You may think that driving fast may make a better driver. This was very much true when you were young and thought it was exciting to experience fast driving. It was good till you saw oncoming traffic that made your passage difficult ending your journey in a drain. The bumps and the bruises told you a lot more than you knew.
The Carlton Leg 1 to 2 gave the impression that there was some learning that made the local players off load and back up than try running at a speed but find there is nowhere to go other than into contact.
Listening to some of the coaches who were boastfully presented as some of the best in the world the word was that we had the skills and talent but need to be nurtured to play good sevens rugby. One area of focus for improvement they said was the breakdown.
It was told we did not play well at the breakdown point. It was also thought that the policing of the breakdown by the local referees need to be strengthened. From what I learnt was that there are two sides to a story; different to the repeated complaint that the failure at the breakdown point was due to poor refereeing. The need to move the ball away from the area of congestion and not keep it there or run from an area close to the breakdown point . Use the pocket as Martis will tell you time and again.
 |
| Carlton 7s in full flight |
Those who play at the base had the tendency to delay and or run from the base which should be an exception when a try can be scored. Support play and the use of depth as well as width was the difference of the winning teams and the local players who changed their style did well.
What surprised me was a player who is good at the base and loves his theatrics continued to act on the field while his team continued to be on the losing side on both legs and ended at the bottom. He continued the happening of the past and was at the receiving end of yellow cards in Kandy as well as in Colombo. It seems he never understood that to remonstrate when decision go against him will not be helpful as his team will be one man short.
The crowning part of the act of this dodo was when he was given a yellow card for tripping. One of the Japanese referees told the player was on the bench that tripping is dangerous and he may even get a red. The reaction of the player was “I defend and can do”. He then got up from the bench and extended both arms and stretched his leg to show what he did and said again “I defense ….nothing wrong”. It seems that the lack of knowledge of what he can and cannot do is what is spoiling the game of a player who does have the talent to perform.
What has been said and has been emphasized by the coaches is that we have some good talent and what is needed is to get them to good coaches and into a system. When I say this most will raise objection and say haven’t we coached them? This is not what I say but what has been said by the experts and posted on the net. You could easily listen, if you wish to.
I possibly think that we have to have our vision and objective set so that we could get where we want to be in the future. The Carlton Sevens composition and the tournament plan seemed to be some sort of a first time. It had a lesson for all including players as well as referees. While the play patterns exposed a lack of finish for sevens rugby the format exposed the inability of some to withstand the physical pressure of the number of matches they had to play. From leg 1 to 2 there were many injuries which increased as the 2nd leg was in progress.
Talk to most of the clubs as well as schools and you will find a trainer involved. There is a whole lot of work they do and follow impressive schedules. During the season, despite all work, I have seen players ambling from one point to another. This was more than evident in the C sevens that exposed the fitness levels. It looked as though the four games were too much. Sevens being a game where everybody is in the game all the time it is a must that you have to contribute to the whole game.
When the important people of rugby met questions were asked as to why foreign referees were brought believing that the locals did over 600 games in the season.
That’s a question you have to ask those who believe the anything that locals do are wrong. This was summed by a knowledgeable rugby coach and critic, “We bring foreigners to play as we cannot provide the excitement. We bring referees as our own are considered inferior.
Will we also have to bring foreigners if there are no crowds”. As we were at a wedding he pointed to the couple and asked when things don’t work in the domestic front will we have to call a foreigner”. His parting words were “anything foreign is what we like”.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB |
E-mail
