Honey badgers “are notorious for their strength, ferocity and toughness.” Welcome to the world of rugby’s Honey Badger, Nick Cummins.
Says Wikipedia of the honey badger, “They are known to savagely and fearlessly attack any type of animal when escape is impossible, reportedly even repelling much larger predators such as lions.
“Because of their strength and persistence, they are difficult to deter. […] They retaliate fiercely when attacked, […] are virtually tireless in combat and can wear out much larger animals in confrontations.”
The Western Force’s Nick Cummins, with his trio of tries, won the crucial match against the Waratahs for his embattled side. When he got his hands on the ball, the Honey Badger went in for the kill.
His first, from an intercept metres from the Force’s posts was an incredible ’14-point’ try. If Cummins had missed the ball or if the Waratahs had delayed the pass a fraction of a second, they were in. Given their dominance to that stage in the match, it might have spelt the end for the gallant Force defenders.
Defence stops you from losing matches but tries give you victory. This is the crucial point about the way Cummins terrorised the Tahs. His first two tries came from mistakes by the Waratahs’ attack when they looked like scoring. The third came when Alby Matheson made a great break and Cummins – mouth open in exertion and passion, eyes blazing, muscles straining, knees pumping like the pistons of a steam train – raced away and through a last desperate tackle to score.
Cummins played one of the greatest individual games in Super Rugby history. What we saw was the power of one, trebled into a superb, match-winning performance.
A couple of years ago I suggested on The Roar that Cummins should be picked for the Wallabies. A great deal of unwarranted flak descended on my venerable head. I was written off as a fool who did not recognise real rugby quality. Well, this performance by Cummins indicates that the call was correct. He should be the first-choice Wallaby winger.
Every great team (and teams that aspire to greatness, like the Wallabies) need that honey-badger type of player, one whose all-round game is much better in total because of the passion and belief he invests in his play rather than his game’s individual attributes.
Go back to the greatest Wallaby side ever, the 1991 Rugby World Cup winners. This was a team of champions right across, but an indispensable member was Rob Egerton, a player who in terms of talent was a journeyman next to masters of the game such as John Eales, David Campese, Nick Farr-Jones, Simon Poidevin, Michael Lynagh and Tim Horan.
It was Egerton who did a lot of the necessary hack work – the spot tackle, the endless chasing, the hard, all-elbows-and-knees running into a solid defence. Cummins plays this role for the Force and he should be given the chance to do so for the Wallabies as a regular, first-choice player.
I like to keep a running scoreline to give a sort of graph of how a match evolves. In this match it went: W3-F0, W6-F0, W6-F3, F10-W6 (after the intercept try by Cummins), F10-W9, F13-W9. Second half: F18-W9, F25-W9, F25-W16, F28-16.
Once the Force got in front they consolidated their lead. What is not indicated is just how dominant the Waratahs were until the Cummins intercept. Even the commentators remarked that it looked like men against boys. The Waratahs pack, anchored by the massive Will Skelton, came in at 927ks; the Force pack, at 867, looked like midgets.
As the Waratahs smashed through the game it seemed a matter of time before the floodgates were going to open for the visitors. And here they were, metres out from the Force posts with the defence scattered and numbers out wide to score the decisive try.
Stop the tape here. Cummins is poised beside the posts, one other player on the line with him. If they come out and try to cover all the attackers, the Waratahs will score. If he comes out and misses the interception, the Waratahs will score. If he jumps the gun and rushes out before the halfback has his hands on the ball from the ruck to nail the first runner, he will be penalised, yellow carded and probably concede a penalty try.
Cummins now does a terrific thing. He holds himself intelligently on the line until it is legal to make his move. When he does strike, it is lethal for the Waratahs and for the Force, a match-winning effort worthy of the great Honey Badger at his best.
I will make two points about the Waratahs. First, they are a very good side with Israel Folau who, remember, scored three tries in Sydney when the Waratahs Folaued the Force. Second, without Folau the Waratahs’ ball-in-hand game has to be a lot smarter and more sophisticated.
The essential aspect to the first point is that Folau is a terrific link and finishing player. He rarely makes the break himself, but is devastating running off players who have broken the line. Without Folau, the Waratahs struggle to convert breaks into tries. If the ARU had not stepped in and over-ruled the Waratahs doctors, the Waratahs would have won at Perth as they did in Sydney, with Folau crossing for early tries.
At this stage we don’t know how long Folau’s “bruised throat” (an injury I’ve never heard of before) will keep him out. The man himself said, facetiously perhaps, that it might be six months if the ARU maintains its hard line.
The Waratahs need to understand that the ball-in-hand game requires a sophisticated set of skills and plays. Without Folau they don’t have this, and when Peter Betham and Alofa Alofa aren’t on the field, there is a lack of sharp pace in the backline.
There is a general lack, too, of understanding how to exploit what is front of them. The Crusaders showed the importance of strong match vision against the Cheetahs. They scored a vital try when Cheetahs fullback Willie le Roux raced out of the line and missed a tackle. Matt Todd, a forward, immediately poked through a kick to the vacant field area where le Roux should have been. Try to the Crusaders!
The Crusaders have completed their South African tour with two wins. Are they set to move up the table? Next up they play the Chiefs at Hamilton, who struggled to knock off the Rebels. Like the Waratahs, the Chiefs had just returned from South Africa and, again like the Tahs, they made so many mistakes, especially in their handling. The trip back from South Africa must have taken a toll.
People who travel a lot tell me that the journey back from South Africa is much harder than the journey to. Perhaps we should ask Bob Carr for his thoughts on this?
Anyway, the Crusaders need to beat the Chiefs to have a chance of winning the New Zealand conference.
The boys from Western Australia are now a real force in the Australian conference, only two points behind the Brumbies, who have played one more match and have a no-points bye this weekend.
The Waratahs, who are four points behind the Brumbies, play the Bulls at Allianz Stadium. The Bulls are massive and for about an hour looked like knocking off the Highlanders. With Folau back, you’d think the Waratahs would do a Highlanders on the Bulls. Any sort of win, though, is needed by the Waratahs to keep in touch with the Brumbies and the Force.
The Brumbies’ victory at Suncorp Stadium virtually ends the Reds’ tournament hopes for 2014. It is reasonably early days, but when the Reds lose at home, they are in big trouble. Admittedly, the Brumbies have been a team they struggle against, but the back-to-back losses the Reds have now recorded at Suncorp are their first since 2008.
Both the Reds (880kg) and the Brumbies (886kg) have smallish packs. But the Brumbies have a terrific lineout and a solid scrum, especially when the impressive Scott Sio is anchoring it. In Nic White and Matt Toomua they have the smartest half combination in the Australian conference.
In fact, the Brumbies are a very smart team in general. They took the Reds apart with surgical precision in the first half. When the Reds came back at them in the second half, they were smart enough to resist the pressure and keep the Reds moving backwards with their solid kicking game.
Each match in each round is a moveable feast, but even when Cummins’ heroics are taken into account for the Force, a betting man (and remember, I’m one of few non-gambling Greeks in Bondi Junction) would have to put his money on the Brumbies to win the Australian conference in the 2014 Super Rugby tournament.
But the Super Rugby title? Too early for this sort of prediction. We have to see how the Sharks play out of Africa.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Concur entirely with NickOS. Cheers
BopChop
Guest
Honey badgers are also very South African. Called "Ratels" in Afrikaans, and the name was applied to the toughest defense force armored vehicle under the apartheid regime. Couldn't he find an Aussie equivalent?
IronAwe
Guest
Are you serious? You need to watch those tests again and take the eye patch off. He was bloody good.
IronAwe
Guest
Agreed about AAC and Beale. Also, a few games ago, AAC took a complete dive, and then had a vicious spray at the touchy for not falling for it. Really disappointed, not what I expected from either of them.
hambone
Guest
a true blue battling badger.. which i exactly what the game needs in oz to reconnect and grab a new audience.. we all have mates that rate 'the badge' and watch because of him.. oz rugby needs more of these boys to bridge the gap of union being a game for the private school boys and get more mainstream.. throw him on channel tens new free to air in the pipes and its a win win for oz rugby.. absolute champion to watch on field and post game.. nice one badge.
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
I wonder why you don't get that I'm talking mainly about the Tah's? Forget the Force for a moment......17 (or 18?) years of the strongest Oz province (on paper) not winning a Super rugby premiership.....why? All I'm suggesting is that there are always big stars with big ego's playing for the Tah's. They can never put that behind them and play for each other.....they just seem to play for themselves. Hence the lack of Super rugby premierships.
Mike
Guest
"as you jump in whenever anyone links oconnors behaviour to him not playing in oz" Not "whenever" – more of your typical hyperbole. But you are correct that my issue is with people like you rather than with O'Connor per se – he is just one player and no-one is guaranteed to be around even next season these days, for a variety of reasons. "you are supposing that their rosters were all so full they couldnt fit in a 40 test outside back/utility" No I'm not. As usual, you are adopting an extremist position. But for the money that they would have to pay for a current test player with 40 tests under his belt (or whatever it is), their positions were already full. Teams build contracts and positions around their general game plan, and any team that takes on O'Connor will expect him to play in a position where he will give a return on investment. Force were prepared to negotiate even out of season, but the market is bigger than Australia, and London Irish were prepared to give him a guaranteed start at 15. "its a shame they couldnt overcome their differences for whatever reason but seeing he got the sack from the wallabies later it may have been for the best." Actually he didn't "get the sack" from the Wallabies – relevant to this conversation, he lost his ARU contract but remained eligible for selection on match payments. I don't think McKenzie was expecting him to go overseas, judging by his comments at the time. "Its also funny how beale managed to find a spot after oconnor came on the market so not sure how that fits into your theory." If you look at the two positions O'Connor played at the rebels, and then look at who held those positions at NSW, then I suggest the reason why NSW wasn't interested is clear. If he had been a rookie with potential in those positions (and therefore cheap and willing to sit on sidelines until needed) then different story. One of Rebels gripes with O'Connor was that he was out injured for most of his time with them, therefore poor return on investment. There was no guarantee Beale would even be ready to play in the following season and he was willing to move to 12. London Irish coach has gone on record that French clubs were offering twice as much for O'Connor but LI were prepared to offer him 15 and that's why he went there, plus he liked the club atmosphere. "but if thats true i dont see why youd be unwilling to repeat it." I've even told you on this thread and you persist in ignoring it, just like you did last time. Same old, same old. "if you can’t/don’t answer the question i wont be responding" Somehow, I will get over the disappointment.
Buk
Guest
thanks for the "i personally am just naturally cool plus polite (except when i’m not)" that was a bit of a classic !
soapit
Guest
i meant more why he couldnt cement the honey badger moniker and had it swiped from under his nose. off to google to have a look now
soapit
Guest
i think we disagree on the definition of affectation. in my mind it has negative feel about it.
soapit
Guest
mike you clearly do feel you need to convince people as you jump in whenever anyone links oconnors behaviour to him not playing in oz and continue to reply when questioned by people like me (with anything and everything but a direct answer to the question asked). you are supposing that their rosters were all so full they couldnt fit in a 40 test outside back/utility, that is not a fact no matter how much youd like it to be. why would the force have preliminary talks with him if their roster was full? its a shame they couldnt overcome their differences for whatever reason but seeing he got the sack from the wallabies later it may have been for the best. its also funny how beale managed to find a spot after oconnor came on the market so not sure how that fits into your theory. the only facts are he got terminated by the two teams he was employed by in oz. i know you claim you told us before why that was (not because of his behaviour according to you) but if thats true i dont see why youd be unwilling to repeat it. its a simple question. no insults/deflections/excuses needed in response. if you can't/don't answer the question i wont be responding no matter how much of the above tactics you employ to cover your inability to provide an answer. sorry if that was overly wordy. hopefully it wont give you too many ways to avoid answering the question. if its too much just focus on the third last paragraph.
Mike
Guest
Meh. He's a talented player, but he's overseas, as are many others. And we need 23. Hopefully it will all sort itself out by June.
Mike
Guest
"and yet oconnor, despite being apparently faultless wasnt wanted by any pro team in oz." And yet he was, so perhaps you should check facts before writing the same stuff over and over again? Rebels imploded at a time when other teams had already made their choices so it wouldn't have been surprising if he hadn't got any offers, but yet he did. As it happened, he went to a team that would give him the position he wanted. No player could have got that at that stage of the Australian season. "perhaps the entirety of australias pro rugby decision makers are to a man “precious little girls”?" Quite the contrary, but some roarers are. "btw relying on this type of petty insulting" No, just fact. "really doesnt help you convince many (adults at least)." If only you and a few others had listened to that advice! I don't need to convince many, as it happens, and it should be obvious that I am not particularly interested in convincing people like yourself - what would you add? "cant recall if we ever actually got an alternate explanation out of you." Too many words, you should have just written "can't recall". I and plenty of others told you about reality at the time, but you weren't interested.
Bob McGregor
Guest
Nick Cummings had a great game but was ably assisted by Nick Phipps poor delivery when passing left to right. This weakness in the latter's game needs to be addressed or the Tahs will have no chance to top the Aussie conference. The Tahs attack became much sharper when he was replaced. Perhaps he needs to be benched until he adequately addresses this deficiency in his game. Based on his current lack of passing skills left to right, he has no hope of making the Wallaby squad this year. In fact the two in form number 9's are White and the Rebels half whose name escapes me.
Roy
Guest
They have got attacking weapons, players like Holmes and Morahan ( both bought to improve the Forces Attack), they just haven't had opportunity yet. It looks like Morahan is out but Holmes is very fast , skilful and more importantly has fresh legs. He has also a very good track record against the Rebels ....why would you not use him and give the Rebels something to think about?
Zero eye for talent
Guest
I remember so many people saying badger can't do this and can't do that. Look at the results!? A test level he was very very good. Won the RUPA players award which adds weight to this. People need to let go of their pride and admit they were wrong. The badger is the best man for the job, get over it.
Roy
Guest
Totally agree:-)
Roy
Guest
Agree Horne is an excellent 12.. But did not run the lines needed to finish off the plays as a good winger does... He is a classic centre, not sure why they didn't put AAC to wing where he has played for Aust?
Sheikh
Guest
CH - the western stand is heritage listed (in that it's an old, clapped out stand with a layout which makes the worst use of space available) but does hold the ground offices, boxes and changing rooms. Demolishing that for another 10,000 seat stand to match the East would mean going without changing rooms for a year and the ground is used almost year round by the Force and Glory (and Angels!) Of course, the East stand was supposed to include offices and changing rooms for $73 million, but ended up with neither for $95 million!
Graeme
Guest
Come World Cup next year it should be Speight on one wing, assuming he is healthy. On the other side it will be between JOC, Mogg and Cummins. If JOC can get his attitude in place, he would probably get the nod. If not, Moggs big boot could be very important in the wet English conditions, but he would need to improve his defense. Tomane had a blinder on the weekend, but he makes mistakes and turns the ball over too often to be in the first choice options.