Hypnotist could help Larkham
By Peter Jenkins
June 25, 2007

AUSTRALIA coach John Connolly was urged last night to hire a hypnotist to have five-eighth Stephen Larkham at his best for Saturday's showdown with New Zealand in Melbourne.

Former Australia team kicking coach Ben Perkins claimed Larkham - out of sorts with the boot against South Africa last week - has the ability to be a big-punting match-winner.

"But he's a confidence player," Perkins said, who quit in indignation this season when the Australian Rugby Union offered him severely reduced terms to stay on the Wallabies' staff.

"You need a hypnotist in there to tell Stephen he's capable of doing anything, to reinforce for him that he is a genius.

"I've seen him kick superbly in Test matches. He can do it.
"But he needs to believe in himself and trust his technique.


"When he stands tall and swings with a fully-flying authoritative leg he's great.
"At times though, he gets jerky in his action and the kick is just not in the same class."

Perkins remains critical of ARU officials who "insulted" him with a poor offer, claiming that they had failed to grasp the importance of tactical kicking in the Wallabies' World Cup prospects.

It was an area that cost them field position and ultimately the match against the Boks in Cape Town.

"Football players are like golfers and tennis players," Perkins said.
"They need someone around to keep them on track.

"They could have their hips put off alignment, or some other small thing that can cause troubles to the end result.

"You've got to remember that even Tiger Woods has a coach."

Perkins argued that towards the end of last season, Chris Latham was acknowledged as the biggest and best line-kicking fullback in the world while Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlock and Cameron Shepherd had exceptional goalkicking strike rates.

But against the Springboks in particular, the general play kicking was well below par.

"Latham is well capable of doing it and they desperately need him back," Perkins said.
"He went from being a joke kicker to being the best in world rugby."

Perkins also lamented the lack of time the Wallabies have devoted to kicking in recent years.