England's biggest hurdle this weekend could well be what cricket legend Brian Lara once alluded to
When I was 18, I got an incredible chance to meet one of the finest sportsmen of his generation. The school I went to had parental ties with Gray-Nicolls, the cricket equipment company, and (somewhat unbelievably looking back on it now) that link managed to get us – the cricket team – a private half-hour session with Brian Lara.
If you are unaware of just how good a batsman the diminutive West Indian was, let me tell you. As he stood in the nets, just 25 yards or so away from us in 1995, he had recorded the highest individual score in first-class cricket (501) for Warwickshire versus Durham the year previous, and at that time had the highest individual score in a Test match too: 375 against England, also recorded in 1994.
He would lose that title to Matthew Hayden’s 380 in 2003, only to go and reclaim it a season later with an incredible 400 not out.
In the summer of ’95, Lara was at the peak of his powers. And that day, by means of public display, the school’s bowling machine had been set to full velocity (90mph). It was pinging balls down the track as Lara capered like a jester, flicking cherries from his hip like you or I would despatch unwanted flies from the table.
Young though we were, it wasn’t lost on us how good he was. We ooh-ed and aah-ed as he slashed one towards point and then stood high on his toes to play a backfoot defensive. I remember his soft smile, acknowledging our appreciation, and his famous, loping gait as he walked up the net towards us.
(Continue reading below…)
He conducted a brief Q&A, leant characteristically on his bat, and one of his answers was arguably the greatest insight into sports psychology I have ever heard.
Lara was asked what it was like being the best batsman in the world. A question aimed, no doubt, at discussing pressure and how he coped with the high levels of expectation, but the reply was utterly enlightening and revealed a sporting nirvana only obtained when you are at the very top of your game.
“I’m not the best batsman in the world,” he said and then held a small Trinidadian pause, both for effect and in respect of his natural, island rhythm.
Eddie Jones sounds like he is loving the attention England are attracting in World Cup semi-final week
https://t.co/xLzr30nVHM— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 24, 2019
It was time enough for all gathered to register the ridiculousness of what he had said, but not enough time to challenge it. There was no need, he was about to qualify his statement. “I’m not the best batsman in the world,” he repeated, “it’s just everybody thinks I am.”
It is one thing to try and convince yourself you’re the best. Perhaps it can be regarded as sport’s greatest battle. But imagine the leverage you’d get if everyone you played against felt they were inferior. Lara’s expertise had given him such an advantage.
His answer not only showed humility but a supreme awareness of where top-level sport is often decided. It was a concession that at the highest echelon, where everyone has the talent, it is sometimes the smallest mental accession that can be the difference.
ADVERTISEMENT
View this post on Instagram
Ford in ???? Slade out Barrett in ???? Cane out #RugbyWorldCup #RWC2019
Fast forward to Tokyo and England’s Rugby World Cup semi-final press conference in October 2019. Eddie Jones is up to his old tricks, talking about everyone else to stop anyone focusing on England.
The New Zealand press are thrown hand grenades about their professionalism and the All Blacks are simultaneously accused of spying on England and being the ones with everything to lose. It’s tongue in cheek. But then we know that about Eddie. Always running a smokescreen.
But one thing is very clear about what England face on Saturday and it is the quintessence of that quote from Lara. We are unsure of whether New Zealand will win the World Cup at the moment; South Africa, Wales and Jones’ England can all dethrone them over the next fortnight.
. @EnglandRugby have three non-negotiables if they are to beat the All Blacks on Saturday
– writes @alexshawsport ??? #rwc https://t.co/4kv2QCDbHE
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 23, 2019
But we can agree that, at the moment, everyone thinks they can. As well as the skill sets of the individual players, the speed with which they play, the all-court game in which they all seem so well versed, England’s biggest hurdle could well be what Lara alluded to – Eddie’s men have to disbelieve that New Zealand are the best side in the world.
So while Eddie’s verbal fun and games are aimed at distraction and taking the pressure off his side, they do, conversely, confirm that England, at least outwardly, head into this game thinking their opposition this Saturday are No1.
It will be fascinating to see how they can combat this. Jones’ internal conversations will be vastly different to the press conference waffle he spins out, but England have to find some way – any way – of overturning not just the incomparable physical battle, but also the ultimate mental test.
If they can’t, then New Zealand, like Lara, will probably find themselves not out.
WATCH: James McOnie, Mils Muliaina and Steven Bates preview the World Cup semi-finals on the Bill Ellis podcast
Comments on RugbyPass
No surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to comments