Nic Groom (Northampton Saints), Louis Schreuder (Kubota Spears), Jean Kleyn (Munster)
Cell C Sharks
Marcell Coetzee (Ulster), JP Pietersen (Leicester Tigers), Paul Jordaan (La Rochelle), Joe Pietersen (Kamiashi Seawaves) Kyle Cooper (Newcastle Falcons)
Southern Kings
Steven Sykes (Oyonnax), Schalk Oelofste (Mont-de-Marsan), Philip du Preez (Mont-de-Marsan), Louis Fouche (Kubota Spears), Aiden Davids (Toulon), James Hall (Oyonnax), Shane Gates (NTT Shining Arcs), Jurgen Visser (Docomo Red Hurricanes)
Union Bordeaux Begles (UBB) had the highest average crowds last season amongst the clubs of the three European leagues: the Top 14, the Celtic League and the Premiership, see table below.
This table was unveiled by The Rugby Paper.
The podium is also the same as last year. UBB are top for the second consecutive year. Les Girondins increased from 23 766 to 25 539 fans on average last season. Leicester Tigers are 2nd (21,769) and Harlequins 3rd (19 307). Toulon 4th (18795) are once again outside the Top 3. Toulouse 5th (17,153) and Clermont 6th ( 17 047) are also in the top 10 before Saracens, Ulster, Wasps and Northampton.
French Champions, Racing 92 rose from 27th to 21st place.
The Daily Telegraph has got the ball rolling already with its proposed squad for the Lions 2017 tour to New Zealand
The squad in full is as follows:
FORWARDS:
Prop: Jack McGrath (Ireland)
Prop: Mako Vunipola (England)
Prop: Mike Ross (Ireland)
Prop: Rob Evans (Wales)
Prop: Dan Cole (England)
Prop: WP Nel (Scotland)
Hooker: Dylan Hartley (England)
Hooker: Rory Best (Ireland)
Hooker: Jamie George (England)
Lock: Alun-Wyan Jones (Wales)
Lock: Maro Itoje (England)
Lock: Devin Toner (Ireland)
Lock: George Kruis (England)
Lock: Courtney Lawes (England)
Back row: Chris Robshaw (England)
Back row: CJ Stander (Ireland)
Back row: James Haskell (England)
Back row: Sam Warburton (Wales)
Back row: Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
Back row: Billy Vunipola (England)
Back row: Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Backs
Scrum-half: Rhys Webb (Wales)
Scrum-half: Ben Youngs
Scrum-half: Conor Murray (Ireland)
Fly-half: Dan Biggar (Wales)
Fly-half: Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
Centre: Owen Farrell (England)
Centre: Jamie Roberts (Wales)
Centre: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
Centre: Jonathan Joseph (England)
Centre: Jared Payne (Ireland)
Wing: George North (Wales)
Wing: Jack Nowell (England)
Wing: Liam Williams (Wales)
Wing: Anthony Watson (England)
Full-back: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Full-back: Mike Brown (England)
What are your thoughts? I am sure there will be some omissions
Lots of Wallabies rugby jerseys brought together today on the website Classic Rugby Shirts
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Rare 1992/93 shirt by Canterbury
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This is an Australia Official Canterbury Long Sleeved
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England’s opponents today have spent five years honing a special weapon that could bring the bulldozing No 8 to a shuddering halt, writes John Westerby
Top of Wales’s to-do list at Twickenham today will be to cut Billy Vunipola down to size. The England No 8 has been standing tall as the outstanding ball-carrier in the RBS Six Nations Championship this year, looming large in the thoughts of Shaun Edwards, the Wales defence coach, but England’s opponents are confident they possess the instrument to succeed, where other teams have failed, in scything Vunipola down.
Their weapon of choice will be the chop tackle, devised by Edwards before the 2011 World Cup, honed since then by Dan Lydiate to the extent that it has become one of the most feared defensive weapons in the game. “Dan has become world-renowned for his chop tackle,” Sam Warburton, the Wales captain, said. “People have started to copy him and teams have adapted their style to play against him, but he’s hugely influential.”
Here is how the chop tackle works, when executed to perfection. From a low position, Lydiate, the blind-side flanker, launches himself horizontally towards the knees of the onrushing attacker, lower than for a conventional tackle, his arms whipping around the ankles. As the ball-carrier’s legs are taken from beneath him, he falls headlong to the ground. He goes down quickly, too, like a tree being felled, the speed of the fall impairing his ability to present the ball to his team-mates.
And the reward? Precious milliseconds for Lydiate’s team-mates to exploit. Warburton, Lydiate’s hunting partner, will have anticipated the chop and made it his business to reach the tackle area first, ahead of the England back row, ready to pilfer the turnover ball that could set Wales on the attack. Lydiate wounds, then Warburton moves in for the kill. “Everybody knows the qualities of Dan Lydiate as a world-class tackler,” Robin McBryde, the forwards coach, said. “Then there’s the ability of Sam to get in over the ball and feed off that. With the workrate of Taulupe [Faletau] as well, it’s the balance of that back row.”
Chopping is at its most effective against powerful, top-heavy ball-carriers, such as Vunipola and James Haskell, the England No 7. The tactic was devised by Edwards in preparation for the pool matches in the 2011 World Cup, when Wales found themselves drawn to face South Africa, Samoa and Fiji, a relentless battering against the game’s most physical ball-carrying teams. Edwards saw that the bigger they are, the quicker they fall. “It’s about trying to get players to the deck as quick as we can,” Lydiate said.
The same rationale applies against England today. Wales are not smaller in many areas, but they are one and a half stone lighter per man in the back row. They will back themselves, though, to be quicker to the breakdown than Haskell, Vunipola and Chris Robshaw.
In some ways, the chop tackle is merely an expression of some rudimentary defence: the bigger they are, the lower you go. This is a time, though, when defence coaches are involved in an arms race to find new ways of stopping ever bigger athletes, an age of choke tackles and soak tackles, and over the past five years Lydiate has elevated his specialism to something approaching an art form.
It helps that he is blessed with a natural tenacity and strength, developed in his early years on the family farm in Llandrindod Wells. Leigh Jones, the former head coach at Newport Gwent Dragons, watched Lydiate making his way in the game and now, as a respected defence coach, who worked for Japan at the World Cup under Eddie Jones, he has seen him become one of the world’s best. “Dan’s always been phenomenally strong and incredibly brave,” Jones said. “It wasn’t always the sort of strength that translated into the gym, but you could tell he was from farming stock because he has that functional strength that showed up in the tackle.”
It can be thrilling to watch Lydiate launching himself into action. As he sizes up his target around the fringes, he is coiled like a sprinter, one hand on the ground, one knee almost down, ready to propel himself horizontally towards his quarry. His shoulder is aiming just above the knee, his arms to cut away from the top of the socks, his eyes trained firmly on his opponent’s feet. Conditioning work has given Lydiate formidably powerful shoulders and biceps, equipping his arms to withstand the impact from an opponent’s legs.
“He has to plant your feet early to make the chop tackle, so the risk is that you’re vulnerable to a late bit of footwork and that’s what Eddie [Jones] will be telling his players,” Jones said. “But Dan’s become a great reader of where an attacker is going.”
In recent weeks, though, there has been a complication for Lydiate as his technique has been questioned by referees. Playing for the Ospreys against Edinburgh last month, he was sent to the sin-bin for failing to use his arms in a chop tackle, when he had gone low and caught the ankles of Anton Bresler. Lydiate seemed to have been harshly dealt with, although he was more culpable against France a fortnight ago, when he did not wrap his arms quickly enough around Guilhem Guirado and gave away a penalty near his own posts.
“I’ve just got to make sure now that I pay extra special attention when I go in that I’m using my arms,” Lydiate said.
Today, his attention turns to bringing Vunipola crashing back to earth. When the England No 8 attempts to build up steam around the fringes, watch Lydiate crouch, narrow his gaze and launch himself horizontally. If Lydiate’s aim is true, the green shoots of England’s revival will have been abruptly chopped away, just as they were starting to flourish.
Ireland will seek their first victory of the 6 Nations Championship v Italy at Croke Park today without Cian Healy, who obtained a hamstring strain in training.
Healy made his 1st appearance of the championship from the bench in the defeat by England 2 weeks ago ago, having recovered from knee surgery. His place goes to Finlay Bealham, the uncapped loose-head prop who plays for Connacht.
Born in Canberra, Bealham, 24, moved to Ireland in 2010 and qualifies through his grandmother, from Enniskillen. He adds further southern hemisphere influence to the team, with Jared Payne recalled at centre after missing the Twickenham defeat with a hamstring injury and CJ Stander, starting at blind-side flanker.
“It’s a great opportunity for Finlay to get a taste of Test match rugby,” Simon Easterby, the forwards coach, said. “He’s impressed everyone and now he’s got an opportunity to show what he can do at the highest level.”
After the first 3 games brought a draw and two defeats which ruined hopes of a third consecutive Six Nations title, Joe Schmidt, the Ireland coach, denied that the selection was unnecessarily conservative to Italy, with Stuart McCloskey dropped for Payne after a decent debut against England.
Rory Best, the captain, advised that the players rather than the coach should bear the brunt of criticism at a time of transition, that the “real Ireland” will be seen v Italy, who are also without a win after the 36-20 defeat to Scotland in Italy 2 weeks ago.
“There has been a bit of a steep learning curve for some players,” Best said. “There are standards we expect to live by and play by, and we haven’t reached them.”
Teams
Ireland: S Zebo; A Trimble, J Payne, R Henshaw, K Earls; J Sexton, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best (capt), M Ross; D Ryan, D Toner; CJ Stander,
J Van der Flier, J Heaslip. Replacements: S Cronin, F Bealham, N White, U Dillane, R Ruddock, K Marmion, I Madigan, F McFadden.
Italy: D Odiete; L Sarto, M Campagnaro, G Garcia, M Bellini; E Padovani, G Palazzani; A Lovotti, D Giazzon, L Cittadini; G Biagi, M Fuser, F Minto,
A Zanni, S Parisse. Replacements: O Fabiani, M Zanusso, D Chistolini, Q Geldenhuys, A Steyn, A Lucchese, K Haimona, L McLean.
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