I have two excellent books at home, each based on the men who first captained the Wallabies and Kangaroos respectively. For interest, our first ever Wallaby captain was centre Frank Row in 1899.
Our first Kangaroo captain was prop/hooker Arthur Hennessy in 1908. Hennessy was a hardworking and diligent forward, if on the smallish and slowish side. However, he was good enough to represent New South Wales in rugby union on a handful of occasions and when the split occurred, became rugby league’s first test skipper.
Hennessy’s greatest legacy was being the Australian rugby league’s first supercoach and founding father of the great South Sydney Rabbitohs club. Hennessy was instrumental in developing the “running rugby” style firstly in rugby union, then in rugby league.
Hennessy was greatly influenced by New Zealand rugby’s ‘running game’ and ‘no kicking’ edict of his time, and was determined to introduce it into the Australian game wherever he could.
In my book on Kangaroo captains, Hennessy was greatly impressed by Kiwi legendary tactician Jimmy Duncan, and tells the story of how Duncan pulled Hennessy aside one day and informed him that he couldn’t understand why Australian rugby union teams would fight to win the ball and then kick away possession at the first opportunity.
“Possession and position were everything”, Duncan said.
That’s worth repeating: Duncan couldn’t understand why Australian rugby union teams would fight to win the ball then kick away possession at the first opportunity. “Possession and position were everything”, Duncan said.
My dear fellow Roarers, you could be forgiven for thinking this was said just the other day, or week, or month, in relation to our current Super Rugby teams, especially the New South Wales Waratahs.
But these words were spoken in about 1903 – 109 years ago! Which goes to show that the more things change, the more they seem to stay the same.
Why, just today in the Sydney Daily Telegraph is a historical piece on how many of the world’s first stock exchanges began their life. Businessmen, traders, brokers and the like would gather in coffee houses in Europe and North America in the 1600s and 1700s, from which eventually formed into stock exchanges.
Now in the 2000s much the same is happening in cafes throughout the western world. The coffee might be made differently, but the bean is essentially the same. Just as the discussion might have different emphasis but the message is still the same, “let’s do a deal”, or “let’s do lunch next week”.
It’s also the reason why history is important. It tells us where we came from, how we got here, and how we might progress.
If Tahs headman Michael Foley, or any of his assistants, or many of the so called professional coaches of Australian Super Rugby teams had bothered to read the exchange between Duncan and Hennessy, they might also realise they are horribly misinformed to think that kicking away possession is in any way a sensible or successful tactic.
Throughout his coaching career at South Sydney and at the Waverley College rugby union school, Hennessy advocated a “no kicking” policy, with players threatened with the sack if they committed a kick during a game.
Today we might argue that there are times when kicking is necessary, even as a tactical ploy to pierce the defence and quickly regain possession (grubber kick, chip through, winger centre kick, etc), but kicking should be a “last resort”, not a “first option”.
hannibal
Guest
Join our petition to rebuild the Tahs from the ground up! Each sign up sends an email to the Office of the CEO of the HSBC Waratahs. We want to see changes to the coaching, Board and playing style to build a winning team for the future that us the fans want to go and see play. Click and sign: http://www.change.org/petitions/rebuild-the-waratahs-from-the-ground-up-coach-players-culture-and-all
sheek
Guest
True sittingbison, Kicking does have its place, but not 'aimless' kicking. Kicking, just like running the ball, must be done with a purpose in mind, not just willy-nilly.
sheek
Guest
True AD, Although I read somewhere Vic Cavagnah advocated something similar with Otago post-WW2.
sittingbison
Guest
I think the operative word is "aimless" kicking. At Force games there is a loud groan and shouts of "keep the bloody ball, don't kick it away" every time a brain dead aimless kick gives possession straight back to the opposition immediately after the hard working tireless back row have snaffled it. How dispiriting for them to look up from the ruck to see possession is already lost at 1st phase!! We believed this was a game plan instituted by RG, as the Force were a running team with a big boot of Shep and Drew Mitchell (not stupid pop gun stuff) under Mitchell, and Blake has said in every news conference they are trying to keep ball in hand more and get it to strike weapon Nalaga. If so, good luck Reds next year %) A kick should be to achieve a result - normally territory, exchange possession for position, a change in tactics to keep them guessing, or emergency get out of gaol. NOT a lottery hoping to see if you can capitalize on opposition mistake!! That is LOW percentage stuff
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
And before Randwick, Sheek, those same three Ps were advocated by New Zealand's Charlie Saxton _ as Spiro Zavos wrote in a piece published in the Sydney Morning Herald on February 18 this year.
p.Tah
Guest
This was on full display with Eddie Jones' Japan yesterday in the Asian 5 Nations. Admittedly Hong Kong aren't quite on par with Japan but it was beautiful to watch.
sheek
Guest
I believe Randwick in their hey-days advocated 3 Ps - possession, position, pace. Secure possession, seek position (tactical configuration), do everything at pace.
sheek
Guest
Jamesb, I'm a great believer in possession over position. I usually have some interesting discussions with mates over this. You can be 5 metres out from your tryline, but as long as you have possession, the opposition can't score any points. Conversely, you can be 5 metres out from your opponent's line, but as long as they retain possession, you can't score any points. Position gives you opportunity, but possession gives you ownership. But as you suggest, it takes great skill & confidence in your technique, to prize possession over position. I reckon most players kick the ball away through a lack of self-confidence in their team's technique & skill levels to retain possession.
Jerry
Guest
And I forgot the 5th P in NZ - Paddy.
Johnno
Guest
KPM true aimless kicking should not be rewarded and I like you I am sure do defiantly not want rugby to turn into AFL. It is rugby not AFL, and aimless kicking well is as exciting as fielding in cricket. But the point KPM is this I hope kicking stays in rugby union, and the spontinatey of kicking as a tactical weapon is used as it adds an extra skill and dimension to this great sport when it is played right. Rugby league kicking is always on the 5th tackle most of the time so becomes predictable , rugby's unlimited tackle count increase the spontanatey kick. No kicking means too much of the ball will just be in the maul, watch the last 10 minutes of the world cup and watch the AB'S disgraceful timewasting tactics tense and i would of done the same but boring too, happy the 5 second rule has come in, where the ball has to be cleared in 5 seconds. But we don't want KPM is rugby union turning too much into rugby league, spontnaitous kicking , must be kept in rugby union i think. The laws i read on the IRB website i think they are good for the game i hope they work these new scrum rules and shot clock on penalty kicks.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I forgot Power and Precision
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Sorry Johnno just saw this. I think the laws let them get away with it for too long. The 2009 law interpretation changes improved things but whenever the kicking is too much the laws should step in and whip it into shape.
sheek
Guest
Jerry - I like that.....
jeznez
Roar Guru
heh, heh, heh.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I'm over the moon that the Pause is going - can't believe it has taken this long to change it.
AussieKiwi
Guest
Same with the Reds for much of this season. Aimless kicking (naming no names, Sanchez) and no chase to speak of. THe Bulls game was a classic. Hey, why not kick it straight into the breadbasket of Morne Steyn. Top plan! Contrast with most of Kurtley Beale's kicks since he took over as number 10 for Rebels.
Jerry
Guest
Not in NZ. Here it's Possession, Position, PI's and Poaching.
Johnno
Guest
That is a very good point jeznez. Campo had a massive boot developed huge distance and accuracy, and I am glad others remember Campo's boot and kicking game, it's funny watching before i understood rugby and tactical kicking or tactics , i used to get angry as a kid with Campo kicking coz i felt he almost lied to me about rambling on about running rugby , but i saw him at the later stages of his career 91-96 and i can tell you what Campo sure did love to kick a lot, he didn't just run or be raze dazzle from anywhere, he was a very controlled rugby player in many ways. He also Campo made a good point about Quade cooper and himself. Campo said he wanted less raze dazzle from cooper and more organisation, and he argued as a wing it was his job to play with X-factor and freedom but as a 5/8 you must have strcuture, and low risk methods to your play,and control a match. All the sort of talk as to why I think Campo would of loved Micheal lynagh as a 5/8. The natural age factor, means players have to develop other skills to keep there spots in the team. I think matt Burke who is one of my favourite players, but the fact he could kick goals did help his bargaining power staying in the wallaby set up, or sean fitzpatrick and John's Smit captaincy kept them in the team for a long time. Good kicking, that is well planned and executed will have a place in rugby always I think. And that is a good thing too, i actually enjoy tactical kicking it adds another skill dimension to rugby, and thats what i like so much about rugby it is so multi faceted and so many different tactics and strategies far more than league i find, but that is another argument for another day i wont ramble on that now. But kicking I like and really hope it stays as it has a place in rugby as does scrums and linnets and set pieces. Jeznez i read an article the other day regarding law changes on the roar i think, and on scrum they are looking at getting rid of "Pause", which i think si a good thing. Ben Robinson said he would be delighted , as it would mean a lot less scrum collapses. And a shot clock is being trialled for kicking goals 1min 30seconds after a try, good laws i hope happen.
jeznez
Roar Guru
The P's are always good Possession, Position, Passion, Pace, Practice, Practice, Practice!
jeznez
Roar Guru
Johnno, towards the end of his career Campo was almost Gerrard like in his line kicking. As his legs slowed down he developed huge distance and accuracy in his torpedos that helped him stay in the side over other wingers who were greater attacking threats. Good kicking, that is well planned and executed will always have a place in rugby. Too often with Berrick at the Tahs there seems to be no communication and kicks are just hoisted when he appears to run out of ideas. This is telegraphed most succintly by the relatively poor chase that accompanies many of these kicks.