I have always been CRAZY but Parkinson’s is the BEST thing that’s EVER happened to me
How England’s new coach is fighting illness to help them win Six Nations
THERE is a twinkle in Marc Dal Maso’s eye when he introduces the new love in his life. ‘My new fiancee,’ he says. ‘ She’s not pretty but she has helped me. She will be with me until the end.’ It is a dark-humoured reference to the Parkinson’s disease which is degenerating his nervous system.
‘Sincerely, I was lucky to meet her. Without this disease, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have. My new fiancee is always right behind me. She has taught me to take on every opportunity in life.’
Dal Maso’s most recent opportunity was an invitation for dinner with Eddie Jones i n Marseille. The Frenchman worked with Jones in Japan and, at the end of the meal, he was asked to join England’s coaching team as a scrummaging consultant in preparation for next year’s World Cup. ‘We talked about scrums for two hours and ate seafood,’ he says. ‘Plenty of fruits de mer.
‘Eddie gets a bit frustrated with my English but the language of rugby is like making love... it’s universal. It was quick — fly, eat, fly — and he offered me an opportunity which I couldn’t turn down.’
The former France hooker, 50, will balance the role with his Toulon commitments. He will be in camp for the final week of January, before flying over once a week through the Six Nations.
His illness, which he initially kept secret from Jones, has not hindered his coaching career.
‘I take 15 tablets a day,’ he says. ‘9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm and so on. If I don’t have my pills at the right time, I become like a statue. My body freezes. Is it scary? I’m not scared of it. It is who I am and you adapt. I have an alarm on my watch to remind me, so I work as normal.
‘My philosophy on life has changed but my coaching is the same. I can still do lots of things. Anyway, I’ve always been… how do you say in English… f*** ed i n the head… crazy! It’s nothing new!’
All cut from a similarly eccentric cloth, Dal Maso is an ideal mentor for the likes of props Joe Marler, Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Harry Williams and Beno Obano. Speaking over lunch, he analyses England’s scrummaging technique, using his knife and fork to represent their left and right feet.
‘Scrums are like Canada Dry and ginger ale; different but all the same,’ he says. ‘The Japanese have the best body position in the world because their players are much more flexible. For the English, it is a big advantage that all of the world’s referees speak in their language.
‘You need a good scrum to win the World Cup. If there are 22 Tests between now and the World Cup final, that could be 440 scrums. The last one could be the difference between winning and losing the World Cup. If you lose a scrum you lose a psychological battle.
‘England’s scrum is strong. After Toulon played Bath, I Skyped Neal Hatley and we spoke about Obano; very physical.’ He is in his element, verbally dissecting the set piece, laughing and joking, when Chris Ashton walks past. ‘Eddie’s No 2?’ shouts Toulon’s exiled English winger. ‘Meet the real England coach!’
Dal Maso is happy to answer questions about Ashton’s impact
‘THE LANGUAGE OF RUGBY IS LIKE MAKING LOVE... IT IS UNIVERSAL’
since his arrival from Saracens. ‘Chris scores a lot of tries,’ he says. ‘Our supporters like the Ash Splash. He’s good for us.’
There are other questions, however, which prompt a more guarded response. Such as the temptation to pursue a role with the French national team — whom he played for 33 times — over England. ‘That’s a good question. Ask me another day!’ he says, laughing.
‘It’s not a dream to coach France but, when England play in Paris, it might be best if I’m discreet! It has been difficult for France. They have just fired their coach [Guy Noves]. Sometimes life is difficult.’
Also, as a former hooker, does he think Jamie George should start ahead of Dylan Hartley?
‘ Sorry, I don’t understand the question!’ he laughs. ‘Eddie’s crazy but he knows where he wants to go. That is his job. He will think of an idea in his sleep and wake up at 5am to write it down.
‘I look at rugby like an ensemble. Who starts is not the most important issue. How they combine to produce the best outcome for the team is the most important issue. Everything evolves.’
For Dal Maso, his own coaching career is still evolving — despite t he adversity of t he medical bulletins. He is proud of the past, focused on the present and not overly concerned by the future.
‘I don’t worry about the future,’ he says. ‘Why would I? We’re all degenerative. Everyone is getting older, balder and slower. Maybe I’ve aged a little quicker but that’s what happens when your fiancee breaks your balls every day.’