A simple thing

If my hand was really that big Mr Johnson and I might have become acquainted, as proportionately I would be about 7'8" tall and weighing in at 25 stone. Quite a useful addition to the England squad, but I was born a Mick and may have had to think hard about where my loyalties lie.

Scoff if you wish, but how many chaps of a certain generation are there reading this who once played Rugby at school, then Uni, or the services or for their local club, without progressing beyond the familiar comfort zone? How many of us reckon "we were overlooked?" My rugby friends from school, are still in touch. Especially "Dino" for some unfathomable reason he supports "Glawster." A bunch of us met up a few years ago in a Dorset pub after going our separate ways in 1970. Nothing had changed, we were still recognisable, still easy company but above all we were friends. Dino walked in and I shook his hand, bought him a beer and just asked, "Well, how are you Dino?" He burst into tears. Nobody had called him Dino since our last days at school.

We all reckon we could do what Wilkinson, Moody et al get up to, but deep down know our limits. My 3 year old grandson has never heard of limits. So when I gave him his first real rugby ball yesterday he was overjoyed. He is unafraid of the future, the work and training required. He automatically passes with two hands, yet can hold this ball in one of his huge paws.

So if you are a Premiership coach, looking for suitable material give me a bell, I may have a Lewis Moody of the future in the making.

There is something about the game that imbues those who play it with a sense of sportsmanship, strength, regard for others and a willingness to help assist those who are the sport's future. There are, equally, brutes, and a few cowards who will take a cheap shot at an unprotected player. They are a minority and quite easily dealt with. The majority remain some of my greatest and most trustworthy friends. As I informed a neighbour this morning; I once played for the Amphibious Training Unit Royal Marines against a team from Portland Borstal. At one point the ball was passed to me; I have never scored a faster try. Those lads were out for blood, to hear them behind me pounding the grass made me realise what a fox feels like.