The Union of Rugby

Even in the most hell-ish conditions, we believe this is the game played in heaven... the beautiful conflict... the treacherous waltz... the brutal chess... the union of rugby.

[theunionofrugby]

False Prophet?

Not a chance in hell!

Ewen McKenzie is the truth.

This is not the result we wanted, but it’s the result we needed.

Link's strategy was right, it was the execution that let him and the boys down in the end. ‘Boys’ being the operative word. A young team with the burden of the world on their shoulders. They needed to be baptised in fire. To purify the errors that incidentally marred their game.

The idea to ‘blood’ Cooper back in was brilliant and the insightful will appreciate its merit and its long term significance. Quade ‘the Oracle of Suncorp’ Cooper is the best fly-half in this country. Anyone doubting that does not clearly appreciate what the chief role of the fly-half is. I can assure you if your main advantage as a fly half is defence, then you are missing the whole point of the role. Defence just scrapes into what I consider the 5 core requisites of a great fly half:

Vision: the ability to see the game and know what you and your team need to do at each stage of the game and position on the field – thereafter to orchestrate those next steps.

Distribution: The ability to slot your back-line into gaps through ball distribution. From short deft passes to long wide passes – the whole gamut.

Kicking: both positional and place kicking. I’m still very much a traditionalist in that I think the fly half should often carry the burden of place and positional kicking.

Dexterity/Opportunism: I have amalgamated these into one but I am essentially meaning the ability to manipulate gaps for your own benefit i.e. finding a gap and taking it yourself as opposed to putting someone else into it.

Defensive Positioning: the operative word there is positioning. It is great if you can tackle but really its more how you commandeer your back-line into place defensively and anyone else (loose trio) to assist covering line gaps in broken play.

So please lets end the bickering about who should be no. 10. Using the above criteria, it is clear who should wear the no. 10. McKenzie knows this. But there are many reasons Toomua had to start. At a glance I would guess a couple:

Player Morale: As a head coach it’s important that form is rewarded and more often than not the determining factor in selection. For players to believe this they have to experience it. Toomua experienced it and will be eager to build on his ‘respectable-to-say-the-least’, if not somewhat bland, debut.

Strategic 1: We all knew the pressure would have been compounded considerably if the NZ enemy no. 1 had started. I would call this a brilliant strategic move on links part.

Strategic 2: the idea of going blow for blow until the game opens up to introduce a distributor into the foray to spruce up attack and exploit late game fatigue is self-explanatory I believe. Great idea.

Now that that is settled, I think if I were to give a brief review of the players it would be:

15. Jesse Mogg

I am beginning to fear that if there is a false prophet in the team, its Jessie. I think he has the most potential of the debutants, but just proving too unreliable and somewhat timid. 3/10

14. Israel Folau

Folau’s plight I fear is tied into the no. 10 plight. Until we have a solid distributor that can create holes and plays that get his back-line into gaps and generally moving forward, he will struggle. Yes he should look for more ball but wingers are primarily finishers not hunter gatherers. 3/10

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper

I have always rated AAC but lamented his struggles in forma  couple of season ago. I think he is an outstanding player that speaks with his performance. 8/10

12. Christian Lealiifano

Outstanding on the boot and coming into his own in general play. The try he cost was largely an issue between 9 and 10 if you ask me. Sloppy back-line organisation and poor communication between passer and receiver. For that reason I can’t hold the try against him. 8/10.

11. James O'Connor

I liked him at full back. I think he was safe under high ball and showed what he can do if given half a gap. More of him at 15 please. 6/10

10. Matt Toomua

My biggest issue with Toomua is that he is renowned for what I generally consider the least of the core skills I would like to see in a number 10. Defence. Our back-line was struggling for direction, creativity and as a unit we lacked the right field position to mount any pressure. This is essentially where we lost the game (aside from the obvious defence issues). Sorry. I think he is just not ready to start. His form warrants a bench spot though. 3/10.

9. Will Genia

I think the new scrum laws got under his skin a bit. And that threw his game off. A solid night none the less, but unto whom much is given, much more is expected. 6/10.

8. Ben Mowen

I love this guy. But as in the case with Will, I expect more from him because of that. I believe he should actually be the captain and not Horwill. Sound game. But we want more. 6/10.

7. Michael Hooper

Easily the best Wallaby player on the park. Industrious at the breakdown and a nuisance in attack. Typical for the modern flank I guess. Better than McKaw on the night. 8/10.

6. Hugh McMeniman

A previously huge fan slowly starting to doubt if he has it in him to perform consistently at test level any more. Liam Gill had more impact off the bench than Hugh’s whole game. Bring in Kane Douglas I say. 3/10.

5. James Horwill

I’m concerned about big Kev. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I am just no longer convinced he is our man to lead us. Mowen is the natural choice in my humble opinion. James had a very quiet game. We expect more. 4/10.

4. Rob Simmons

I was very happy to see him contribute more in broken play and very happy with his line-out, but most impressed by his tight play. Best game his played in the green and gold for a while. 7/10.

3. Ben Alexander

I’m concerned here too. I like Ben. He has been a good servant to the wallabies but I am thinking he has given his best to us already. That kid Sio is by far better than him on form currently. Broken and tight play. 4/10.

2. Stephen Moore

I am beginning to see this position as a problem for us. Stephen is always putting in solid performances but what all the major competition has in common nowadays is that this position has marquees players! Think SA’s Adriaan Strauss, NZ’s Hore or Mealamu... In Tatafu’s absence, we need more here. While Saia is great in broken play, his tight work is a concern to me. 3/10.

1. James Slipper

Was generally happy with James. Sound game broken and tight. 7/10.

Bench?

All played reasonably well. Kuridrani showed potential but a few too many errors. I still think long term he is our man at 13. Quade showed enough for me to see him getting the nod to start the next test. Nick White was good too.

Key Match take aways:

Hookers need to learn how to hook again! All nations!

Link needs our trust, patience and commitment and he will deliver.

We have the team to do it. We just need the belief. We were literally half way there!

The all blacks are beatable.

Faith, composure, fearless attack and brutal defence are key to this.

I look forward to this weekend. Will we execute our vengeance, or will we be beaten to a pulp?

I’m tipping a much closer game. The team hungriest will take it.

I tip Wallabies by 3 points.

[theunionofrugby]

The Missing Link

Forth they have come. The King (Ewen) and his Oracle (Quade).

Mark my words this is the beginning of a golden age for Australian rugby.

Everything has aligned for this to be true. A period of prolonged anguish and despair at our mediocrity comes to an end. The prophesied one (Link) has finally been revealed and crowned and by default his Oracle comes with him. The Kingdom awaits his trumpets call to arms. A great War is at hand. A great victory awaits.

It would be remiss to speculate on tactics or strategy but if we know anything of Link we can be sure the Wallabies will have a specific strategy and tactics – not for each team only – but for each game with each team! This is the Link we know. We have seen this time and again with Link. His adaptability and ability to be brave when selecting tactics that will win a game. I look forward to seeing this in action at test level.

The mere energy around Link’s arrival is exactly what we needed as a nation. I love how everyone is collectively excited and optimistic once again about the possibilities.

Perception is reality. Another one of Link’s favourites.

We perceive we now have the right man. We perceive we have the right talent. We perceive Link has the right vision, strategy and tactics. We perceive we are ready for a golden age.

All that’s now left is for it to become reality.

If ever we will have a golden age – a period of vastly superior display of rugby and results - this is the time in which we can establish it and this is the man who can deliver it.

However, for every great hero, there is needed a great villain. We all know the All Blacks are our perennial foe. Enmity sown in ages immemorial. Eternal enemies. Just like the Lions and Hyenas of the African Savannah's.

But right now, for the first time ever, the All Blacks are vulnerable. Their coach Stephen Hansen calls it development. I call it a turning point. Their armour now has many kinks. Their most fierce warriors are now aged and have lost their aura. The up and coming talent has no real bite behind its bark. Threatening yes – but not terrifying.

This may seem trivial to the lay observer but to the student of the game this is a devastating blow to the All Blacks. One of the keys to their dominance is that by name alone they win 60% of their battle before a team is even selected. Once the team is named, they are 80% there. They have only to pitch up on the day and are almost assured victory. Against any opposition.

But this aura is now fading. The heritage is there. Its rich. Its permanent. For now. We think.

But when your enemies grow in confidence – warranted or not – only a devastating defeat can put them back in their place. So this makes their predicament even worse. Anything less than a thorough beating of the Wallabies will be of major concern to them because a narrow loss will tell us the storm is over. Our golden age is at hand. We have but to wrest it from their hands.

On August 17th 2013 the first battle will be fought. Link will conjure up all his alchemy. The new machinery of war (insert your latest talent you believe will shine under Link e.g Folau, Mogg, Mowen, Sio etc) will be unleashed. His Chieftains (Genia, Ioane and Horwill) will be terrible in their wrath. His Oracle (Quade) will reveal magic no human eye has ever seen.

For the first time the All Blacks will know fear. Consistent defeat. Despair. Hopelessness. Their hearts will cave in. Turmoil will prevail.

And a new Golden Era of Australian rugby will have dawned on us.

Do you hear that? The bells of war are ringing. War is preparing.

All because of a prophecy concerning a hidden king.

Did you know of this king?

Did you know his name.

Because if not… open your eyes:

Forth he has come.

[theunionofrugby]

The Curious Case of Robbie Deans

Robbie Deans is a great man.

I don’t know him personally, but with the scrutiny he entered his coaching role with in Australia which has never left him but only increased each step of the way forward (or backwards sometimes), he has always presented his case honourably, concisely and in a very mature and balanced way. He is articulate enough in his analysis of defeat and to some extent victory as well. For the way he carries himself and the integrity he displays in the office he holds, I call him a great man.

Robbie has never played to the charms of the media or fuelled any speculation concerning himself, his tactics, his team, his selections and anything else that the media and blog-o-sphere tends to pick on with the opportunism of carrion foul. He has in fact always seemed to be the calm and wizened voice of reason and balance in the raging contentions of the day. You would expect that from an accomplished coach who has contributed as much as he has to the game of rugby. 

I believe Robbie has suffered, amongst other things,  some simple bad luck that ultimately became the wedge between people understanding his overall goals and intentions and how he planned to see us there. I believe in the early stages of his carrier with us, he just didn't have the personnel. For many reasons: injury, under performance, lack of availability etc. But when the pool increased in volume and quality, he for some reason chose to ally himself with those who had a history of not delivering for him – which dumbfounded a lot of people – when there was a groundswell of new and maturing talent now at his disposal. There were also a few veterans we should have done more to keep. This was the baffling issue; the inexplicable reasons as to why he would seemingly have ‘falling outs’ with some of his players, move them on, and no real clear reasons as to why they are no longer being selected (yes Matt Giteau I am looking at you).

Then the final straw we are all waiting for… the Quade Cooper issue. That Cooper was not even in the larger squad at the beginning is clearly a personal matter on Deans part and nothing else. Anyone saying Deans was right in leaving him out is lying to themselves. It was an embarrassing if not disgraceful omission of talent for such a crucial event.

Why is it that a provincial coach (Link) can consistently get the best – both on and off the field – of a player that seems to ‘have an attitude problem’ at national level? Why is it that when he was outspoken about a toxic culture at the Wallabies, there was more of a push to silence him than to actually understand what he was saying and why? Why is it that such an accusation was all but confirmed as a Deans stigma by one of the Legends and undoubted greats of the game (Richie McCaw) in his biography, but largely inconsequential to our consideration of his performance?

On the note of performance, Deans has been clinical in his defining of what is required in terms of performance for his players, why are we not asking the same of him? Were the likes of Eddie Jones (who I believe to be a great coach too) offered such seeming leniencies in their tenures? No.

So if we look at the Robbie Deans issue devoid of emotion and our fondness of him and his perceived virtues we are left with 3-4 and possibly more criteria by which we can determine whether he should go or stay:

Performance (What win/loss percentage are we saying is acceptable)

Strategy and Tactics (what is our performance and track record saying about our strategy and coaches vision?)

Player Management (including performance, culture and also selection i.e. has he selected based on form). Possibly anonymous player satisfaction polling? (I don’t buy that Quade was alone in his feelings. The ones who spoke up in support of Deans did so because of their co-dependence. They seemed cornered really) and then the matter disappeared!

My results would be:

Performance – let his record speak for itself. What? Just below 60%?

Strategy and Tactics – too many losses (winning just 2 of 17 matches against All Blacks is unacceptable)

Player Management – ? anonymous player polling should help illuminate us. I'm sure they back him mostly but all things being considered it would be remiss to not explore all options to try and understand why we are struggling.

Robbie Deans has been a good servant for Australian rugby. I think we all largely agree on this. But with such a record and with the World cup not too far away, are we so unreasonable to be asking for regime change? Are there not just enough competitions looming (Rugby Championships, Spring tour etc) for a new coach to test his new vision? Deans had a good vision for Australian Rugby. We believed this. But that vision has largely been found wanting. Opposition coaches with better visions prevailed.

But sometimes the vision and its fulfilment don’t meet. Best laid plans… Fate was not kind to him in terms of his goals. His vision was sound. But sometimes the vision of a coach isn't enough. Once the results are tallied up and look something like Deans’, action must be taken and a new vision must be pursued. This means our number one task must be to find this new coach and understand then embrace his vision.

Do you know of such a man?

Do you know his name?

Then name him.

And forth he shall come.

[theunionofrugby]

Lions defeat Wallabies in The Battle of ANZ!

Flash Forward. (pls note this article was written a few days before the test when O'Driscoll gate raged)

It’s Sunday the 7th July 2013. But for a moment see it as medieval times.

For such was the battle we witnessed. I’ve never seen anything like this. No one has. The streets are flooded with Red. No not blood. Lions Supporters. The celebrations haven’t stopped. They swarmed on Sydney in the week leading up to the final test like an army of Locusts. Equally devastating with their gnawing teeth (critique at their own management) as with the deafening sound of their humming wings (war cries and taunts to the Australians – wallabies and general public alike mind you!). I mentioned this in my previous post: unto the victor go the spoils. This seemingly endless celebration is what the victor looks like as he enjoys the spoils.

This is beyond gloating. A great justice has been served in their minds. An unimaginable wrong, righted. The Horwill incident that burned like fire in their hearts, is now quelled. The wine of victory is the only balm for such burns. Gatland has gone from corrupt tyrant, to the most sacred status of the Oracle King – the prophet whose selection master stroke has elevated him higher than all mortals. Their accusations against him now seem like the ignorant bickering of stubborn and spoilt brats that didn’t know any better. Gatland walks past them in benevolence waving, shaking hands, kissing baby heads. Forgiving his delinquent subjects for their doubt; he reveals a grace only royalty should know. No. This is no man.

Roberts and Davies, the mighty battle-scarred warriors who rose to fame on many battlefields, let alone yesterdays, having slaughtered entire armies together are now seen as King Gatland’s trusted generals, who executed the most infamous of justices when they over threw their old master (O’Driscoll) by the sheer power of their might in a coup before battle. Yes, their ordered (by King Gatland) deposition of the favoured son of the land is now seen as a justice that was too noble for mere mortals to understand;  such divine judgements often are.

This is a sweet victory. But God giveth, and God taketh away. He gave to the Lions. From the Wallabies – He took away.

Deep in the subterranean dungeons of pain and agony where the defeated reside, the wallabies are rallying around their King (Deans) who though having laid out his best plans, was ultimately out played by a master strategist. The Oracle King of Wales (the first ever non-native born king of their land). Word is these two kings were born in the same land many years ago and honed their craft in battle together. But in this battle there could be only one victor. It was not Deans.

The wallabies put on a valiant effort. One of their greatest performances robbed only of glory by the fact that they lost. The true and tried warrior George Smith’s gargantuan feats could not save his team – as mythical as they were. Neither did the speed and might of Folau, valiant though he was, the defence of the Lions was as impenetrable as it has ever been. Breaches found last week were nowhere to be found; the Lions defensive effort was more miserly than scrooge himself. The people (Australians) are humbled in their defeat and are nowhere to be seen. The streets are Red. Of locals - empty.

In the hidden places, there are some who are questioning the strategy and military tactics of King Deans. There are those too who have asked whether the royal blood line runs true in him. Secret counsels reveal the prophesy of old is being spoken amongst the people with growing voice. The words of the seer who prophesied that a great King (who legend has it will be the Link between all the provinces in our kingdom) will arise amidst the ashes of defeat to renew our kingdom. Widespread discontent as to why some of our mightiest warriors were unassigned in this battle and sent away has people seeking the meaning of this prophecy and looking for this king. Cries echo in the valleys of the dead for the return of the forsaken warriors - chief among these being the Wizard of Suncorp (Quade Cooper) who is widely regarded as the greatest oracle of his time. Legend tells that this oracle will be the herald of this great king. Do you remember the prophecy?

“In the cold land of his birth (VIC) he shall not rest. North (NSW) shall his feet take him.

Though silver he shall win them (super rugby finals contention) his masters shall forsake him.

Over wide seas he shall sail (France), only to be born back by great winds. Further North (QLD) he shall travel to Gold and great wins.

Forth he shall come. The mariners sing. Wisdom and Courage he’d bring.

From battle to battle – uniting his people. Born a mere man destined to be King.”

However, the Battle of ANZ Stadium shall long be remembered. A great king (Gatland) descended on our shores with mighty warriors who roared like rampaging Lions and subdued our kingdom to his reign. Our resistance was fierce - brutal, but fruitless in the end…

So  I remain… the lost poet… the last scribe…. Crying out into the darkness against the horrors to come (rugby championship, end of yr tour)

Asking all who will give me ear… have you seen them. The hidden king and his oracle…

But none answer me..

They know not such men.

Men with no names.

Forth they shall come?

That remains to be seen...

[theunionofrugby]

The Under Analysis of Victory

It would be remiss of me to not wholeheartedly congratulate the wallabies on a great comeback win! It take resolve of steel to pry victory out of the jaws of defeat. The wallabies showed immense courage and resolve and much can be said about James ‘Man of Steel’ Horwill’s leadership in those dying minutes to go for the scrum when 3 points were there for the taking. I tip my hat to you Big Kev. To the whole team really. It was a solid performance where I had thought they would be put away.

But now time for the hard and seemingly hidden facts. That game should not have been close.

We tend to be so relieved when we win close matches we seldom give enough thought to a very important question: ‘why was the match close in the first place’. 

Well yes there are some obvious reasons, such as

The opposition – (best laid plans and all – in this case the blistering defence offered by the lions)

The occasion – (never undermine the thought of what’s at stake and how that impacts good judgement and thinking)

The preparation – injury recoveries etc

The conditions – how did the weather affect the actual game or the preparation for it. 

To name a few.

We will not outkick this Lions team. Say what you like about Lealiifano’s amazing boot – and it truly is shaping up to be a formidable weapon for the wallabies. But there is a reason Half-penny is feared all over the world. At 90%+ in internationals (not super rugby – but 6 nations) you have to be certain that he will punish you any infringement you make in your half. And while we’re at it, I believe the Lions only lost because Brian O’Driscoll made the wrong call at the end.

I believe had Warburton stayed on he would have tapped that penalty again and tried to draw closer before dealing the death blow. A wallaby infringement was a higher percentage play than that distance. That would have been the right call. Because it was clearly not in Half-Penny’s range particularly on the night where distance had already troubled him. The winning play was tap again and hold onto possession. This is actually a call I believe Horwill would have made too!

But getting back to the point. Why was the game close? Because we are suffering from a severe deficiency at fly half. I have no problem with O’Connor being in the team. None at all. He is a proven talent. Not a proven 10. If anything he is proven in his incapability in that position. O’Connor is a master at manipulating gaps, not creating them. And please don’t cry out that he delivered the last pass to a try that even a one armed and one legged blind mute with impaired hearing could have delivered. That is reaching.

O’Connor should be at wing in place of Tomane with Tomane coming in off the bench. Tomane for all his potential, has just a timid way about him on that field that concerns me. Which is more painful to fathom when you consider the potential he has. Nerves are part of the game. Unless you master them you will never perform in any global sporting arena!

We are fearsome out wide and our back 3 are arguably the most threatening (as a unit) in the game right now. Swap O’Connor and Tomane and we have a frightful proposition that is a mixture of pace, ball running, ball playing and brute strength, speed and supernatural dexterity in Folau. His body movements are those of a ballerina. But so is a tornado when looked at from afar. He is equally devastating too.

This brings me right back again to the point I am trying to drive home. We need a distributor. We need a distribution weapon that strikes fear in the heart of the defender the moment the ball is in his hand; for the simple reason that if he himself does not deal you your death blow, he has a spell on his fingertips to enable any one of his counterparts to to deal that blow instead. We need such a mage. An alchemist. A seer. A wizard. 

I know such a man…

This man has a name.

His name is Quade "The Oracle" Cooper.

[theunionofrugby]

The Red Wedding

I never read the Game of Thrones books. Quite frankly since reading the works of Tolkien (and no I didn’t support the movies as I am a purist!) any fantasy literature is just unpalatable for me. Having tasted the finest Merlot does one then ply themselves with Victoria Bitter? No.

But I do watch the Game of Thrones TV series religiously and in this 3rd season I watched – in a weird state of extreme horror and adulation combined – the infamous episode titled “The Red Wedding”. I will not spoil it for anyone who has not seen it but suffice it to say the red signifies blood. Let your imagination do the rest…

While we are on the note of red and blood, I had similar visions and portents concerning the Lions tour – yes, you guessed it – red and blood? Nightmares of massacres and mauling’s, visions of savage brutalities on the rugby field by the army of lions robbed me of sleep and I blamed that episode that I had watched.

That was not the case. Those portents were concerning the days to come. Test 2 of the tour. The game in which I believe the Wallabies will be put to the sword. Sadly. And I say sadly because as an Australian, I am an avid supporter of my team, but more than the team I am a true fan of the game. And unto the victor should always go the spoils. What then the defeated?

The answer to that question is the answer to the question of personnel. Yes, players and management.

This is a very painful question to answer because it is clear that Australia has some fantastic talent and depth available to us this season. We have seen some players come into their own (Speight, Mogg, Pyle, Neville) mature (Higginbotham, Simmons, Mowen, Lealiifano) others grow (Hooper, Gill, Tomane, Toomua) and we have also seen some new talent (Kyle Godwin, Scott Scio, Cam Crawford) sprout and take leaf. We even successfully imported from another code - Folau! I’d be remiss to not give a nod to the veterans too such as Will Genia, Digby Iaone, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Big James Horwill, TT Polota Nau, Ben Alexander, Rod Moore etc.

It must also be noted we had some big names come back from equally big injuries such as the omniscient Will Genia, Quade Cooper, James Horwill etc. I have no doubt we have the requisite talent to pull from. So on the note of personnel, we have an abundance to pull from.

What we do not have, sadly, is the selection capability. I have seldom seen selection at international level go as awry as that of Robbie Deans this year. So this means we have identified where the personnel problem in the Wallabies is. Management and Coaching.

Could someone kindly educate me as to why the following are in the Wallabies Squad:

Wycliff Palu

Nick Phipps

Rob Horne

And why these are not:

Kyle Godwin

Scott Sio

Hugh McMenniman

George Smith

Nothing outside of Deans stubbornness and pride are keeping Quade Cooper out of the Wallabies. He is Australia’s best fly half and most potent attacking threat at 10. When you have as potent a back 3 as Folau, Beale, Iaone/Tomane what you need in your 10 most is supernatural vision and distribution. In the modern game there is maybe only one other 10 that can equal Quade (Carter). That’s it. Nothing more to be said. And this weekend we will learn the cost of that pride. AAC will not play a full game. Neither will Lealiifano. Ginea will be shut down. Folau will receive little ball. We will be mauled.

Then the cries will go out for Deans head.

You see the game of rugby is not so dissimilar to the Game of Thrones. Great armies need not only great generals on the field to be effective, they also need great leadership i.e. the King on the throne to determine effective strategy. Yes, they need seasoned generals who are up to the task and not shadows of yesteryear, but they also need young and energetic warriors too, that have new advantages, ideas and strategies.

They need wise counsel in their ears. They need supernatural powers/beings to assist them (yes I am thinking of Quade and Will Genia too). Those rare talents that are bestowed upon few mortals. The political machinery possessing powers beyond belief and the sinister ‘king-makers’ lurking in the shadows ready to ply their trade at every opportunity (yes TV commentary teams I am looking at you – kindly albeit).

Because you see, Kings rise and fall. The worthy and deserving are slain and discarded with all the tenderness and decorum of a starved pig released to feed. But while kings change the kingdom doesn’t always. There are still people in it. And their beliefs and passions need tending. Deans will go. But we as a rugby loving legion of fans will remain. The Wallabies will remain.

Who then shall we look to for guidance in that most darkest of hours…. To raise the banner anew… to speak hope to the masses… to show courage and hope to the downtrodden… to share vision and mentor-ship to his generals… and to rebuild the army that will ravage the Rugby Championships/World Cups/Spring Tours etc. and restore former glory…

I know such a man...

This man has a name:

Ewen “Link” McKenzie.

Forth he shall come.