The undervalued skill that could be crucial at this year's World Cup
Watching Colin Slade deliver a pinpoint cross kick – with his left, weaker foot – for James Horwill to score in his final big match last weekend warmed the cockles of my heart.
Yes, it was the (UK) Barbarians versus England at Twickenham, and the pressure was off, but you just have to admire moments of exquisite skill in this game of ours which has seemingly been usurped by automatons and behemoths.
Slade, now plying his trade in France’s south-west with Pau, will never go down as an All Blacks great. But he did play 21 tests and enjoyed several decisive moments, such as slotting the winning conversion in Brisbane as the 2014 All Blacks edged the Wallabies in what turned out to be Ewen ‘Link’ McKenzie’s final international as coach of Australia.
The one skill that Slade performed better than anyone else in New Zealand during his time there was kicking effectively with his so-called ‘weaker’ foot. It is a rare skill, rarely mastered, even in an age when professionals have more time to work on their skills than ever before.
Some of the great No 10s were adept at shifting swiftly and painlessly onto their left boot. Jonny Wilkinson and Hugo Porta spring to mind. Beauden Barrett is more than useful off his left boot. Dan Carter’s final play as an All Black was a right-footed conversion in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final. And yet, he was not one to readily switch foot, preferring to use his guile and passing skills under pressure or even do one of those infernal banana kicks.
Slade, equally at home in the custodian’s jersey, was as good as anyone at the top level, and that piece of magic last weekend, missed by many, is a prime example.
Quite simply, being able to kick off either foot – ambipedal, thread the needle, one might say – can get your side out of trouble when under the pump or drive your team onto attack with a long, raking, accurate punt. You can just see those first fives, or any back for that matter, who is not confident. They will try and run their way out of trouble. That spells disaster if the defensive line is disciplined.
Rugby World Cup success will come down to moments in time, goal kicking, referees’ calls and above all else, errors. Which first five, or any other back, will not switch to their weaker foot when they have to, because it is not second nature and has not been practised until it is second nature? Who will cost their team because they have not practised this skill assiduously since the age of 10?
Watch closely when the 10s try and clear their lines with a marauding loosie in their face. Watch for charge downs, knock-ons and brain explosions. Then contrast that with the player who is supremely confident in his skill, has done the yards over many years and calmly switches foot to clear or even do a Wilkinson and kick the winning pot.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
It’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
4 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
2 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
4 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
2 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
4 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to comments