 |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
You are in: Rugby Union: Features |  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
    |
|
World Cup Speed Machines | |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Around the Academy: |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Nothing terrifies the opposition like pace.
Raw speed is a most valuable weapon that will allow you to streak away from the opposition given the smallest of openings. Even if they're not great tacklers, kickers or scrummagers, rugby players must be quick and have an eye for a gap. International players are generally no slouches, but every great team has a pace merchant.
Jason Robinson: (England)
Since moving from rugby league two years ago, "Billy Whizz" has established himself as the most exciting broken-field runner in the game.
His dazzling footwork and stunning acceleration leave opponents floundering and he is never stopped by the first tackler. He can side-step opponents in a phone box and causes a buzz of anticipation to course through crowds every time he gets the ball. Add in the fact that he is immensely powerful for his size and you have one of the hardest men to tackle in world rugby.
Doug Howlett (New Zealand) Howlett can boast the rare accolade of making Robinson look veritably slug-like when the two players met in the England-New Zealand Test last November.
The 25-year-old is one of the quickest men in the world game with 18 international tries already to show for his efforts. But Howlett's place on the wing is not solely won because of his pace. He is bulky, powerful and a strong runner. Should he be firing on all cylinders, the All Blacks will flourish.
Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand) Rokocoko's true potential has yet to be seen but, in his big moments to date, he looks set to be an exciting winger for some time.
Few people have grown in stature on the global circuit this season more rapidly than Joe Rokocoko. Hailed as the 'new Jonah Lomu' of New Zealand, the pressure was on from the outset of his team's World Cup build-up. But two hat-tricks in the space of three games showed he was more than capable of living up to the new nickname. New Zealand coach John Mitchell never seems to tire of talking up the 20-year-old's importance to the All Blacks' World Cup ambitions, continually highlighting his level-headed intelligence.
Joe Roff (Australia) Roff is one of the key figures for Australia, a thrilling runner as well as a regular game breaker.
He showed in the build-up to the World Cup that he poses a threat every time he receieves the ball. He may not have quite the searing pace of some of his rivals above but his assets are far more than just that. His mental sharpness gives him the ability to spring ahead before his rivals have either considered taking up the chase.
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
