Oval Office October 2007

Minnow mastery

All Black Legend Grant Batty tells it like it is

What teams like Romania, Tonga and Japan have brought to this Cup far outweighs what a team like England has managed to cobble together so far

Before teams even got to France for the World Cup, the breast beating over the lambs being led to the slaughter reverberated around the rugby fraternity.

Romania’s Florin Vlaicu kicks a penalty against New Zealand. The plucky Romanians never stopped trying.

How, went the familiar catch cry, could the so-called minnow nations possibly benefit from being flogged day after day by the Big Boys.
Well, the doomsayers were wrong!

If anything, the gutsy performances of teams like Romania, Georgia, Tonga, Portugal and Japan were the breath of fresh air the pool rounds needed to lift them above the mediocre predictability of the early stages of the comp.

How refreshing [not to mention uplifting] to see a bunch of players who love rugby for rugby’s sake playing their hearts out, giving their all on the game’s premier stage. We need to be reminded occasionally it is players like them who epitomise the character of the game we love. Remember the crowd affection shown to Olympic swimmer “Eric the eel” as he swam into the hearts of those who watched the out-classed African give it his best shot. Again, we need to be reminded that “giving it your best shot” is the best we can ask or expect.

The Tests between the big guns are the cream and one does not wish to detract from either the spectacle or importance of sides like the Springboks and the All Blacks getting down and dirty.

However one cannot help but admire the guts, spirit and determination of the perceived “lesser sides” who run out knowing they are on a hiding to nothing but refuse to concede an inch of turf without spilling blood over it.
And what about sides like Portugal? After going down 108-13 to New Zealand you’d think all they would want to do is go home and hide. But no! The sweat hadn’t even dried before they were talking up their chances at the next Cup and thanking the All Blacks for beating them with ‘dignity’.

Now compare England with Portugal.
The Queen’s men went into the tournament as the reigning world champions but have done little to honour that mantel.

Perhaps if they had displayed the same courage, passion and commitment as the little guys did they wouldn’t have been scrabbling for a win over Tonga just to make the quarter-finals.

It’s not acceptable really. England has talent to burn. There is no shortage of financial assistance and they had (almost) a home ground advantage. But they looked to lack ticker. Not on really.

EVERY time the World Cup comes around the talent spotters get out their binoculars and notebooks. This tournament has been no different.
But the interesting thing has been the blend of old and new that has emerged through the pool rounds

Not all of the personalities that have emerged have done so with the same seismic impact of Jonah Lomu in 1995 but there are, nevertheless, players who deserve to be singled out.

Among the veterans there were Samoa’s Brian Lima and South Africa’s Percy Montgomery.

True to form Lima’s run came to a premature end when, in tried and tested ‘Chiropractor’ style, he tried to rearrange Jonny Wilkinson’s torso. Although a three week suspension wasn’t an ideal note on which to end a sensational [not to mention record] five Cup run,

the veteran Islander is the epitome of the style of play we have come to expect from the South Pacific nations.

Brian Lima – The ‘Chiropractor’ tried to rearrange Jonny Wilkinson’s torso – just like he did last World Cup.

It’s a credit to him that, throughout his career, he stayed true to his roots because, in his prime, Lima could have graced a place in the backline of any team in the world.

And what can one say about Percy Montgomery. He’s been a fixture in the Bok team for a decade but in the past 18 months he’s shown his true colours.

His boot is as deadly as Daniel Carter’s or Jonny Wilkinson’s and he’s not afraid to head butt with the big boys. He’s a terrific player and he’ll be missed when he hangs up his international boots at the end of the year.
Another South African worthy of a

mention is young halfback Fourie du Preez. Ever since the great Joost van der Westhuizen departed, the Boks have been battling to find a worthy successor.

Looks like they’ve found him! He’s classy in the set pieces, has a magnificent tactical boot and is as slippery as Justin Marshall. A long and glittering career is predicted!

From Australia came Berrick Barnes. A lousy Super 14 season was forgotten with a last minute Wallaby call-up and I’ll bet the selectors were glad they did.

As so often happens for young players his opportunity came by virtue of injury, this time to Stephen Larkham and Berrick didn’t disappoint.
Although he fell short of what some critics were trumpeting as the ‘greatest Wallaby debut ever’ there’s no doubt the youngster has heaps of talent and will mature into a top class player.

Among the minnows, there was the Georgian front row. We won’t get into names here because it’s a bit like throwing the alphabet up in the air and grabbing the first seven letters that fall to earth.
Suffice to say, however, they gave the Irish a terrible time and also left the French scratching their heads.

Then there was Tongan No 8 Finau Maka. If ever a bloke gave 300 per cent on a footy field it has him.

Among the Italians, who showed their elevation to the Six Nations a couple of years back was well justified, there were David Bortolussi, Gonzalo Canale, Mirco Bergamasco and captain Alessandro Troncon while Argentina’s Filipe Contepomi showed he was world class.

THIS little gem probably never made it to print anywhere and it really is worth a mention.

Wallabies Drew Mitchell and Scott Staniforth were making the most of a day off in the town in which the team is quartered when they stopped to watch a game of touch in the town square.

The French lads who were organising it did not recognise them and invited the two ‘Wallaby fans’ to join their game provided they were prepared to back themselves with a couple of bottles of red.

Suffice to say Mitchell and Staniforth carved up the opposition and went home well supplied with local vino courtesy of their bemused opposition. Nice!