Clubbing for country

13 October 2016 - 09:31 By MICK CLEARY

Dai Young's statesmanlike address on Sunday evening may well go down as the moment that England's chances of beating the All Blacks took a sizeable upturn. The Wasps director of rugby has lost backrower Sam Jones for the season after he suffered a broken leg and ankle ligament damage at a judo session in England camp, and had cause to be incandescent.Instead, he was stoic. More importantly, he was conciliatory, visionary even."No one is more important than the other and the last thing we want to do is knock a wedge between the national set-up and the clubs," Young said.Eddie Jones has received a barrage of complaints over his two-day camp, for the timing of it, for the intensity of it. Neither element stands much scrutiny.There is a 160-page document, signed off by every premiership club, detailing all aspects of the club-country agreement.The hostile language that emerged last week was reminiscent in tone of the Clive Woodward era. Back then there was a real divide between the two parties.England won the 2003 World Cup in spite of the relationship, not because of it. That is why Woodward walked away, berating his one-time paymasters for their lack of action in getting the clubs to look out for the national interest.If England, or anyone, are to prevent the All Blacks from making it three World Cups in a row in Japan in 2019 then everything has to be spot on.The All Blacks are so far ahead, almost out of sight, with their techno-flow style, Star Wars rugby that it will take a colossal concerted effort to deny them.In England's case, for that to happen there has to be harmony between club and country.That is what Young was calling for. His rallying call has to carry the day when the sides get together in London for talks.In many ways, the gathering has echoes of the system in New Zealand, where everything is funnelled to the wellbeing and glory of the All Blacks.That is one good reason why New Zealand have become so pre-eminent. There are no such things there as conflicting ideologies. The union owns the product.Coaches coach according to the creed handed down by Steve Hansen through the Super rugby franchises and into the provinces.The All Blacks intellectual property is the most valuable in the rugby world.The entire country is on message, not just New Zealand's rugby infrastructure.Many have tried to topple them over the past year and none have succeeded.Played 17 Tests: won 17 Tests.Within a fortnight New Zealand will be acclaimed the greatest side ever when they beat Australia in Auckland to register their 18th consecutive Test victory.There is more chance of Donald Trump becoming a suffragette than of the Wallabies winning at Eden Park in Auckland.The New Zealand production line shows no signs of ever being on a go-slow. Goodbye Dan Carter. Hello Beauden Barrett.Adieu Richie McCaw. Welcome captain Kieran Read. That transition is no fluke. It has been choreographed for years.That is what England and the rest are up against. They are not playing 15 against 15. They are 15 up against 4million. - ©The Daily Telegraph..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.