By Garth Hamilton
August 28th 2007 @ 8:28am
Rise and fall of confidence players
Chris Latham’s time under the shadows of Matt Burke and then Matt Rogers is well documented. Mistakes like his intercepted pass at the start of the 2000 tri-nations match against NZ opened the floodgates for 21 Kiwi points in 7 minutes and were duly remembered. Tries like the unstoppable, hundred-mile-per-hour hammer blow later in the same match were sometimes forgotten. How things have changed.
Latham’s return to the Wallabies late in this year’s Tri Nations gave the back three it something that his own early career lacked; Certainty. Latham will attack the line at almost every opportunity in France later this year. By doing so he will give the Wallabies a genuine counter-attack option to match those of South Africa and New Zealand.
The early part of Latham’s career was similar to that of two of the most creative talents of the last world cup, Carlos Spencer and Freddie Michalak. On any given day these two were geniuses or fools, equally as able to win a game as lose it.
Those who have seen their brilliance, especially home crowds who watched it week in and week out against provincial teams, became devout followers. In Auckland Spencer is still King Carlos. After the last world cup Michalak was voted Toulousain of the year. Those who saw them fall apart were equally as passionate in their denunciations.
What stands Latham apart from these two is the way he has been able to remove, almost entirely, all of those errors for which the early part of his career is often remembered. Spencer’s time in the black jersey has long gone but Michalak is still young. French coach, Bernard Laporte, seems keen to allow Michalak another chance on the world cup stage albeit coming off the bench.
For many Michalak is the face of the French Resistance; the player most capable of arousing that irrepressible style of play that it seems only the French can muster and not even the All Blacks can contain. France don’t need Michalak to attain Latham’s consistency. In fact they can probably reach the semi finals without him. But should France find themselves in trouble from there on, they will need Michalak to come on and change the shape of the game as he did against England at Twickenham earlier this year.
There are no other teams that can make such a powerful substitution but then again there are few other true contenders who would dare risk so much on Freddie Michalak.
Garth is the secretary of the London branch of Wooden Spoon, rugby's charity for disadvantaged children. If you would like to know more about Spoon please visit the website.
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Monty String said | August 28th 2007 @ 1:15pm | Report comment
Good reading your essay, Garth. For some time the report on Latho was “Great attack, poor defense.” And it’s true he made a couple of boo boos which put him in the selectors’ bad books. But he tightened up that aspect and showed that, with his super ability to kick-and-gather in a broken field, he’s become a tremendous attacking weapon with little downside to him.
As for Michalak, the game against England two weeks ago showed what value he can be. His distribution was clever, he tackled like a demon (something he gets small credit for), and his 40-meter snap almost made it. And if you need somebody to kick a few penalties, he’s available.
On the other hand, against Wales last Saturday, Skrela was merely serviceable and Beauxis showed a solid understanding of the pivot role when he moved into the position. But nobody sparks at fly like Mich and I assume Laporte will start Skrela against the Pumas then bring on Mich if the line needs moving. And he may well start Mich against Ireland. If Freddie doesn’t perform in the first 20 minutes – if he’s clearly off – then he gets the hook.
But I have a feeling he’s going to have a great World Cup. And I think his team is, too. You say that no other team can make such a powerful sub at 5/8. No other team, including the ABs, can make such powerful subs in the forwards, either.