Cruse is writing his name large at Wasps
ONE hundred games into his Wasps career and the novelty of having his own name on the back of his jersey has worn off for Tom Cruse.
But the 32-year-old still remembers the old-school days at Macclesfield, where coach Andy Northey wanted him to be a French impersonator.
“It’s been a journey, one I am really proud of,” Cruse said, reflecting back on his Wasps career which reached the 100-appearance milestone in last weekend’s 44-8 win against Bristol.
“I love those lower leagues and there are a lot of good players in them. It was nice to reflect in the off-season, knowing that I had my 100th game coming up, about the journey I have taken and all the coaches I’ve had on the way forward.
“One of the things that Andy Northey did before a game was write on your back who he wanted you to be – and I always had some random, gritty French hooker’s name written in marker pen. You’d have that for the next week until you were ready to play again and then you’d get another one.”
Standing out when you share the same name as a Hollywood movie star was always going to be a challenge. But Cruse has fulfilled the prophecy of another old Macclesfield coach, Geoff Wappett, on signing him from Stockport, that he would ‘knock the door down’.
It took a while. From Macclesfield, the former Sale academy player went to Rotherham to learn his trade in the Championship, like many of the Wasps squad and management, before earning a move to London Irish and then Wasps.
New Wasps signing Dan Frost, who came on for Cruse in his century game and scored on debut, is an example of late developers being allowed to blossom in the Championship – in his case at Cornish Pirates.
Cruse says the Championship is a tough league but one where technically, physically and psychologically front rowers learn to survive and thrive.
“It provides a platform where the pressure is a bit less,” he said. “I look at someone like Frosty who comes and has that freshness (of attitude) of ‘yeah, I’ll throw that offload’. He he has the confidence to do it because the TV or big crowd isn’t there in the
Championship if it doesn’t go right.
“It is combative and a tough place to scrum and maul, and you’re in the thick of it at hooker. The scrums and lineouts are tough and that paired with the around the field stuff, with a bit less pressure on, I think adds up to it being a good platform to go and learn to be a hooker or play some games at hooker.
“I remember playing a game against Stuart McInally who at the time was a six and was learning his trade converting to hooker, and he has gone on to be an international captain at hooker; so the league itself does provide opportunities for people to learn new skills and practice those skills.”
With Nic Dolly topping the try-scoring charts after his move from Coventry to Leicester, Cruse bringing up his century and Frost making an instant impact, it’s been a good start to the season for top-flight hookers who honed their skills in the Championship.
And with Sam Matavesi, another former Pirate, and ex-Leeds man Jack Walker at Northampton and Harlequins, respectively, there is no shortage of examples of how the second tier of English rugby has brought out the best in hookers who have had to find a different way to the top.
Cruse says: “If you’re a late developer and you go down my route and you build your way up and you’re playing competitive men’s rugby, or if you’re an academy guy and you’re not getting any games for your club, to be able to go out and play competitive men’s rugby in a tough league is invaluable.
“The Championship boys we have signed this year are all front rowers, they might be called unknowns and are maybe not the bigger names you get at other clubs but they have all added to the group.
“The Championship is very important and quite close to my heart having played in it a few years.”
Now that Tommy Taylor has returned to Sale, Cruse has taken on the mantle of senior hooker at Wasps.
“Frosty has come in and as you’ve seen is fantastic, Gabes (Gabriel Oghre) is fantastic, Alfie (Barbeary) will cover hooker and back row and Dan Eckersley is developing really well.
“Lads are pushing to start and that’s what breeds where we want to be, we want to push each other.
“Lee (Blackett, head coach) will pick on form. I may be a bit more senior than the other two agewise but you have to play well to keep the shirt.”
One with his name on the back, preferably.