Moody to raise his half-century
Someone asked burly All Blacks loosehead prop Joe Moody about the prospect of matching the Pumas’ physicality in today’s test finale for 2020 in Newcastle.
The big Cantab’s forehead furrowed, his eyes narrowed and he leaned in to answer the question, much as he has leaned into the challenge of anchoring the All Blacks scrum for what this evening in the New South Wales heartland will be the 50th occasion.
‘‘We don’t really want to match anyone as far as physicality goes . . . we want to dominate that area,’’ said the 30-year-old 120kg strongman. ‘‘Last test they probably did beat us in that area. It’s definitely something we want to address this week. There have been words about it.’’
Among the front-row club the words would have been few. But their intent clear.
Two weeks ago at Parramatta’s Bankwest Stadium, the All Blacks forwards got the proverbial sand kicked in their faces as they slumped to their first ever defeat to Argentina.
It wasn’t the first time this year the New Zealand big men had been bested in the physical arm-wrestle. And it wasn’t the first time they walked away feeling the sting of defeat.
The All Blacks have won two of their five tests in 2020 and face the prospect of dropping three on the bounce for the first time in 22 years if they don’t make some serious improvements in Newcastle against an Argentina side that will be in an emotional state after the death this week of national icon Diego Maradona.
Hooker Dane Coles, who will wrap his left arm around Moody at scrum time in Newcastle, explained this week what results like that in Parramatta mean to an All Black like him.
‘‘I’ve been in this team a couple of times now where we’ve been the first [All Blacks] team to lose to a country,’’ said Coles. ‘‘I don’t think you’ll ever lose sight of that feeling. It’s a scar that stays with you for the rest of your rugby career . . . and it hurts.
‘‘The fortunate thing with rugby is you get another week to play them again and get to I suppose heal that scar a little bit and get on with life.’’
Life this week will also include honouring his old mate Moody on his 50th appearance (42 of the 49 have been starts). The Cantab never figured on making it this far when he ran out on debut six years ago against the Wallabies in Sydney.
‘‘It’s not really something I’ve thought about too much until now really,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s always been a proud moment to be in the All Blacks environment and I’ve been taking it test by test I guess.
‘‘But getting up around that 47,
48 test matches and seeing the 50 coming up, it’s a great milestone to be able to say you’ve achieved. Yet at the same time for everyone else it’s just another week.
‘‘I’ve just got go out and do my job. Hopefully everyone else does theirs and we come away with a performance at the weekend.’’
Rookie wing Caleb Clarke, at the other end of the test experience scale, has figured out what his job needs to be this week when he runs out for his fifth cap.
Clarke has been the find of
2020 with a blockbusting season for both franchise and country, and even in defeat last test out against Argentina he ran for a team-high (by some margin) 65 metres on 14 runs, with four defenders beaten.
He’s doing his bit, but wants more from himself.
‘‘Just try to get my workrate up coming off the wing and look for the ball will be one way I can inject myself into the game,’’ he said. ‘‘Other than that what we’ve trained and planned throughout the week will complement everyone who is going to be out on the pitch. We’re all excited to put in a performance we can be proud of.’’
Clarke said he had experienced highs and lows through his rookie campaign, and had tried to learn from both. His chief takeaway? ‘‘Being a good person is the biggest thing. We’re living a life I’m really grateful for right now, and around the rugby side it’s the small things, the little details that are the things that count. The higher you go, it’s the little things that will make the biggest difference.’’
Wise words from one so young.