By Andrew Logan
September 11th 2008 @ 5:20pm
Exclusive: Rocky Elsom video interview
With 35 Test caps under his belt, 25 year old Rocky Elsom could one day become a true legend of Australian rugby. It is a shame for rugby lovers then that he is unlikely to reach what might have been his full complement of Test caps due to a mid-career break at Leinster in Ireland.
Why is one of Australia’s best and most consistent forwards giving it all away when he is clearly at his peak?
In the official ARU press statement which made the announcement earlier this year, CEO John O’Neill cited “personal reasons” as the driver behind Elsom’s request to be allowed to hit the road when he still had a year to run on his ARU contract.
In this exclusive chat with The Roar columnist Andrew Logan, Rocky discusses this decision, as well as the record Wallaby loss to South Africa, League vs Union, Sonny Bill Williams and his time at the Waratahs.
Over the next three days, this exclusive interview will be made available in five parts - only to www.theroar.com.au viewers.
On why Rocky left the Waratahs to play in Ireland
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There are certain sentences a rugby writer believes he will never write and one them was (notice the past tense): 'Al Baxter monsters Andrew Sheridan...'
Kento said | September 12th 2008 @ 10:20am | Report comment
Great interview guys - Rocky’s clearly one of the more interesting sportsmen going around. Wish he’d elaborated a little more on the reasons for leaving Australian rugby for a period. What a loss he’ll be!
LeftArmSpinner said | September 12th 2008 @ 11:40am | Report comment
guys, excellent piece. Elsom is great talent, clear, concise and open. cant wait for the next three instalments.
Andrew Logan said | September 12th 2008 @ 11:59am | Report comment
Kento/LAS,
Thanks for the feedback. Rocky interviews like he plays - hard and straight, and always in control of what he is doing. He clearly didn’t want to discuss his personal situation, so I let it go, but the implication was that the ARU had looked after him by not talking about it and he was repaying the favour. Fair enough really.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Rocky end up as a heavy hitter in rugby circles in 20 years time. He has the same sort of presence as a Colin Meads or a John Thornett. Time will tell whether he continues to build that level of respect but I would back him in.
Some interesting insights into Sonny Bill etc coming up - stay tuned.
Cheers,
Loges.
LeftArmSpinner said | September 13th 2008 @ 5:27pm | Report comment
Andrew, where are the other instalments?
Andrew Logan said | September 13th 2008 @ 8:49pm | Report comment
Hi LAS,
Zac’s feeling was that Saturday is a slow Roar day so he is planning on putting them up Sunday/Monday I think. Sorry!
Hang in there.
Cheers…
LeftArmSpinner said | September 13th 2008 @ 11:52pm | Report comment
will do. still very relevant….. given The Rock’s performance tonight. What a game. phew.
Dublin Dave said | September 15th 2008 @ 1:18am | Report comment
As a Leinster season ticket holder who was one of about 14,000 at the opening home game of the Mangers League season on Friday night I am looking forward to Elsom’s arrival.
It will be interesting to see where and how often he plays. The Irish provinces differ from the English clubs in that the players’ are ultimately contracted by the Union whose first priority is the national side. Naturally the provincial teams’ managements have a different interest so there is a conflict but nothing like as marked as happens in France and England where the clubs pay the pipers and feel, reasonably enough that they can call the tune.
But in Ireland, the fact that Elsom will be vying for the number 8 position with the incumbent Irish player in that position could lead to political tensions. Either it will mean that Elsom is “rotated” for what is seen as the less important Magner’s League matches or that he will have to play out of position.
Already Felipe Contepomi, the best Leinster player I have seen in the out half position has been shunted into the centre to give gave time to the promising but very raw Jonathan Sexton at 10. Another new arrival, Isa Nacewa has played (very well) in three positions in the first two games: full back, centre and fly half. He looks to be a seriously good piece of business, but his versatility probably means that he will be used to plug gaps when they appear rather than command a regular place in the starting lineup.
Elsom might have a similar fate.
Benjamin said | September 15th 2008 @ 1:30am | Report comment
Surely Elsom will be at 6 Dave. I couldn’t imagine Heaslip being shunted around. I could see Elsom filling in for a 2nd rower ahead of the 8 man slot.
Dublin Dave said | September 15th 2008 @ 6:31pm | Report comment
I think 4,5 and 6 is where he will play the majority of his rugby at Leinster, Benjamin. Leinster’s captain this season will be second row Leo Cullen. (The gradual phasing out of Brian O’Driscoll has begun. There have been big hints from Declan Kidney that he will not be Irish captain this year either.) Leinster’s other first choice lock is Malcolm O’Kelly, still well able to do a job but nearly as old as me. Ample room there for Elsom to fit in.
At six Leinster have tended to play Cameron Jowitt, New Zealand born of Samoan ancestry but now “Irish qualified” by virtue of residency. I think he will share that jersey with Elsom a fair bit this season.
Benjamin said | September 15th 2008 @ 9:04pm | Report comment
Poor old Stephen Keogh - he just keeps on pluggin’ away. I’m not the biggest fan of Jowitt, or Toner for that matter but I do like Hogan. Elsom should be a great ‘accessory’.