'I remember justifying it to myself, but it was all just lies so I could eat Deliveroo and burgers'
Just get to the breakdown, Scott Steele would tell himself, as his lungs burned and his thighs screamed and his breath rasped in great, wheezing gusts. Just make it to the ruck.
For an age, the Harlequins scrum-half lumbered around rugby parks in a state of perpetual exhaustion. He’d try to deceive himself about his swelling weight, construct excuses for coasting through too many aspects of professional life, but in his heart of hearts, he knew he was blunting his considerable talents.
It wasn’t until his very existence in the game was placed in grave jeopardy that he resolved to shape up. In spring last year, London Irish informed Steele that he would not be offered a new contract, ending a happy six-season spell at the club. Several days later, with the loathsome tendrils of coronavirus snaking through the country, Britain was plunged into lockdown, and rugby into a state of indefinite suspension.
Club budgets were eviscerated; the market creaking beneath the weight of unattached players. Back home with his parents in Dumfries, Steele scrabbled about to find a new team and retirement at 27 became a very real and terrifying prospect.
“It crept into my head that I might actually have to just can this and find what I want to do, and not exactly have the best platform to do that with Covid,” he told RugbyPass.
“I didn’t really take my nutrition seriously; I was overweight by at least 5-6kg. I wasn’t pushing myself as hard as I could in the gym, ghosting through sessions.
“I do enjoy going out and having a few beers, but I was doing it every weekend, going out and getting pretty drunk after games and not realising the effect that has going into your training and recovery the next week.
“It was a shame that it took something so serious as Covid and lack of employment to wake me up to that but I’m grateful it happened when it did. It was that panic that really made me think: no-one knows how long they’ve got left, so you might as well work your arse off now.”
At his worst, 5ft 9in Steele’s weight ballooned to a beefy 94kg – a single kilogram lighter than Ardie Savea. He had lost all of the explosiveness and dynamism that propelled him to age-grade honours with Scotland Under-20s and got him to the Premiership in the first place.
“Back then, I was absolutely flat-out the whole game, always worried about getting to the breakdown,” he said. “I had little time to scan, to make decisions, to look at kick space. There was no tactical stuff going through my head – it was just, get to the ruck and pass the ball.
“I’d even tell myself, right, if I snipe now, even though it might not be on, I can get tackled because that means I can sit on the floor for two or three phases and not worry about getting to the next breakdown!
“I’ve always been good at getting over ball and I remember justifying it to myself – if I want to be strong over the ball, I need to be bigger – but it was all just lies so I could eat Deliveroo and burgers and pints. It was good fun, but it was a big wasted opportunity.
“I used to go in to training every Monday and make sure no-one was looking at the scales when I was weighing in. Now, I’m feeling fitter, faster, getting on the end of tries and supporting play rather than just hoping my team-mate finishes it because I’m nowhere near the next play if it is a ruck.”
In many ways, being jettisoned by Irish was the making of Steele, the reason he is where is now, a new international and a bristling cog in the Harlequins machine. Last summer, he trained like a beast at home, ate sensibly and trimmed down to 83kg. The physical transformation was laudable, but the mental resilience far more compelling. Steele had to trust that the toil would not be in vain, that in these most strained of days, rugby would grant him an opportunity to get back in the game.
“I could have gone, right, the world is against me, let’s throw the toys out the pram, let’s get steaming every night,” he said. “I chose to work really hard, grafting for months not knowing if something was going to turn up.”
In late June, Harlequins offered him a year-long contract. He would be third-choice behind Danny Care and Martin Landajo, two immensely experienced internationals, and his earnings would fall off a cliff. The money was irrelevant. Quins were Steele’s salvation – a top-flight club with progressive coaches and an array of attacking weaponry.
In the tumultuous early throes of the Premiership restart, he won his place in the team with a series of snarling, nuggety performances. Gregor Townsend hoisted him into the Scotland squad and in madcap circumstances, amid a spate of broken bodies, Steele made his debut as a replacement wing in his country’s first win on Welsh soil for 18 years.
“Playing on the wing wasn’t how I pictured it,” he chuckled. “I’ve done it once; I want to get a proper crack playing in my position.
“If I get another cap on the wing I won’t be complaining, although I wouldn’t be half as nervous at scrum-half. After getting one experience in playing for Scotland, it is definitely something I want to do again and again.”
That opportunity may yet be forthcoming. Steele was one of four scrum-halves used by Townsend in a busy autumn programme, but that raucous triumph in Llanelli remains his only cap.
The Six Nations curtain-raiser, an enthralling Calcutta Cup showdown at Twickenham, is looming, and Steele is making a robust case to feature.
In the here and now, he is arguably the form man at Scotland’s disposal. Certainly, he is among Harlequins’ finest performers in the fledgling campaign with three tries in five matches, a clutch of telling jackals and defensive involvements. These are attributes Townsend and his staff prize as they look to sculpt a more measured game plan.
“When I was with Scotland, the coaches really liked my defensive game,” Steele said. “Now, a nine defends a lot more in the line where before you could probably get away with not being a great defender. [Defence coach] Steve Tandy mentioned that to me – that’s what he liked about me.
“In terms of getting around, playing fast and at high tempo, that is something Scotland have wanted to do over the last few years, and moving to Quins has definitely helped me with that.
“They mentioned support lines as something to improve, so that I’m always on the shoulder if we do make a break. That’s something I’m continually working on in training and looking back on games, noticing and getting better at. There have been a few instances where I’ve managed to pick up tries off that support line.”
Steele has stability in his life now. Quins, sufficiently taken with their marauding Scotsman, offered him a two-year extension in November which he promptly signed.
“From day one, the coaches seemed to back me and that builds confidence,” he said.
“Looking back at those dark days, it’s pretty astonishing how it turned out for me. I’m grateful for everyone involved in that journey – my parents and my brothers in my little support bubble at home.
“It made me realise how lucky I am to do the job but also how I took it for granted in the past.”
This has been a year of discovery and despair, anxiety and exaltation. In those long months of blackness, a man of Steele was forged.
Comments on RugbyPass
Very unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to comments