Read, Messam, Thomson, Rutledge: The Mitre 10 Cup veterans who are defying rugby's youthful standards
They say rugby is a young man’s game.
That would be true if you watch premier club rugby in some of the bigger centres. Other than the odd veteran who is keen to throw himself into rucks well into his 30s, it’s like an extension of First XV rugby. Most teams would have an average age in the early 20s.
Where is the grizzled old veteran welcoming the young buck to senior footy, as Mata’afa Keenan did in emphatic fashion to rookie prop Paul Thomson in a 1994 Varsity-Grammar game in Auckland? The days of a Craig Dowd doing his front-row apprenticeship with two seasons in the Suburbs Under 21s are over. Players are too impatient now.
But the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup has welcomed back more veterans, seasoned campaigners, than ever. Many are back home because New Zealand is one of the safer places to live let alone play footy (at least outside the Auckland region). They are not back for the money. Mitre 10 Cup wages have taken a hit, for something around 15-20 percent across the board.
Kieran Read for example, has not suited up with his native Counties Manukau to boost his retirement fund. He feels a connection, wants to play for the union he watched in the 1990s on the famous Pukekohe bank (slippery when wet). He will be on pocket money compared to his wage in Japan, though we still don’t know who paid his Toyota Verblitz insurance fee or whether Steve Hansen waived it.
It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that a prodigious young No 8 talent by the name of Viliami Taulani, whose rep career thus far has promised more than it has delivered, will be soaking up lessons from a 127-test All Black. If Read can win a few lineouts, carry hard, give the last pass for the odd try, all the better for the Steelers. What’s more, he’s going to be around for the duration, unlike, say, Dalton Papali’i. That leadership and experience will be priceless to a young, raw Steelers outfit.
Tasman went back to Alex Ainley, a Mako original, and 39 years of age, to stiffen up their second-row stocks after Pari Pari Parkinson went down and Quinten Strange was still battling injury. He will be gold for the champs, even if he spends more time in jersey No 19 than 4.
Waikato is mostly full of youth and vigour, but its loose forward stocks include one two former All Blacks No 6s who cannot spell retirement. Adam Thomson went, in the space of two years, from nearly dying, to playing rugby, being whistled up for Super Rugby, to signing with the Mooloos. He’s 38, but powered through 64 minutes against Wellington, scored a try and more than held his own against a Lions loose trio of Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Vaea Fifita.
Liam Messam did not play last weekend. He’s 36 and back from two seasons at Toulon. He’ll do a similar job at Waikato to the one Marty Holah did back in 2014, setting the standards at training and his approach to game. Contracts for those on the wrong side of 35 are drying up in France, though Jerome Kaino is still going at 37 for Toulouse.
Which reminds me, Marc Cecillon bowed out for his beloved Bourgoin at 39 (!) after 23 seasons. That’s a fearful amount of French scrums, let along bagarres generales. Five years later, in a fit of drunken pique, he shot his wife dead at a barbeque.
But I digress.
He's not the first man SBW has inspired – and he certainly won't be the last. #AllBlacks #Springbokshttps://t.co/Fv7ScbnnYg
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 17, 2020
At 35, Jamie ‘Whopper’ Mackintosh is back from his Gulliver’s Travels to be the Otago scrum coach, but he could yet suit up if needed.
Ben May is 37, pushing 38, and going around one last time, this season with Taranaki, his sixth province in a long and colourful career that kicked off even before the NPC reformatting of 2006. ‘Bam Bam’ has racked up over 250 first-class games and may just fancy one last title (and a Ranfurly Shield) with the Bulls.
We’ve left Jason ‘Cabbage’ Rutledge to last, but certainly not least. At 42 and after another premier club title with Woodlands, the hooker was called into the Stags to cover after an injury to former skipper Flynn Thomas. He came off the bench to see the Stags through to an upset 16-10 win over Hawke’s Bay in Invercargill last weekend. Crossfit and his physical plumbing job have maintained his fitness levels. Rutledge extended his appearance record for Southland to 140 and you just know what he will bring to the cause: total commitment.
He would smile that the Steelers reserve rake Shaun Muir made his provincial debut at 35 last weekend after five club titles with Bombay.
There’s still a place for the old fellas in our game. You young bucks better soak up the lessons. There’ll be plenty of them.
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments