Who else ......really!

There is so much to be said about the world cup final. Already the internet is full of those blasting the Ref or gloating about the victory. Praise should be heaped on both sides as it was a "real" final full of all the tension and thrills a final should have.

But to me there was one thing that really stuck in my mind. What other team in the world could go through four players in the 10 position? This is a key position and a team that is strong in this position will so often have success. But honestly four in a single tournament, three in the sudden death phase! unreal!

For this we must look at the insight shown by the coaching staff. Perhaps a lesson may be learnt in regards to consistency in coaching. John Mitchell was often remembered for his use of the word "journey". To me we have just witnessed a true rugby journey one travelled by the coaches, the players and most certainly the diehard fans.

Coaching is a tough game. Some are good, some are great, some just need a chance but with all of these the whole team needs to believe and then their journeys can begin.

Coaching as a career - yeah right!

From the first moment I touched a rugby ball as a 3 year old playing mini rugby in rural New Zealand I was hooked. From then on my Mum and Dad would follow me to most matches and when I entered rep rugby that often meant very long road trips and cheap motels. Sadly my father never saw me play senior rugby and my mother was only informed of my exploits overseas by the odd newspaper clipping I would send her. Still, great times!  Perhaps this is where I should have stopped. But oh no, I decided to coach!

Coaching allowed me to still feel the highs and lows of the team in battle. There was a familiarity in the smell of liniment and fresh washed jerseys. It wasn't the same as playing but the next best thing.  The highs came from seeing the players develop and knowing I had a hand in their success.  Their feedback fueled my desire as they worked hard to achieve.  Then success came along and a little of the fun started to go. It wasn't success that took away the fun, it was the critics! All of a sudden people want to have a shot at someone doing well at something they love - and at that time something they did for free! Still the players and the great people I met along the way made it all worthwhile. So perhaps I should have stopped there! But oh no, I decided to specialise!

Firstly I was the "drills guy" and then I became the "skills coach". Both these roles brought me into contact with some fantastic people and my rugby knowledge grew with it. But wait! Suddenly no team, no liniment what's going on? It feels like my life is not mine to make mistakes and learn from anymore, I must be herded and guided to fit in with the plans of others. 

So I reckon it's time to coach a team again.  After all I have been exposed to some of the best coaches in the world and coached some great players and coaches from all around the world, so now I have a skill set even greater than before. But wait! I am not in the system! What system?? Who knew there was a system??? And that old adage from the past comes back to me "it's not what you know it's who you know" and more recently a new one I hear a lot "everyone is replaceable". These two phrases bloody irritate me so much. It is clear now that my success will not come from my knowledge, skill set, ability or even potential, but rather from working the system as it is supposed to work.  I don't think I want to do that.  If everyone feels replaceable they will work hard to do what pleases those in power but they will never have the freedom to express themselves and this is the area that great gains come from. I prefer the honest approach - who you know should not matter, judge people on their actions, words are cheap.  Simple old fashioned things today I guess.

So if like me you read this as I once was, a wide eyed player trying to hang on to past glories who wants to coach. Then be prepared to lose your soul. In this world ruled by those who conform there is no room for a free thinker. I know there are many great coaches who now tend to their garden or hide in society rather than compromise their values. Perhaps a result of their free thinking and rugby throughout the world is a lot worse off because of this.

So if you want to advance say "yes" and do what is required. But if you want to be truly great be brave and challenge. If the success does not come from this then at least you can look into the eyes of those you love and feel true to yourself.

Opinions are like………….

"Opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one!" This is a phrase I heard many years ago and it has stuck with me ever since. I guess it becomes even more relevant around a world cup when we hear the thoughts of every armchair critic from every corner of the globe. Hey, we have all done it "maybe we should have played X or maybe kicked wide to Y". For the most part this is all pretty harmless stuff - until it becomes public. When negative people with an axe to grind jump on talk back radio or online (oops I guess that's me!) and target an individual, that for me is not entertainment it's just plain mean. Whatever happened to blind patriotism? Just support your team and trust their coaches to do the job. Before opening your mouth ask yourself "could I do better?" the correct answer is NO because if you could you would have stood up long ago and put yourself in the running for that job. Or if you are a player you would have run the extra lap, lifted that extra weight and put the extra skill work in to give you a chance of being there.

When the teams run out for the semi finals this weekend let's not criticise or throw out crazy "what if" statements. Let's just get behind them and understand that each one of them are doing their utmost to perform. John Eales had the nickname "nobody" because to his teammates "nobody's perfect" but I am sure even he would have had moments that he thought he could have done something a little better.

Hey it's fine to have an opinion, just don't be an opinionated arsehole!