#stuart barnes

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Stuart Barnes - 'In Europe we are grateful for the scraps that fall into our laps from the over-abundant plate that is professional New Zealand rugby'

Stuart Barnes wrote, the Sunday Times, May 20 2017: "If you want to understand the magnitude of the forthcoming challenge facing the British & Irish Lions, think Jimmy Gopperth. The 33-year-old New Zealander has enjoyed an outstanding season. In the twilight of his career he has kicked goals under pressure, created and made tries. He has been the catalyst for his club that he could never have been for his country. Gopperth travelled north in the knowledge that playing for the All Blacks was an aspiration beyond his reach — in the same way that Nick Evans, one of the dominant English club fly-halves of the past decade, headed for Harlequins, seen off by Dan Carter. Evans was an All Black, but he would never be the All Black 10. And there’s no shame in missing out to the greatest fly-half of this era. But Gopperth was nowhere near the New Zealand team. He was a very good player in the Hurricanes team but few thought he could take the next step. He was a good Super Rugby player but there’s no chance he would have won the accolades he has in recent weeks. This month, he was voted the RPA player of the season. An average Kiwi down under is an outstanding professional up here. Has Gopperth improved that much? Or is the standard of European club rugby so far below its equivalent south of the equator that average in New Zealand equates to excellence up here? Last week the Wasps fly-half/centre was also voted the Aviva Premiership player of the season. There are plenty of players in New Zealand who are as talented as Gopperth, players who will be queuing up for a crack at the Lions. A quick glance around the room at the RPA awards emphasised the quality and awe in which New Zealand rugby is held by our players. Nick Evans was a worthy RPA recipient in 2012. The year before the award was scooped up by the big hands of Thomas Waldrom, in those days an influential Leicester player with a great feel for the game and an unerring ability to find his way to the try line. Farmed out to Exeter, he continues to be among the most prominent back row forwards in the Premiership. He would be nowhere near the Hurricanes back row. In 2008 another Wasp and RPA winner, Riki Flutey, played his way into the England set-up and a Lions tour spot. Flutey dazzled English supporters, he came off the bench for cameos with the Hurricanes. Good enough for England and the Lions, he was an average talent for his regional franchise. He followed another RPA winner, Glen Jackson, in 2007. Jackson had a terrific season. A smart brain, quick hands, an accurate boot. Here was a decent New Zealand fly-half with Waikato Chiefs. He was also voted the best player in the Premiership by his contemporaries. Bruce Reihana, a fellow Chief, wore the famous black jersey on three occasions. Another marvellous player but a second-tier All Black. Charles Piutau was voted the Pro 12 player of the season. Last season he waltzed into the Premiership Dream Team during his time as a Wasp. He is often described as “world class” despite missing out on the New Zealand World Cup squad. His decision to join Ulster after the World Cup played a part in Steve Hansen’s decision but he would have been a bit part player at best behind men such as Ben Smith, Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder. These men are world- class, the best on the planet. Here in Europe we are grateful for the scraps that fall into our laps from the over-abundant plate that is professional New Zealand rugby. George Smith, Vereniki Goneva, Seilala Mapusua and Pat Lam are other Super Rugby stars to have dazzled British rugby players and scooped the RPA Award. But right now Super Rugby is under the complete control of New Zealand rugby. Beyond and beneath the familiar faces and names of the All Blacks are an endless array of players with honed technique and physical talent. The posters that lined the walls of the RPA dinner were an ominous reminder of which country has the deepest pool of talent in world rugby. It may be four countries against one but the players of those four countries seem to have an endless respect for anything New Zealand. There is a reason. And that is a problem." See here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kiwi-cast-offs-shine-in-england-and-that-should-worry-us-dpbz8n3q0

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Stuart Barnes, Drawing

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Drawing, Stuart Barnes

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Stuart Barnes - 2011

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Stuart Barnes, blackouts from 'Disintegration' (from The Cure's album of the same name).

This is part 1 of 2. Part 2 is here. Click images for higher resolution.