Stephen Larkham should stay with A-US-tralia
October 26th 2007 04:12
I haven't said a word about Stephen Larkham for a while now. I'm still in mourning and it hasn't broken.
By now we all know or should know that the Wallabies didn't win the Rugby World Cup and because they didn't win the quarter final, Stephen Larkham who had been nursing an injury, wasn't given the last chance to show his brilliant and beautiful form on a Rugby field in Wallabies colours.
It truly hit me a few weeks ago when I saw Berrick Barnes being interviewed by the RWC Channel 10 crew. No more. An
...but the worst thing about all of this, is the terrible and unforseen situation Larkham finds himself in at the moment.
The 102 test capped, most brilliant flyhalf/playmaker in the world is being forced to 'hawk' his talents around the world.
What should be happening is Larkham being forced to put up crowd control barricades and have bodyguards or the Secret Service to veto and cull all the offers being thrust open him, once his 'retirement' from professional Rugby came into play.
...BUT...through no fault of his own and certainly not because of his injury prone body (because he's been injured consistently throughout his career but still managed to excel), Larkham finds himself in Rugby-tory...out on a limbo...with clubs negotiating with him to "take it or leave it".
Let me put this in to perspective for you all.
It's like a dehydrated, parched dying human telling the water carrier/supplier in front of him to "take it or leave it".
When Larkham first announced his decision last year, I fainted. Oh and all the Rugby clubs were clamouring to sign him. He chose Edinburgh over French and English clubs, even though they offered him the least amount of money. He felt that the Scottish environment would be best for his family plus...Edinburgh needed him. He didn't say that. Everyone else did.
Howver, that contract fell through when Edinburgh Rugby Club was hit by financial woes and the Scotland Rugby Union almost immediately announced that they will not honour Larkham's contract. And they did it like the Howard government. With no apology.
To read more or to refresh knowledge, please read;
Stephen Larkham Will Not be Joining Scotland's Yard.
...and now we'll never know what Stephen looks like in a kilt. Och jimmy...life is cruel.
Larkham and his lawyers did appeal but no go. And now Larkham's managers are working to find a club that dosn't look a gift Brumby in the mouth.
For a while there it looked like some French clubs were very keen but...problem is, it's late in the season now and all the clubs have already spent their budgets and Larkham doesn't come cheap. A player of his calibre and experience can command up to A$850,000 a year. A bargain I say.
There was talk about Larkham playing for the SA's Western Province, Stormers, due to his friendship with Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus but that stalled befoer it started.
Toulouse, the heartland club of French Rugby, was one of the original offers and once the Edinburgh contract broke, thy did express their interest again but from a position of strength. It was on their terms.
Larkham wanted a 2 year contract. They wanted a 1 year contract.
...admittedly the negotiations were being done around the time Larkham was forced to drop out of the RWC due to the injury to his right knee (a day before the Wallabies v Wales match) but Larkham insisted that this shouldn't be a factor in his performance capacity.
If anything it was a bonus as the ensuing arthroscopy (surgical procedure) had restord movement to his leg that he had not had in years!
...but they didn't believe him and that all fell through as well as the interest Welsh club, Newport Gwent Dragons, expressed.
The Dragons claimed Larkham had accepted a better offer in Japan but Larkham revealed the Dragons pulled the plug on a deal last month after he was sidelined during the World Cup
Larkham said;
We were in talks last week but then I was told by my agent that they (the Dragons) were not interested any more.
One minute we were talking, then the next minute the offer was gone. Undoubtedly it was because of my injury.
One minute we were talking, then the next minute the offer was gone. Undoubtedly it was because of my injury.
So...Larkham's future is in Japan's hands now...a country that knows the value of veterans.
please read next post.
I know some of you may be thinking well, maybe he should retire, it's not like he needs the money and he does have a few qualifications/degrees in other things and he can go and pursue a career in those avenues.
Yes...sure...but he is only 33 and has still got a lot of Rugby in him.
The thing about Larkham is he 'came into' his yummy physique late in life...up 'til his late 20s he was lanky and considered quite scrawny (up 'til then it was just his mind that hooked my interest... see? I'm not shallow...) but he never hesitated to throw his body around like he was built like a Forward.
My point is...he still has the physical stamina to play Rugby. Maybe not on an international test match level...I think his body wants a rest after 12 years of being rucked, tackled and mauled endlessly...but certainly at club level in the Asian and European regions.
This is 'softer' Rugby...the ground is not as hard, the tacklers aren't as huge, the pressure is not as relentless...and Larkham hasn't had his 'fill'. Not just because he didn't play the remainder of the Wallabies time at RWC -he was going to retire no matter what- but because he knows that he is vintage and he only gets better with time.
Age shall not weary him.
...BUT...what I truly do not understand why the Australian Rugby Union is not jumping at the chance to utilise Stephen Larkham's mental stamina and prowess.
Why, when we have one of the world's greatest Rugby minds in our backyard, is Larkham being forced to negotiate with overseas clubs to let him play?
Why, when we have a problem with our coaching talents to the point we're searching overseas, is such a simple yet brilliant solution being overlooked?
Yes, Larkham cannot be Wallabies Coach because of some stupid reason like he doesn't have the experience...but why can't he hired as the Backs Coach for the Wallabies or at least, The Brumbies?
For all that woe about there will never be another Stephen Larkham...you think the ARU would grab the chance to let Stephen Larkham groom another Australian in his footsteps.
...but that would be too logical and sensible decision for the ARUseless to make.
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