No.8

Out of the shadow of champions: Wynne Gray talks Buck Shelford, Zinzan Brooke, Rodney So’oialo, Kieran Read, Will Genia‘s rugby smarts as build up to a tough game of footy.–NZH.

I think if a no.8 is to improve in today’s rugby context, then to recapture the creative passion of Zinzan and Buck, who played rugby for the love of the crowd, the exhileration of high personal achievement shared in pride of team, beyond the big contracts of today’s rugby world is the way to go.

If a no.8 can see past the cocoon of today’s rugby and recapture even half of the passion that Zinnie and Buck played with, then their drive will improve out of sight, being in that zone and calibre of our rugby sporting greats. Shake off all previous victories and disappointments, to win. Stay in the momentum of creating new drive in the moment. Phase by phase, eighty minutes of hard out drive is what kids of rugby need to see, to equip them for what lies ahead in their futures. This way it’s more than rugby, that kind of drive – actually impacts and drives the nation’s psyche and culture, like the old days. How modern NZ culture was created that would then impact directly into the entrepreneurs and true creative drivers of our economy. We drive our destiny. Rugby’s role is to show that picture of a precise unit in confident condition, driving the line of play all the way to a decisive and relentless set of winning actions, moves and bold advancement.

Lord knows NZ needs to recapture that type of drive again. :)

~Posted by Horiwoodblog, Aotearoa New Zealand, Polynesia Asia-Pacific. 25.8.12~