Wales rugby captain Ryan Jones on bulking up to win
words: Wil Gilgrass
photos: Eden Park
There has been a wide debate across the rugby universe surrounding the size of modern rugby players which has questioned a number of different aspects of the game.
The laws at the breakdown and the mentality of those who play at the top level are just some of the areas looked at as some see the game as turning into 15-man-battering rams lining up against each other, with the fear of defeat in the still relatively new professional era causing tight, cagey, low scoring affairs.
With fans and experts reportedly calling for a return to an exciting brand of rugby, the views of those inside the game see bigger and more powerful players as an inevitability.
Wales captain, Ryan Jones, said: “I think at times teams are churning out some fantastically big athletes which tend not to play too much rugby at an early age because they are spending too much time in the gym.
“It’s definitely the way the game is going.”
In particular, the Second Lions Test last summer has been highlighted as one of the most brutal games in recent memory. Five of the starting line-up for the tourists ended up in hospital, and this has been ammunition for groups calling for rugby players to slim down.
Within the game it seems implausible players will dramatically lose weight, and since defenders have been given more opportunity to interfere with the tackled player and ball in the ruck after the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) were ratified, it seems the game will continue to favour muscle over skill.
Cardiff Blues’ summer import from Australia, Sam Norton-Knight, sees it differently, instead suggesting it is perhaps the league structures which present advantages to stronger defenses, and greater risk for flamboyant football:
“I think because the season is so much shorter and so much more compact, bonus points are a lot more important in the Super 14,” he said.
“Because you only have 13 games and you play each team once, compared to the Magners League where you play each team twice, if you target a win, you’re pretty much right there.
“But if you do that in Super 14 it’s not always enough”.
The need to win in the professional era is crucial, as salaries, jobs and livelihoods rely on results and wins.
As Norton-Knight suggests, the need to win at any cost is paramount, and playing attractive rugby and scoring tries comes second. A coach would be more inclined to select a big, strong defensive option rather than risk the selection of a lightweight yet exciting attacker.
When on form, Wales play some great rugby, and they are blessed with world-class players such as Shane and Martyn Williams who facilitate this style of play.
However, when their careers begin to tail off, unless there is a return to the old laws by the IRB, or the mentalities of those at the top end of the game change, it is likely they will be replaced with alternatives who hold half the skill level, but carry twice the bulk.
A full Six Nations preview, including an interview with Ryan Jones, can be found in the Feb 2010 issue of Buzz magazine.