Gallant captains charm the masses with tears and smiles

IN the world of cycling there is a rather splendid tradition that a rider who demonstrates outstanding panache or sportsmanship or does something to uphold the true spirit of the sport be honoured with the sobriquet of pedaleur de charme, at least for a day or two. Sometimes they are even presented with a t-shirt to that effect.

In that spirit, for the remainder of this World Cup, I intend to nominate a weekly jouer de rugby gallant to acknowledge a player, coach or media type who has caused us to nod our enthusiastic approval and perhaps even renew our faith in the game.

No sooner had I made this momentous decision than a dilemma presented itself. For this inaugural award there clearly should be two winners, one to the captain of a losing side and the other to the captain of a winning team.

First came Russia captain Vasily Artemyev for his brilliant post match oration – it was nothing less – on Tuesday after the bruising encounter against Samoa in which he was twice decked by illegal hits. The uncomplaining, smiling Cossack with the Dublin accent made us laugh and smile. He and his side are having a ball and nothing is going to stop that.

And then came Uruguay skipper Juan Manuel Gaminara, the man-of-the-match against Fiji. At the end he was overcome with emotion and tears but retained his poise to demonstrate beautifully just how much the win meant to his nation. And indeed to us watching from afar.

Gents, we salute you both and will even get a couple of t-shirts printed up and will pop them in the post.