A billionaire, the awful 'unknown' and a battle for a sport's very survival
Few people gave Germany a chance ahead of their 2019 Rugby World Cup play-off second leg against Samoa on Saturday. But in Heidelberg, the collective will of the players, coaching staff and fans almost produced the biggest result of the country’s rugby history.
In a battle between two teams that have had their fair share of off-the-field issues to deal with of late, Samoa had taken a decisive step towards Japan with a 66-15 win in the opening encounter in Apia.
On arrival at the sun-baked Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark, though, it was impossible not to appreciate the sense of community. It pervaded from the makeshift gazebos selling rugby equipment, to the stands cooking up grilled meat and dishing out cold beer, to the fans taking their seats in hope rather than expectation.
This was a day for German rugby to display its unity following a turbulent season. The impasse between the German Rugby Federation (DRV) and Dr. Hans-Peter Wild, the Stade Francais owner born a leisurely bike ride away from the game’s venue, had first resulted in a player strike at the end of last year and ultimately ended with the businessman walking away completely last month.
Dr Wild had set up his Wild Academy more than a decade ago to produce the players that could help the national team qualify for the World Cup. In June – less than 10 days before the crucial play-off against Portugal – he withdrew his funding, plunging the majority of the German squad and coaching staff into imminent unemployment.
Samoa’s visit represented a chance for the rugby community to show that the sport would survive. Having been switched from the 13,500-capacity Brit-Arena in Wiesbaden at late notice due to security issues, and despite an outmoded booking system, all 2,500 tickets released on advance sale had been snapped up.
A healthy Samoan support – Germany’s Pacific Island diaspora boosted by fans travelling to Heidelberg from Dublin and London – had helped swell the attendance by at least another 1,000 on match day.
Moreover, the draw of watching their national side test itself against an established World Cup side proved too attractive for many local fans to turn down.
“Essentially Germany is a really sport-mad country and they wanna see their teams perform at the highest level,” home lock Luke Dyckhoff said. “The bigger the team we play, the more amazing the atmosphere.”
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The DRV’s new president, Robin Stalker, was also in attendance for the first time – having been sworn in only six days previously – and fans arrived sporting the full variety of colours from the country’s top two leagues.
Stalker would not be the most high profile spectator in this unheralded corner of Heidelberg, however. Dr Wild had branded the DRV amateurish during an interview last month, but hints that he might have a change of heart were hard to ignore.
Capri-Sun branding (Wild owns the drinks brand) absent for Germany’s previous home game at this stadium was back on show, while former Germany international and Stade Francais sporting director, Robert Mohr, mingled with players and staff he once worked alongside at the academy’s base over the road.
It had been intimated ahead of the Portugal game that Dr Wild would have received a hot reception had he shown his face last month.
On Saturday, he arrived close to kick-off and kept a low profile as the match ensued. The only outward evidence that he was there at all coming – bar a giant inflatable Capri-Sun carton on one touchline – from a banner unfurled in the second half by Heidelberger RK fans in support of their former benefactor.
Fans unveil a ‘Thank You Dr. Wild’ banner in front of a giant inflatable Capri-Sun carton.
Excellent product placement. pic.twitter.com/KUS8EwWC2n
— Martyn Thomas (@MCThomasSport) July 14, 2018
Not everyone involved in German rugby shares that sentiment. His decision to divert funds from Heidelberg to Paris coming at a time when they were needed it most.
The DRV – an organisation which relies on the hard work of dedicated volunteers to function at all – struggled to find the cash needed to fulfil the two legs of this qualifier. Dr Wild has agreed to honour all academy contracts until September, but the uncertainty has cast a cloud over the national team’s preparations.
Samoa’s players would certainly be able to empathise given their own continued struggles, but they were not in charitable mood in Apia a fortnight ago as they ran in 10 tries.
Germany made their protracted return from the southern hemisphere determined to make up for their defensive shortcomings.
“We decided as a group that we wanted to show what we are all about, and show some character,” Germany second-row Timo Vollenkemper said afterwards. “We didn’t really care about the result, just to come off the pitch with our heads held high and perform like we can do, and should have done before.”
However, as Ed Fidow touched down for the game’s first try within a minute of kick-off it looked like bravado at best.
But this team has become closer in adversity and wrestled back control of the contest almost immediately. Tries from Jaco Otto, his third of the tie, and Samy Fuchsel allied to a Chris Hilsenbeck penalty on the stroke of half-time remarkably gave Germany a 15-14 lead at the break.
It was not a score that flattered the home team either, and as EDM belted out over the stadium tannoy the crowd allowed itself an opportunity to dream once more. Qualification into Pool A might have disappeared in Apia but the hosts were proving themselves worthy of this level.
Samoa, by contrast, looked as though their prime minister’s harsh words were still ringing in their ears. The visitors’ lineout failed to function from the first minute, while simple handling errors in midfield were proving costly.
When Marcel Coetzee stepped up to send a penalty from just inside his own half bobbing, in virtual slow-motion, over the crossbar with less than 15 minutes remaining a place in the history books was up for grabs. The home fans could barely believe it, every catch, mark, pass and kick from a player in white was cheered raucously.
Unfortunately, crowd support is not always enough to see a team over the line, and so it proved. Ah See Tuala, twice, and Fidow stepped up to deliver three tries in the final 11 minutes – two of which came in the last 180 seconds – to deny their hosts a victory that would live long in the memory.
As referee Matthew Carley’s whistle confirmed a 42-28 victory for Samoa, the mood in Heidelberg remained upbeat. While the visitors, and their fans, celebrated their World Cup qualification the home side huddled yards away, regaining focus on the challenge to come in November.
Samoa run in three late tries to deny Germany a famous victory in Heidelberg and rubber stamp their ticket to #RWC2019
@DRVRugby 28-42 @manusamoa pic.twitter.com/KPQ6agHsJ5
— Martyn Thomas (@MCThomasSport) July 14, 2018
Canada, Hong Kong and the 2018 Africa Gold Cup runner-up stand between Germany and a place in Pool B in Japan. No one who was there on Saturday would bet against them making it.
Replacement lock Dyckhoff was left to reflect on the roller coaster nature of the sport. “You’re always guaranteed a down after an up and then when you’re down there’s always going to be an up,” he said.
“So, it’s best just to play every game like it’s your last with the guys you’ve worked so hard with and that’s what the guys were focusing on so hard this week.
“Just putting that (uncertainty) aside, because it is hard, it has affected people mentally, as it would any human being. That unknown is awful.
“But as the guys showed (on Saturday), they’re great friends and they’re great rugby players.”
Comments on RugbyPass
In the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
1 Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
1 Go to comments“ planning for the next cycle….” Sigh ill-advised language Elton old juice bean. Ppersonally glad you self-eliminated yourself, there were better players in the position around you.
3 Go to commentsRegardless of best in world etc. Lawes was outstanding against Leinster and has been all season. Looked like three try saving turnovers. His turnovers also contributed to NH scores. Immense performance.
2 Go to commentsDickson now considered the top ref in England it appears. Good that these series are getting one NH and one SH ref.
2 Go to commentsI don’t think any coach or selector would ever rely on Blackadder being available for selection. I didn’t think it would be possible but he has easily eclipsed Ennor as they most injured player of all time. IMO a symptom of today’s game where players are required to carry at least 10kg of extra mass from when they first hit the scene in their early 20s. Some players respond well to this, maybe due to genetics allowing them to recover faster, or not having reached their peak natural weight yet, but for others the constant training to maintain their weight eats away at recovery time and they spend most of their careers injured.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the lesson Nick! I presume that targeting gaps is situational because if a ball carrier straightens the line they can't be allowed a gap to run into? It feels like you need depth if you're going to pass it wide and plenty of variety - straight running, kicks just in behind, cross kicks etc. BTW what an incredible bench Toulouse had this week. People complain about Leinster being stacked but they need to be at the very highest level.
18 Go to comments2015 was by far the best team. They have had many good backlines over the years but the 2015 team was one of the few to have an absolute world class forward pack - all of them international quality. 6 ABs, 1 future English player, and one that would have gone on to ABs had he not been forced to retire due to concussion. This current team doesn’t have the same size and experience at lock, but providing they can keep this many talented young players (who have all significantly increased their profile this year) together for another 2 years they could eclipse the 2015 team.
2 Go to commentsAnd I’ve just seen RA has topped up the offer to Paisami and extended it beyond 3 years and he’s signed. Great news
78 Go to commentsInteresting watching Amaua starting to fire. No idea why he was pulled so early against the Reds.
4 Go to commentsNice to read something positive about Vunivalu; it doesn’t happen often. I despair for rugby in Oz. Unless some form of compensation for the teams producing players is devised, there is no obvious way for us to combat poachers coming to grab players in their prime with bigger pay cheques. A return to the SR crowds we were getting in 2010-2014 and a quadrupling of the TV deal would be a start but I don’t see how those things happen. Perhaps the government could be encouraged to deliver tax breaks like in Ireland?
78 Go to commentsI wasn’t aware that the blitz targeted space so, as usual, something learned from reading one of your articles, Nick. Watching the game live I attributed the Saints’ inaccuracy to their own mistakes and nerves. Perhaps some credit to the Leinster D.
18 Go to commentsGotta give it to you Graham, you support your players and team to the hilt. There may be strains of exaggeration laced throughout but gotta love the passionate parochialism.
2 Go to commentsNice one Nick. No doubt Vunivalu’s involvements and work rate are improving this year in attack, but I still think he is too raw on the defensive and backfield part of his game to be considered as a starter. Wales would just kick and run it to his side all night as the brumbies have done to good effect in the past. But, his size/power will keep him in the convo with Mark N leaving and Petaia’s injury record. Hunter definitely enjoying an injury-free run this season and being given the keys by Kiss - I have always been a fan of his. All I’d say is that his triple threat has been evident since 2020/21. I remember him making a grubber for a petaia try after the siren to beat the Brumbies in Canberra after the 80th minute in 2021. Lastly, Jock Campbell, who I know isn’t at the top of your list, I thought had alot of positive involvements in the saders game including both of Tim ryan’s tries and Mcreights
78 Go to commentsAg please, Pieter Stef Du Toit has played circles around this clown.
2 Go to commentsJust celebrating the Bok’s 1648th consecutive day as RWC champions. They are also the Qatar Airways Cup winners, which I know BennieBoy cares about a lot.
2 Go to commentsGood to here positive stories towards Aus Rugby. Although that might be the case, and highers up are right about Jordie, I wouldn’t stress trying to retain him. What I have seen of him in recent times is that he’s not using that something special. I feel there a better ‘something special’ options coming through that they won’t have to compete with league for, hell even in Kerevi and Paisami (isn’t it great to finally see his ability getting recognized, probably taking this article in isolation too much here).
78 Go to commentsgreat article! I wonder whether we will we see Ireland adopt the Nienaber blitz? All the teams who have tried it so far (SA included) have gone through significant teething problems in the first season; Ireland could possibly be in the unique position of being able to switch to a hard blitz in season 2 of a world cup cycle and already have so many players used to the system that it can be implemented seamlessly.
18 Go to commentsThey probably left another 20 on the field to be fair. Also - the officiating was… ordinary.
1 Go to commentsblackadder isnt a key player at all you cant say hes been the best player or a key all black when hes injured every week
4 Go to comments