Joe Marler’s headed ‘help’ for England in opposition to Japan had social media buzzing. However Clive Woodward did it for actual, as former Leicester team-mate Steve Kenney explains
Courtney Lawes’s attempt in opposition to Japan have to be the luckiest of the Rugby World Cup thus far. The England captain sauntered over after the ball was deflected into his path by way of a Will Stuart fumble and Joe Marler’s head.
“That’s Joe Marler’s greatest-ever help,” mentioned former England lock Ben Kay on the ITV commentary. Watch the attempt once more beneath.
A attempt in very weird circumstances 🌀
However it will not trouble Courtney Lawes! 🏉#RWC2023 | #ENGvJPN | @EnglandRugby pic.twitter.com/RfrgWPdfli
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 17, 2023
Former England boss Clive Woodward then revealed, through the post-match chat within the studio, that he used to practise heading the ball for a transfer he referred to as ‘Nobby Stiles’ throughout his beginner taking part in days at Leicester Tigers.
Properly, RW can shed extra gentle on that after doing an interview again within the day with Steve Kenney, the Tigers’ scrum-half from 1975-90. Kenney scored the profitable attempt within the 1979 cup last in opposition to Moseley and is now retired after working as an account supervisor for BT.
“I first performed with Clive with England Colts in 1974. He was my fly-half. I discovered him very likeable, assured. He was very certain of his personal capacity and his personal opinion,” Kenney instructed us.
“When he got here to Leicester, Clive added that further bit and moved us ahead one other tempo. He was fairly unorthodox in his thought course of, on the pitch and off it. Typically he would speak very sensibly, however generally he was so off the wall that you just puzzled whether or not it was genius or stupidity. He wasn’t restricted by standard pondering.
Woodward makes a deal with for Leicester in a 1983 cup match in opposition to Excessive Wycombe (Getty Pictures)
“He got here up with some actually wacky strikes. I keep in mind one Thursday coaching session when Clive created this transfer referred to as ‘Maradona’. I needed to go to Les Cusworth (fly-half), who handed excessive of Paul Dodge (inside-centre). Clive would soar up and head the ball in the direction of the goalposts in order that Dodge might run via the inside-centre channel, catch the ball and rating beneath the posts.
“Chalkie White (the coach) mentioned, ‘It would by no means work, don’t ever attempt it.’ However Clive mentioned, ‘Chalkie, it’s a assured six-pointer.” A attempt was price 4 factors then.
Come the Saturday and 20 minutes into the sport in opposition to Coventry, Les referred to as a Maradona. The ball skidded off the highest of Clive’s head into the arms of a Coventry participant, who ran up the opposite finish to attain. On the finish of the sport Chalkie had a face like thunder, however Clive instructed him, ‘I instructed you it could be a six-pointer!’
“And the transfer labored the next week.”
Typical Woodward, who after all went on to place his progressive pondering into the England crew and guided them to World Cup glory in 2003.
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