ARROGANCE OF KIWI FANS INSPIRED US AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS
Lions king Lawes on rampage
NORTHAMPTON’S hitman helped the Lions make a mockery of being written off too soon — now Courtney Lawes is intent on repeating that feat on behalf of his embattled club.
The 28-year-old goes into today’s East Midlands derby with Leicester armed with recent evidence of how premature criticism can have a galvanising impact on a team.
That was the case in New Zealand in June, when Warren Gatland’s Lions overcame a torrent of Kiwi derision to draw an epic series with the supposedly invincible All Blacks.
Lawes made a powerful impact in the last two Tests as the tourists won one and drew the other to deny the hosts the triumph that had been taken for granted by the locals.
The England lock found it a rewarding experience shattering perceptions about the assumed global balance of power.
Lawes said: ‘Being in New Zealand, we saw the arrogance that their fans have about their team. It was eye- opening. The whole nation are into rugby and things their fans and commentators and pundits said about how we play and how New Zealand play — it was quite... interesting! If we’d listened to all that stuff, we’d have come home after the first weekend.’
The British and Irish crusaders did the game at large a favour by puncturing the aura surrounding the All Blacks. Lawes recognised the importance of not being beaten by reputation before a contest begins.
‘Any team is vulnerable,’ he said. ‘New Zealand are the best team in the world, they have been for some time and you have to respect them.
‘ But every team has their strengths and weaknesses and any team can be beaten.
‘We showed people that no matter what happens, you’ve got a chance. You can only respect the All Blacks for so long, then you just have to face the challenge.’
Having fought his way into the Test 23, Lawes returned home with enhanced conviction about his ability to rub shoulders with the elite of the sport, after a season which featured a significant personal resurgence.
THE trip served as a career highlight, but also a useful indication that life as an international player does not have to be a bland existence, devoid of fun.
There was an old- school tour element to it all, with the midweek team in particular indulging in some spirited socialising.
‘I was in that midweek team for a fair bit of it, so I did enjoy that!’ said Lawes. ‘ Then I got some game-time in the Tests, which was really good.’
Asked if the promotion to the Test ranks meant having to stay sober, he added: ‘ Yeah, you do! There will always be players who are super-professional and players who like to be a bit freer and live how they want to live a bit more. It comes down to whatever suits you. I’m pretty far up the do-what-suits-you end of professionalism! I’m as professional as I need to be, that’s the main thing.’
From a career landmark, Lawes is preparing for another personal one. His wife Jessica is pregnant with twins, who are due to be born in January. The couple already have two children, so there will be a busy home life to go with his burgeoning career.
Today, it is all about Northampton, as they take on fierce rivals Leicester at Franklin’s Gardens. The Saints were routed 55-24 by Saracens at Twickenham last weekend and Lawes was stung by what happened.
‘It was a tough game, very onesided,’ he said. ‘Everyone at the club has got pride and that defeat hurt. It’s about how you react and we are looking to get back on track with a win.
‘But we want to build something beyond that, so it doesn’t take a loss to get us ready for a game. We need to find motivation for every week, not just after a bad result.’
Northampton will have to raise their game rapidly. The rivalry with the Tigers has been emphatically one- sided in Leicester’s favour through much of the professional era.
After what Saracens did to them, Jim Mallinder’s side are already under pressure one game into the new campaign.
But their hit-man knows what impact that can have. He and his fellow Saints are ready to come out fighting, in defiance of their many critics.