'Wherever you go, that's where you are." I'm pretty sure Dr Kabat-Zinn, a PhD graduate in molecular biology from MIT, was not thinking of Clermont Auvergne fullback Nick Abendanon or Bath's Anthony Watson's counter attack when penning that phrase. More likely, as founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Clinic, he was referring to where the mind goes; but surely where that goes, the body will follow.
Is there a finer sight in rugby, sport even, than a back-three player pouncing on a loose ball and setting off. Eyes-up rugby is a phrase that implies that very ball carrier sees something magical. In reality, eyes-up rugby is when all 15 players see something magical before supporting the decision and direction of the ball carrier. This is a culture, not a switch.
Bath's fullback Anthony Watson and outside centre Jonathan Joseph are extremely special players, igniting not just their team-mates but the entire stadium. In Newstalk commentary last Saturday, I spoke at length about Joseph picking a loose ball and setting off from deep inside his 22. I erred in name-checking Joseph as it was Watson, but no matter – same outcome.
From my bird’s eye view, many options unfolded in my mind but pitchside, from a much narrower view, monster Matt Banahan also spotted the potential and ran from his left wing to where he assumed Watson would arrive. Banahan was spot on and he received a gentle offload before adding further yards.
Tantalising tries
These past few weeks have renewed my love of our game. Not only was there the grand finale of the
Six Nations
but last weekend’s European games showcased so many positive aspects of the sport: Leinster’s classic cup rugby over Bath brilliance, Connacht fighting back against Gloucester and Clermont’s four tantalising tries against Saints.
It was only in Stade Félix Mayol that I became slightly disillusioned. For back in May 2013 I desperately wanted Clermont to beat RC Toulon in the Heineken Cup final at the Aviva; they lost 15-16. Toulon, in beating Wasps, are now a hybrid of what Leinster were and what Leinster have become. Leinster will need both styles in Marseille – but more of that next Friday.
For many reasons it’s been an extraordinary week for Connacht with a season-defining round in the Pro12 coming up this weekend. The good news is Munster need to beat Edinburgh (one behind Connacht on equal points) in Scotland tomorrow tonight for top-four rights, but they also owe the Scots for that one-point loss in Thomond Park in September. Scarlets are three points behind Connacht on 40 points, and however poor they have been on the road, Zebre should offer them five points to make 45. Thus Connacht will need something from Ulster’s visit tomorrow to stay in the top six.
I noted last week how Munster had scored against Connacht with minimally accurate rugby and it was a similar story in the Gloucester game. At its core was Connacht’s kicking. Far too often in Thomond Park and again in Kingsholm Stadium the ball failed to find green grass but landed in Gloucester’s breadbasket. Charlie Sharples 20th-minute try came off a poor kick from Danie Poolman and worse one-up defending – 7-0. Ten minutes later James Hook displayed the deftest of kicks that required the oval ball to go one way, and although Connacht scrumhalf Kieran Marmion was tracking back perfectly, the bounce killed him – 14-0.
The first try was very soft. That the second came off Gloucester 12th phase tells of Connacht's inability to exit when in possession: wave after wave of cherry whites with Hook maximising by hitting the gainline, sucking in defenders, before dinking through. Had Connacht an accurate exit they would have saved themselves untold hurt. Last Friday I suggested that the key for Connacht lay with Jack Carty at outhalf knowing when to unlock his back three and when to find green grass.
Pressure defence
This is easier said than done, especially with Gloucester’s pressure defence. However, late decisions in Thomond Park and Kingsholm put him into poor receiving positions, whereupon his kicking accuracy dipped. It also forced him to carry too often in heavy traffic and miss better opportunities out wide.
Many Connacht players caught my eye last weekend, but one in particular. In Thomond, Dennis Buckley battled brilliantly with two props, finishing on Springbok BJ Botha. Likewise in Kingsholm he managed two tightheads in astonishingly playing the full 80 minutes. That the first was All Black John Afoa makes it two World Cup winners Buckley has encountered within a week, and in both cases he more than managed. Allied to his powerful scrummaging, his tackling and breakdown work was exceptional.
Contrast that all-in performance with his tighthead and now Irish international colleague Rodney Ah You and you will spot a gulf in workload. Too often Ah You was content in slipping from one pillar position to another as Gloucester mounted phases, while Buckley was buried deep in the activity.
Ah You's fellow international Robbie Henshaw certainly did lead by example. As the Gloucester onslaught flowed back into Connacht's 22, many tackles were made but only Henshaw consistently stopped the ball carrier dead or backwards. As for his future and with Mick Kearney heading east, it's crucial that Connacht make next season's Champions Cup.
If Connacht's outhalf makes early decisions, gets in the appropriate position to receive and execute well, Connacht can beat Ulster. "Wherever you go, that's where you are." liamtoland@yahoo.com
