"The simple art of rugby when a classically trained New Zealander runs the show."

[yojimbo]

Super 12 journeyman a European star

By Toby Robson
Dominion Post
Friday, December 10, 2004

David Holwell has been labelled the most influential first five-eighth in
Europe by former England first five-eighth Stuart Barnes.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Barnes said Holwell's form for Leinster in
the Heineken Cup illustrated a "yawning" technical gap between backs from
the southern and northern hemispheres.

"It was not the sight on Saturday of New Zealand's second string beating the
Barbarians...that brought home the point," Barnes wrote.

"It was the influence of a 29-year-old New Zealand journeyman in this
season's Heineken Cup.

"David Holwell, the former Wellington Hurricane now a Leinster player, is
quietly cementing his position as the most influential flyhalf in the
Heineken Cup."

Holwell left New Zealand in September after a career that spanned a decade
including six years with Wellington and the Hurricanes.

Since arriving at Leinster he has sparked their attack, leading them into
the Heineken Cup playoffs.

Last week Holwell scored 29 points as Leinster beat French club Bourgoin
92-17.

A first five-eighth from Europe would not have a similar impact in the Super
12 according to Barnes, who rates Holwell's positional play as superior to
other leading first five-eighths in the Heineken Cup, including England's
Charlie Hodgson, Ireland's Ronan O'Gara, and former Kiwi league
international Henry Paul.

"Holwell, uncapped, is quietly galvanising an exciting and accurate Leinster
backline with nothing flashier than pure technique," Barnes wrote.

"What is he doing that is so different to Europe's elite 10s? Standing in
the right position. It is as simple and as difficult as that."

Barnes compared Holwell to All Blacks incumbent Daniel Carter, saying both
stand at the right depth.

"Holwell occupies the right clumps of turf and the result is the balance
Leinster are bringing to their attacking game.

"The shape of the Irish province's attack has multiple dimensions. Holwell's
mates come on to his promptings from depth.

"That is the key. Once the gain line is breached, width becomes an easy
option.

"That is the simple art of rugby when a classically trained New Zealander
runs the show."

http://www.rugbyheaven.smh.com.au/articles/2004/12/09/1102182423010.html?oneclick=true

[yojimbo]

(I couldn't quite believe an Englishman wrote those things, so did a quick
check. Here's the full text of Barnes' article...)

New Zealand journeyman shows the way

By Stuart Barnes
Daily Telegraph (Filed: 06/12/2004)

England may be the world champions but, technically, the gap between
hemispheres remains yawning, at least in terms of the basic skills of back
play. Until that gap is bridged it is odds-on that England's victory in
Australia will be nothing but a freak Northern Hemisphere occurrence,
despite overwhelming English and French advantages in terms of player
numbers and size up front.

It was not the sight on Saturday of New Zealand's second string beating the
Barbarians - they are a concept that is little more than a mercenary force
these days - that brought home the point. It was the influence of a
29-year-old New Zealand journeyman in this season's Heineken Cup.

David Holwell, the former Wellington Hurricane now a Leinster player, is
quietly cementing his position as the most influential fly-half in the
Heineken Cup.

Sure, Stephen Jones and Charlie Hodgson are not playing in this tournament
and Jonny Wilkinson is sidelined, but could anyone imagine, say, Andy Goode,
a very decent English fly-half, exerting such authority on the Super 12?

Not a chance. Many of the British international threequarters would struggle
for a Super 12 contract in New Zealand because British skill levels behind
the scrum are feeble in comparison. Holwell, uncapped, is quietly
galvanising an exciting and accurate Leinster back line with nothing
flashier than pure technique.

Nobody is getting carried away with the drubbing of a Bourgoin team who
decided to treat the Heineken Cup as an intrusion on the French scene. Yet,
as in the victories against Treviso away (looking better by the day) and
Bath in Dublin, Holwell's authority was the silent foundation from which
Brian O'Driscoll and company set sail for the try line.

What is he doing that is so different to Europe's elite 10s? Standing in the
right position. It is as simple and as difficult as that. Positional play is
the first tenet of being a No 10.

Too flat, as Hodgson's critics say he plays, and a tactical kicking game is
nigh impossible, too deep as Ronan O'Gara was forced by the relentless Paul
Volley on Friday night in Castres, and the backs will be blunted behind the
gain line. Holwell occupies the right clumps of turf and the result is the
balance Leinster are bringing to their attacking game.

Bourgoin are not France, but the way Leinster attacked in their faces from
the first minute onwards was a reminder of what New Zealand did to French
national opposition a week earlier. Daniel Carter, the calm in the eye of
the storm, kept the All Blacks up to their work purely by maintaining the
attacking shape of the team.

Holwell does likewise for his team. Leinster, with foundations in place and
ample firepower, like New Zealand, need to work on ensuring quick possession
from their pack. If they succeed, glory beckons.

The shape of the Irish province's attack has multiple dimensions. Holwell's
mates come on to his promptings from depth. That is the key. Once the gain
line is breached, width becomes an easy option.

That is the simple art of rugby when a classically trained New Zealander
runs the show. Then there is the Gloucester way, when the man who was picked
to transform England, Henry Paul, controls operations.

Holwell lures his runners on to the ball from deep, Paul sights them wide;
Gloucester try to create holes by going back and forth. They should look for
attackers to punch up and down the pitch before going across it. But Paul is
happiest standing flat-footed and playing laterally, searching for space.
Holwell's outside men find it by coming on to the ball at a pace that
lateral Gloucester cannot match.

Paul is talented but still lacks the knowledge of rugby union. That is why
he was never the right choice for England. It seems the management are quick
learners, but the fact that he was chosen in the first place is a vivid
reminder that if New Zealand achieve parity up front, the rest of their
opponents are playing for second.

http://www.pressoffice.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;sessionid=UCMEBZF0QOLC3QFIQMFSM54AVCBQ0JVC?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2004/12/06/srbarn06.xml&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=83972

[Uncle Dave]

Don't worry, there are no shortage of Englishmen worshipping at the
same All Blacks Good All Else Bad shrine. This is why the ABs,
regardless of any current reality, always enter the RWC as hot
favourites.

I think Barnsey is OK and knows his stuff but I do sometimes wonder
whether he's got a hardon when he commentates on the ABs...

Yes, and don't worry either that at some time in the future you will
find something by him that you can slag off a la Jones.

Cheers

UD

[Mr Scebe]

Post by yojimbo
A first five-eighth from Europe would not have a similar impact in the Super
12 according to Barnes,

Except if he went to Boreland.