Force of Lawes The raw power of rugby’s biggest tackler
Following Lawes’ superb Dublin cameo, how does it feel to be smashed by rugby’s biggest tackler?
‘You have to smile, shrug it off, but inside you’re dying’
‘You do everything you can to get up and pretend it doesn’t hurt,” says Charlie Hodgson, recalling the 2014 Premiership final and the pain of being pounded by what Courtney Lawes rates as his favourite tackle.
“That time, I remember thinking, ‘What the hell was that?’ As I was lying on the floor, I didn’t know what it was. I had to look up at the big screen and relive it with everyone else. You have to smile, shrug it off and pretend nothing’s happened. But inside, you’re dying.”
Hodgson’s account spells out how his former England team-mate is feared as one of the most menacing defenders in rugby, a reputation he underlined in his 27 minutes as a replacement in Dublin on Saturday. Lawes will likely win a 70th cap on Sunday against France, starting as a replacement for the injured Maro Itoje.
It was in 2011, on the verge of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, that Martin Johnson joked about Lawes, then 22, causing havoc in full-contact training sessions. Johnson reckoned collisions involving the youngster made a distinctive sound.
While the crowd noise of 2014’s domestic decider at Twickenham prevented the broadcast from picking up any audible smack, Hodgson definitely felt it. “It came out of the blue,” he said. “I hadn’t seen Courtney do that before … he’s done quite a few since. That was probably when he started going after fly-halves.”
Four years ago, in a madcap Test against France that England won 55-35, Lawes lassoed a carrier then circled around another ruck before launching into fly-half Jules Plisson. In France, such a clattering impact is called a “caramel”. Lawes’s connection was certainly sweet, albeit late. Referee Nigel Owens, however, asked to scan a few replays and ruled that Lawes
had committed to the challenge before Plisson released his pass. No penalty. As Lawes admits, it has become more difficult to pull off this slingshot trick.
“I can’t do that anymore, I’m not fast enough,” he says. “Defensive systems have changed quite a lot, I don’t often have the opportunity to get around the corner. Tens are quite clever now. They’ll probably step you back on the inside.”
Hodgson, now working in the 13-man code as a kicking consultant with Wigan Warriors, is not predisposed to hyperbole, but does emphasise an aspect of Lawes’ defence that is not always heralded. The dynamism would be far less potent without anticipation.
“It’s almost that Courtney thinks two, three phases ahead and goes, ‘Where can I put myself so that I’m in a good spot?’ He’s very good at it. A lot of the time his timing is impeccable. His size, and the size of the 10s he’s coming up against, helps and there’s the fact that opponents are willing to take the ball to the line. Then with his power, he can be a wrecking ball.”
With Lawes, technique and discipline complement aggression. Quite amazingly, given his height and the sheer number of defensive involvements, Lawes believes the penalty he conceded against Wasps on Jan 6 was just the second time in his professional career that he has given up a high-tackle penalty.
Three contributions in Dublin showed his value. Two minutes after his arrival there was an opportunistic, spearing shot that propelled Tadhg Furlong to earth. Then, Johnny Sexton threw a pass on the edge of his 22 and was blindsided by a big thump. Referee Jerome Garces waved play on.
Then, best of all, in the 69th minute, with the hosts trailing 22-13, Sexton sat behind his forwards and looked to link with Garry Ringrose. Lawes pressed up in midfield, read the attacking shape and swam past decoy runner David Kilcoyne. He then buried Ireland’s outside centre and Tom Curry pounced to win a penalty.
Almost five years on from the hit on Hodgson, the Lawes back catalogue keeps growing. He turns 30 on the day that England face Wales in Cardiff. Eddie Jones will want him in his ranks. But, first, France stand in the crosshairs once more.