EXCLUSIVE: Haskell reveals new strategy in bid to reclaim England spot
James Haskell has turned to a sports psychologist who helps mixed martial arts fighters and poker players in a bid to regain his England place and win a new contract for next season.
Haskell was left out of Eddie Jones’s squad for the Autumn test matches but the broken jaw suffered by Maro Itoje, who has been playing lock and flanker, has opened the way for the Wasps forward to push his claims for a recall to aid England’s bid for an historic third successive Six Nations title.
Haskell, who toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions in the summer, is never scared to try something new and believes sports psychology is an aid that rugby still doesn’t properly utilize.
Haskell has revealed he regularly speaks to Elliot Roe, an American based English mind coach, and the flanker’s improved form for Wasps heading into Sunday’s daunting European Champions Cup clash at La Rochelle has been impressive, prompting speculation that his test exile could be very short.
The 32-year-old who has won 75 England caps, was in typically robust form as Wasps defeated Leicester 32-25 on Saturday and helped the Coventry based club withstand a fearsome physical assault from the Tigers. Haskell is out of contract at the end of the season and while he wants to finish his career at Wasps, he knows the arrival of Brad Shields from New Zealand will be a factor in the squad make up.
He said: “Whenever you play Leicester then physicality is always first on their agenda and in the last four games I have been really happy with what I have done and I am in a good place.
“I have tweaked a few things and it seems to be working. I am coming off the field feeling great and for me it was a lot about the mind-set off the field, working with a sports psychologist. It is about going into a game with a clear head and trying to then be more efficient during a match. I have always trained hard and maybe I was working too hard and when I took a look at my performances I concentrated on my positioning and tried to do things differently.
“I think sport psychology is so overlooked and I have done some work with Elliot who also works with UFC, MMA guys and poker players and I feel it has worked. When you do try something new and it clicks then you really feel the benefit and while I am not turning in Superman, my goal is to come off the field happy with what I have done.
“Everyone looks at making physical improvements; can I run faster etc… The mind is something you need to look into and even if you are playing your best ever rugby then why are you doing that? How can you keep improving?
“We play around 30 games a season and to emotionally be up for every one of them and put your body on the line is something you need to constantly review. I work with Elliot who is based in America and I wanted to try something different and there are always pressures on players. He works with the top poker players and UFC fighters.”
Haskell now comes up against a La Rochelle team that has a fearsome home record and have All Black Victor Vito as their main ball carrier, a player Haskell has faced at test and Super Rugby level. “La Rochelle weren’t in the Top 14 when I was at Stade Francais:” said Haskell.” They are now a force to be reckoned with and have the biggest pack of forwards you are ever going to see and this is why you want to play in Europe. Victor is a super athletic player and really dynamic ball carrier.”
Name: Garry Potter
Specialist subject: Harry Potter@jameshaskell takes on Mastermind…? pic.twitter.com/DjopTERy8b— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) December 6, 2017
Comments on RugbyPass
One significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
53 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
53 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
53 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
53 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
53 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
53 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
53 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
53 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
53 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
53 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
53 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
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