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'I've proven I can cope at this level... at Leicester, I let one or two people's opinions have a huge impact on my mental state'
Harry Thacker enjoyed the latest week in the Bristol evolution under Pat Lam, the fireworks of shredding Northampton on Tuesday interspersed by the rumble that was the coach unsuccessfully going to war to get Siale Piutau off his three-game ban.
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It sure created noise on both fronts. Thacker has been speculated as a possible England call-up next month when Eddie Jones’ crew finally gets back to work, while there has been much commentary on the passionate defence mounted by the Bristol coach regarding veteran midfielder Siale who was red-carded for punching last Friday week at Worcester.
Thacker was in the vicinity when that late-game Sixways bust-up erupted, coming off the bench before the midweek start versus Saints became his fifth appearance in a half-dozen post-lockdown matches. Ignoring the precise minutiae of who did what to whom and all the rest, Thacker’s takeaway from the heated row was that Lam is an advocate that Bristol can bank on no matter the difficult circumstances.
He could have kept schtum, could have bitten his lip regarding the perceived injustice. Instead, he gave it socks in a public manner that resonated in the dressing room. “It gives us confidence as a playing group that our DoR is backing our corner,” enthused Thacker to RugbyPass ahead of his Sunday breather from the relentless action, a rare day with the feet up as Bristol visit Wasps.
“Sometimes something that gets forgotten about is players’ health. It [rugby] is a business but to have your head man trying to look after you and do what is best for the individual and speaking out about it, it would be quite easy to fly under the radar.
“But to have someone that places importance upon that, definitely as a player within the group it just makes you want to give that little bit more for the boss because he is looking out for you and your best interests so you don’t mind putting your body on the line or doing what is best for the team in that sort of respect.
“It’s bigger than the game for him, there is more to it. What he wants is when you leave the Bears programme is you leave as better players but also as better people. He puts a strong emphasis on that and it’s just nice to know that at the top that is part of their concern.
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“They are not looking at it from the worst perspective as just a business, that we’re just cattle led to the slaughter sort of thing, which in this day and age when we’re playing midweek games things like player welfare is huge. To have someone backing your corner and looking out for the best interests of the individual as well as the team is pretty cool.”
It was summer 2018 when Thacker joined the Bristol sloth, his ambition piqued by the vision sold to him by Lam after he struggled for acceptance at Leicester, the club his father Troy and brother Charlie played for.
The fear in the English Midlands was that Thacker’s size – he’s a mere 5ft 8ins in height, 93kgs on the scales – wouldn’t survive the brutish landscape of the bruising Premiership, but Lam’s perspective was opposite, that the dazzling dynamo would be a valuable piece in a jigsaw where deft hands and fleet-footedness among forwards is just as important as top drawer wizardry from the likes of Semi Radradra and Charles Piutau.
“It [Bristol] has far outweighed my expectations,” said the 26-year-old Thacker, whose six seasons at Leicester included Championship detours at Nottingham and Doncaster. “When I spoke to Pat he spoke about this new training ground. I didn’t see the plans but we finally walked into the new training ground post-lockdown and it’s just incredible.
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“Most football clubs would be envious of it. That’s pretty epic, and even just living in the city of Bristol, I’ve absolutely loved it because there is so much to do and it’s close to the coast. It’s far outweighed expectations. I’m really loving life down here.
“The culture we drive at the club isn’t one I’d experienced before. New lads coming say exactly the same. It’s pretty good to hear what we’re building is pretty sweet. We’re heading in the right direction and playing week in, week out you get in the flow of it and the style of play suits how I want to play.
Incredible few days away to Iceland. Shame the weather stopped us getting the cameras out more but had a blast anyway!! @ThackerCharlie pic.twitter.com/levcDG2bJ0
— Harry Thacker (@harry_thacker) February 2, 2017
“It has built my confidence up a lot. I have proven to myself and a few other people that I can cope at this level because at Leicester there would have been a bit of chat, a bit of worry about my size and stuff. That was something I was always having to battle against.
“At Leicester, I was trying to prove a point and looking back now, I play my best rugby when I’m just out there enjoying myself. I let one or two people’s opinions have a huge impact on my mental state and how I viewed the game. All it takes is just one person to believe in you and see you for what you can bring instead of maybe (giving out about) a couple of inches. Just keep going.
“I definitely believe I wouldn’t be the player I am if I hadn’t been told from a young age I was too small. I fought as hard as I tried and I look at it in a positive way. It has definitely shaped the way I play and the person I am.”
It was last year when Lam bullishly suggested how Thacker’s whirling dervish style of play was the type the All Blacks adore in their hookers. “It’s nice to have a coach that backs you. Don’t get me wrong, he drives us very hard in training but it’s just my style of play and how I grew up playing just fits into his game plan quite well. He likes the forwards to be able to play ball and I love getting touches.
“I do believe the game is starting to change now. A lot of teams are buying into it and it’s a very different game to four or five years ago. It’s becoming a more open, expansive game and players have to adapt and that includes all the forwards.
“A lot of the young lads coming through now the skill sets are unbelievable compared to five, ten years ago. It’s something that needs to get emphasised quite a lot at grassroots level because the way the game is being played, second rows, props all need to be able to catch and pass now as opposed to ten years ago it was just scrummage and push.
“From the bottom up an emphasis needs to be put on that and rugby will be in a good place as a spectacle to watch because of it. It [the gym bunny approach] will never be over because it’s a very high, collision-dominant game but to be able to do both and get the balance right is very important.”
Now about that England speculation: it would be quite something for Thacker to make the grade in the same year he had a neck operation, but he claims his Bristol form isn’t where it needs to be yet. “I wouldn’t say I’ve been playing particularly well. I felt a bit more myself last Tuesday but it has taken me a while to get back into it. I hadn’t played since January. I’d a neck operation and lockdown came, so it has been a long time without rugby.
— Matty Reay (@MattyReay) September 9, 2020
“England is something I always wanted to play, but I have no doubt I’m not in the best form I’ve ever been and I have got a long way to go. I have got to improve but that [England] will always be the top goal for me. I’m striving towards that but I have got a lot to work on before that even comes into my head.
“It was a fairly simple op,” he added, reflecting on the January health scare. “I just had a bit of a bulging disc in the neck that got cut away. I was doing well in recovery and was going to be back significantly earlier than I should and then Covid struck, but when it comes to your neck you can’t really complain.”
Away from rugby at Bristol, lockdown life had downs and ups for Thacker. His surfing suffered but a young family home life more than made up for it. “Surfing took a bit of a hit, and I’d my neck operation as well, but The Wave in Bristol has opened again. That blows the cobwebs out and keeps me paddle fit, but I hoping to get back in the water properly this winter with the big swells coming.
“I enjoyed a lot of time with the family, made a few little projects for my son, building a mud gate churn and a bit of a climbing frame with my old man, the sort of stuff we used to do growing up. I used to spend a lot of time with him doing DIY, so it was nice to get back involved.”
Rugby’s return also brought some differences. From a trivial perspective, lack of barber access didn’t affect Thacker, whose habit is to let it grow a bit wild and only get a lot taken off every six months. However, colleagues who favoured the high and tight look struggled.
“A lot resorted to just the bald head because it was easier to maintain than the high and tight which they couldn’t keep themselves,” jested Thacker, whose own long mane makes him readily identifiable on the pitch with Bristol. “Dan Thomas came in pretty short, Piers O’Conor shaved his head, there was a few drastic measures taken by a few boys. Harry Randall’s beard got pretty long. A few boys came back looking pretty rugged.”
More seriously, though, the collective Bristol complexion was hugely enhanced for the restart, their title push emboldened by the arrival of Kyle Sinckler and Radradra. “To sign two players like that is pretty epic, a real statement of intent from the club.
“There are often rumours but we probably read them like you do on social media. It’s not something that gets announced to the players beforehand. We find out when you guys find out,” continued Thacker, remembering how he particularly reacted to the signing of new front row teammate Sinckler.
“It was like, ‘that’s class’. Just to add someone like Kyle when you have got the likes of John Afoa, that depth and rotation will only boost players around them… Kyle has been with England, has played with the Lions – he is a good representation of the standards that need to be upheld to function at those levels. That trickles down into the team and it’s only going to bring people up and get them to make the most of the game.”
Beautiful, simply beautiful ? https://t.co/3uB2mcGAAV
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 9, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Jake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
13 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
1 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
3 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
13 Go to commentsThe Springboks tried going down the road of only picking home-based players and it was an unmitigated disaster in 2016 and 2017. Picking overseas-based players has been one of the main reason the Boks have done so well since 2018, not only because of the quality Rassie could call on, but because of the knowledge and experience those players brought into camp from England, France and Japan. With some of the big names playing abroad it also gave younger players in SA the chance to break through at franchise level. Would we have seen the emergence of a Ruan Nortje if RG and Lood were still at the Bulls? Not so sure. I understand why Jake would want to block players leaving since his job depends on good results but it’s an approach that would take Bok rugby back to the bad old days and no South African wants to see that.
13 Go to commentsExeter were thumped by 38 points. And they only had to hop on a train.
39 Go to commentsI am De Groot.
1 Go to commentsHad hoped you might write an article on this game, Nick. It’s a good one. Things have not gone as smoothly for ROG since beating Leinster last year at the Aviva in the CC final. LAR had the Top 14 Final won till Raymond Rhule missed a simple tackle on the excellent Ntamack, and Toulouse reaped the rewards of just staying in the fight till the death. Then the disruption of the RWC this season. LAR have not handled that well, but they were not alone, and we saw Pau heading the Top 14 table at one stage early season. I would think one of the reasons for the poor showing would have to be that the younger players coming through, and the more mature amongst the group outside the top 25/30, are not as strong as would be hoped for. I note that Romain Sazy retired at the end of last season. He had been with LAR since 2010, and was thus one of their foundation players when they were promoted to Top 14. Records show he ended up with 336 games played with LAR. That is some experience, some rock in the team. He has been replaced for the most part by Ultan Dillane. At 30, Dillane is not young, but given the chances, he may be a fair enough replacement for Sazy. But that won’be for more than a few years. I honestly know little of the pathways into the LAR setup from within France. I did read somewhere a couple of years ago that on the way up to Top 14, the club very successfully picked up players from the academies of other French teams who were not offered places by those teams. These guys were often great signings…can’t find the article right now, so can’t name any….but the Tadgh Beirne type players. So all in all, it will be interesting to see where the replacements for all the older players come from. Only Lleyd’s and Rhule from SA currently, both backs. So maybe a few SA forwards ?? By contrast, Leinster have a pretty clear line of good players coming through in the majority of positions. Props maybe a weak spot ? And they are very fleet footed and shrewd in appointing very good coaches. Or maybe it is also true that very good coaches do very well in the Leinster setup. So, Nick, I would fully concurr that “On the evidence of Saturday’s semi-final between the two clubs, the rebuild in the Bay of Biscay is going to take longer than it is on the east coast of Ireland”
11 Go to commentsWhat was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
39 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
86 Go to comments