So why was Vlaicu left off kicking list?
OH dear, rugby does continue to let itself down unnecessarily and display its snobby side. When Johnny Sexton eased pass the 1000 points in all Tests landmark midway through the New Zealand game last week, the host broadcaster threw up a graphic listing those players who had previously achieved the feat. In descending order it was Dan Carter (1598), Jonny Wilkinson (1246), Owen Farrell (1114), Neil Jenkins (1090), Ronan O’Gara (1083), and Diego Dominguez (1010).
Nowhere in its heart could rugby find a way of listing România’s Florin Vlaicu, the 35-year-old veteran of 17 international seasons who has amassed 1030 including some valuable hauls in REC1 last season which has seen Romania, albeit via the scenic route, reach RWC2023. Indeed don’t bet against Vlaicu staging another comeback and appearing in France.
For some reason his incredible haul is downplayed and downgraded. Tier 2 player, his points cannot apparently be as meritorious as T1 stars, in officialdom’s eyes they count for less. It’s a bit like discounting runs scored in Division Two of the cricket’s County Championship from the first class averages.
How ridiculous and insulting is that. Many of Vlaicu’s points were kicked against the odds in an outclassed underdog team who relied on him delivering every time if they were to remain remotely competitive against the higher rated teams. And many will have been kicked on less than pristine pitches and conditions, in the middle of dire East European winters. They were hard earned
Nor is there any logic to this nonsense .... Diego Domguez, probably the best out and out dead ball kicker I have seen, is rightly listed in the roll of honour on 1010 points but a good proportion of those points were amassed for Italy during the 90s when their ‘beat’ – before they joined the Six Nations – was comparable to that of Florin Vlaicu throughout his career.