Feast of Full Backs (From Worcester News)

Feast of Full Backs

8:48pm Monday 15th September 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

This weekend sees the East Stand at Sixways, refurbished and re-named as Slick Systems Stand. It opens with just the seats in place, the debenture and corporate facilities are due to be finished later in the year. But what a feast of outstanding full backs will be on display on Saturday.

There are few players who inspire shock and awe in equal measure and the two 15’s on the resplendent Sixways Stadium pitch are, in my view, just the most complete full backs ever and I mean ever.Geordan Murphy has a habit of leaving spectators with their mouths agape, breathless at his ability to turn defence into attack from most anywhere on the pitch. With 2 tries already this season he looks to be in his usual devastating form. Whether it be in the green of Ireland or Leicester Tigers, when he gets the ball I get a real sinking feeling as you never know what will come next apart from... he will cause damage!

At the other end of the pitch on Saturday afternoon is Worcester’s legendary Aussie full back, Chris Latham, who is many rugby experts best ever full back, his counter attacking skills are of epic proportions. Again a full back the opposition hate to have to deal with. He has all the skills one could want in a 15, superb under a high ball, great positioning, a monster boot, tackles hard and just loves to run a ball back at the on rushing opposition.

Woe betides any player kicking waywardly into the arms of either legend as it will be returned with interest, either in hand or boot.

Now to say that the game on Saturday will only be about the two 15’s would be laughable, as there are delicious match up’s all over the pitch. Going by both teams starting 15’s last time out, on the wings you have Miles Benjamin and Chris Pennell of Worcester facing Tom Varndell and Matt Smith. The Worcester boys are young talented and somewhat unproven outside Sixways. England fans will know all about the speed of Tom Varndell and any winger that has earned a Tigers shirt has to be given respect, though I don’t know too much about Matt Smith, apart from what it says on the Tigers web site, he’s a product of the Tigers academy, one of the best in the country, so will be one to watch no doubt.

In the centre 2 old friends/adversaries will meet up on foreign soil. Sam ‘The Pocket Rocket’ Tuiputou and Tiger’s Aaron Mauger. Both All Blacks, both a long, long way from home and a real contrast in styles but the same devastating effectiveness. Sam is small powerful and the ultimate crash ball 12. He tackles like a man twice his size and with the ball, if you miss him he lives up to his other nick name ‘The Tongan Torpedo’ and seeks out the try line with unerring speed and accuracy.

Mauger, in contrast, is silky smooth, drifting through defences with ease, but not averse to taking his opposite number head on if need be.

The two 13’s are also an interesting matchup. The non-stop power pack that is Tiger Dan Hipkiss and Dale ‘The Enforcer’ Rasmussen who is the heart and soul of the Worcester Warriors defence. Hipkiss should be in the England team in my book, his work rate and commitment are second to none and has an irritating habit (when in a Tigers shirt) of popping up just where you don’t want him to be. Dale is the rock in Worcester’s defence but underestimate him in an attacking role at your peril. And mind your ribs if you have the ball!!

Toby Flood is new to Leicester Tigers but has slotted in very quickly at 10 since moving out of the shadow of Jonny at Newcastle. Lots of points already this season, he matches up to the Worcester new 10, Matt Jones. Both fly halves are finding their way in new teams but which one will make the most contribution to the day only time will tell.

Now the scrumhalves are both what, some may refer to as nuggety players.. In that they get right up your nose. Aggressive, combative and both darn quick, Ryan Powell and Harry Ellis will give no quarter nor expect none in return. Harry has already distinguished himself in the white of England and will deservedly be in the mix for the England 9 shirt this season and Ryan has worn the Red of Wales, so both have experience at the very top level of Rugby. Ellis was missed by Tigers last season and I don’t think it was any coincidence that their season was rescued from the ignominy of not qualifying for the GP playoffs with him at 9.

England seems to breed back row talent by the bucket load at the moment, and this weekend should see 4 young players who have worn or will wear the white of England in their careers. Worcester’s Tom Wood and James Collins at 6 and 7 respectively will be a match for Tom Croft and Jordan Crane at 6 and 8 for the Tigers. Collins given the chance at 7, due injury to Pat Sanderson, along with Wood and Warriors Fijian No 8, Netani Talei, gave Wasps back row a torrid time on Sunday. The 6th player in the mix is Tigers open side flanker, New Zealander Ben Herring. He is made in the tradition of NZ back rowers, fast, astute and a tackling demon.

The towering locks are the engine room of any pack. This promises a matchup between friends and old heads. (Sorry Ben and Greg!!) Will Bowley and Richard Blaze came through the Warriors academy together and as long as former Warrior Blaze recovers from an injury picked up against London Irish at the weekend, the two friends will contest the game on opposite sides of the scrum. They will be partnered by a pair of the best exponents of 2nd row rugby in the game, All Black Greg Rawlinson and England’s Ben Kay. Both very experienced and both more than capable of being a real thorn in the side at lineout time.

Rugby has a dark art and it’s in the denisions of the front row where it is practised. Never mind the flash and dash of the backs, this is where a rugby game it won and lost. Tigers have two England rugby icons in George Chuter and Julian White ably accompanied by Argentinean Marcos Ayerza, they will face the Togan ex-police officer Aleki Lutui, Welsh international Chris Horsman and academy graduate Matt Mullan. On paper Matt looks like the prefect in the staffroom, but he has spent the last season learning his trade from Tony ‘Reg’ Windo, there have to be few better exponents of the front row dark arts from whom to learn.

Sixways will welcome the new season of the Guinness Premiership after a loss and win courtesy of Northampton Saints and London Wasps respectively, the Warriors best start to a season to date. Leicester Tigers are unbeaten to date and their visits to Sixways are always relished and this year’s is no different.

So will the Slick Systems Stand ring with the name of an Aussie Legend or be hushed with a sharp intake of breath as Geordan Murphy take flight, time will tell. Let the best team win.... (please let them be wearing Gold an Blue!!!!!)