What makes you tick Higginbotham?
Columnist By David Lord, 26 Jun 2012 David Lord is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- Rebels, Rugby Union, Scott Higginbotham, Super Rugby, wallabies
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Wallaby blindside flanker Scott Higginbotham made an extraordinary comment yesterday.
As reported by Ben Horne: “It’s not going to be easy going back to Super Rugby. It’s a completely different ball game, and style of rugby”.
What utter bollocks.
Higginbotham has just come off being an important cog in the Wallaby machinery that whitewashed Six-Nations Grand Slam champion Wales in their three-Test series, the first time since June-July 2008 the Wallabies have won three internationals on the trot against a major rugby nation.
If Higginbotham isn’t on a huge high after that, he’s either very hard to please or he has a major problem.
Playing the men-in-scarlet was a darn side harder than having to play the Rebels away, Highlanders at home, and the Waratahs at home to keep the Reds in with a chance to defend their Super title.
Those three games will be tough because of the pressure on the Reds to win them all, but a breeze compared to Wales.
You would think Higginbotham was so buoyant he would be ready to set the Reds alight.
“Not easy going back to Super Rugby,” just doesn’t cut the mustard.
Wallaby and Reds team-mate Will Genia is on the right planet, explaining how much benefit it will be to the Reds on the run home that six of them – Rob Simmons, Digby Ioane, Anthony Fainga’a, Mike Harris, Genia, and Higginbotham – were involved against Wales.
“Playing at that level you just gain more and more experience,” he added.
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans was on the same page when he said the switching between Test and Super Rugby was refreshing for both players and fans. And it was important for the Wallabies to return to their franchises as leaders.
So shape up Scott, and remind the Rebels, Highlanders, and Waratahs you are a first choice Wallaby.
And play like it.
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June 26th 2012 @ 6:35am
Red Kev said | June 26th 2012 @ 6:35am | Report comment
Well the guy did just play 4 games in three weeks, and the last test was probably his worst so he wouldn’t have been happy with his personal performance.
More importantly one lifted quote doesn’t tell you what the interviewer and Higginbotham were talking about.
So how do you know it’s bollocks? It quite possible was a sensible comment given the conversation.
I consider this article to be a complete and utter waste of space. If this is the best story you can come up with then you’re a hack David Lord, do us all a favour and stop writing.
June 26th 2012 @ 7:38am
David Lord said | June 26th 2012 @ 7:38am | Report comment
Consideration taken on board RK, just like your regular comments.
June 26th 2012 @ 8:31am
Red Kev said | June 26th 2012 @ 8:31am | Report comment
So my post is curmudgeonly. This is a news day when SBW has been reported as all but signed with the Roosters in another code switch and then come out and said he still wants to defend the All Blacks RWC title in 2015. It’s also the week that Foley is fronting the Waratahs Board to explain the season. It is the lead in to the resumption with the Super Rugby meaning you could write about the possible consequences for the Waratahs of players in form for the Wallabies; or about the impending return of Cooper and O’Connor and whether they’ll face off with Beale possibly being rested as he nurses sore ribs. Hell if you wanted to focus on Higginbotham you could write about the resigning of Gareth Delve by the Rebels and what that might mean for the team next year and Higginbotham’s role. Instead you focus on a vague quote in a poorly written article that does nothing more than fill up space. You have an audience on this site Mr Lord, and this sort of fodder insults them. I stand by the hack comment.
June 26th 2012 @ 9:04am
David Lord said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:04am | Report comment
Just as I stand by your regular comments RK, not being able to remember one when you have had anything decent to say about anything. Very sad.
June 26th 2012 @ 9:07am
Red Kev said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Perhaps you should read more carefully then.
June 26th 2012 @ 4:25pm
emuarse said | June 26th 2012 @ 4:25pm | Report comment
I was about to type that you had the mental intellect of a Springbok prop – but that would be an insult to the prop
June 26th 2012 @ 1:28pm
B-Rock said | June 26th 2012 @ 1:28pm | Report comment
C’mon RK – take it easy. I also dont agree with many of Lordys articles but the bloke is a professional and should be treated with some respect.
If you wouldnt say it to his face, dont post it. If you dont like his articles dont read them, this sort of aggressive name calling is juvenile and uneccesary
June 26th 2012 @ 2:17pm
Bones506 said | June 26th 2012 @ 2:17pm | Report comment
Delve re-signed for 2013 with the Rebels. They will have an exceptional backrow next year.
June 26th 2012 @ 3:58pm
the bone said | June 26th 2012 @ 3:58pm | Report comment
How do you work that out bones, they dont have a #7?
June 26th 2012 @ 8:43am
RoryG said | June 26th 2012 @ 8:43am | Report comment
Normally like and agree with David Lord, but this time. “What utter bollocks”
June 26th 2012 @ 10:01am
Gerry @ YourLawnAndGarden said | June 26th 2012 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Don’t be mean, Red Kev!
June 26th 2012 @ 7:39am
Justin2 said | June 26th 2012 @ 7:39am | Report comment
I guess you have to write about something…
June 26th 2012 @ 9:57am
enforcer said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Amen.
June 26th 2012 @ 8:25am
formeropenside said | June 26th 2012 @ 8:25am | Report comment
Of course Higgy is a bit emotional, he’s playing his last (hopefully) six games for the Reds before moving to the Rebels due to ARU stupidity.
I assume though he meant he gets to be coached by someone who actually speaks clear English.
June 26th 2012 @ 8:59pm
Cattledog said | June 26th 2012 @ 8:59pm | Report comment
Think you may have nailed it FOS
It won’t be easy…it will be a cinch!
June 26th 2012 @ 8:36am
Albo said | June 26th 2012 @ 8:36am | Report comment
“it’s not going to be easy going back to Super Rugby”
Perfectly understandable. He’s just played a **** load of rugby and getting back into the right mind frame after four gruelling Test matches would be difficult even if he was going back to club rugby. Not to mention you are going straight back to playing against people who you just played alongside.
Can you imagine if he said “It’s going to be easy going back to Super Rugby”? That shows enormous lack of respect for arguably the hardest provincial comp in the world.
“It’s a completely different ball game, and style of rugby”
Yes it is. No question. Seriously, put it into two catagories. Northern Hemisphere international team vs. Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby team… it’s entirely different! He’s not saying it’s harder or easier, just that it’s different.
Where is the issue? I’m rather confused.
June 26th 2012 @ 9:42pm
Poppy said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:42pm | Report comment
I agree Albo, what’s the issue? I didn’t read anything into that comment at all, they are different types od games, don’t see what the problem is…
June 26th 2012 @ 10:01pm
IronAwe said | June 26th 2012 @ 10:01pm | Report comment
Agreed Albo. Switching from one team to a completely different team with a different style of play in which they cant afford to lose in order to have any chance of the finals , in one week is definitely going to pose a challenge. I am baffled by this article, and I think it lacks respect.
June 26th 2012 @ 8:38am
The Battered Slav said | June 26th 2012 @ 8:38am | Report comment
Bollocks it may be, but some context would never hurt.
Was he referring to being tired, adapting gameplans, dealing with changes in coaching style, the travel?
All a bit unclear for me to call shenanigans at this stage, and I certainly wouldn’t be seizing on it as evidence that Higgers has lost his passion.
Although having said that, I do have my own opnions on Higgers (too loose, bit of a shirker etc), but these opinions are informed more by the manner in which he plays rather than an off-the-cuff remark made at the end of a series…..
June 26th 2012 @ 9:10am
Bones506 said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:10am | Report comment
There is an ongoing habit of taking one grab line and pulling it apart these days. No disrespect to David, who I believe is a quality writer, but this is not journalism – it is nit picking for the sack of filling space.
Higginbotham has played 4 games in three weeks and test football vs s15 is a different beast. They play different systems and patterns – rugby these days is quite a structured game and having to switch systems is not easy.
Scott noted this: “It’s a completely different ball game, and style of rugby”. I don’t see the issue with his comment at all. He has simply stated fact.
June 26th 2012 @ 9:14am
jameswm said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:14am | Report comment
Super XV and test rugby have different styles?
And that’s somehow controversial?
Go and ask Quade if they have the same styles.
June 26th 2012 @ 1:44pm
Rugby Diehard said | June 26th 2012 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
My thoughts exactly? Does anyone think this was a worthwhile article or has Lordy’s tranquiliser prescription run out?
June 26th 2012 @ 9:16am
Gary Russell-Sharam said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:16am | Report comment
Article was poorly written to gain a bit of a headline or a rise out of fellow roarers.
David write about something of interest please, don’t insult our intelligence by presenting this shallow type of journalism.
I have been reading your comments for many years and usually I find some interest in your reporting, however this post is not up to par.
Higgy is the best blind side flanker we have, and his form is great, I would presume that Deans replaced him in the second half in the last test giving him a well earned rest after playing 4 tests in 3 weeks.
To suggest or put forward the innuendo that he thinks it is going to be tough going back to Super Rugby is rather scurrilous. I would suggest that his meaning would have been in the context that Battered Slav referred to.
Give a bloke a go and stop with the unwarranted criticism on a throw away line that he might have made in probably an entirely oblique context or a reply to a journalists oblique question.
June 26th 2012 @ 9:28am
Huw Bowen said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Perhaps he’s going to miss the chance of attacking Welsh players off the ball – Saturday just gone was the worst incident: maul late on 1st half, around Wales 22, Wales left hand side. Check out Priestland and North’s reactions – right in front of the RA as well! Deans et al can stop crapping on about Pocock being played off the ball if Wallaby players behave like this! One is gamesmanship that every team practices to some degree and I hate the hollier than thou crap (with all the other crap he spouts as well) emanating from Deans. Higgenbotham’s is an assault – is this part of the Wallaby ‘DNA!’
June 26th 2012 @ 9:56am
jameswm said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:56am | Report comment
About time we had some enforcers. We usually play too nice. Sam Scott-Young, Owen Finegan, there haven’t been many in the last 20 years.
June 26th 2012 @ 11:28am
Jutsie said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:28am | Report comment
Finegan and rocky (pre ireland) were our last great enforcers.
June 26th 2012 @ 11:35am
Justin2 said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Finegan yes, Rocky? Not for me, a competitor yes, not an enforcer, rarely made dominant tackles or used his frame well enough.
Kefu yes!
June 26th 2012 @ 11:48am
Jutsie said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:48am | Report comment
I have good memories of rocky before he went to ireland maybe not in the green and gold as he wasnt an established test player but definitely for the tahs. Its a shame his career never lived up to the promise he showed in his early years.
Finegan is one of my favourites I was always hoping rocky would take his mantle.
June 26th 2012 @ 11:27am
Jutsie said | June 26th 2012 @ 11:27am | Report comment
Oh I didn’t realise, shoulder charge cleanouts after the whistle and headlocks were classified as gamesmanship.
You hate dean’s holier than thou attitude and I hate the way shaun edwards always has a whinge every time ur team finds another way to lose a match.
I wonder if he still believes you guys would’ve knocked the AB’s off in the world cup final.
June 26th 2012 @ 9:28am
MR said | June 26th 2012 @ 9:28am | Report comment
Sorry David I agree with RK on thIs one, sometimes you don’t see the wood for the trees
RK thanks for news re SB and others will go look at some other rugby news sites