We should begin with some obvious but often neglected words: "you cannot be any better than you are." That is not to neglect improvement, of course we can always improve. But everyone has a natural limit and not everyone will become Dan Carter. What a boring game it would be if every number 10 was like Dan Carter.
The second obvious, but often neglected phrase is: "just try your best". What more can anyone do? Does anyone deny that Dan Parks always tried his best?
The third phrase is evident but equally neglected: "no one picks themselves".
So it is with these three phrases in mind that we can evaluate the premature retirement of Dan Parks. It is absolutely premature, as it always is when a fit and healthy player retires after just one game in the 6 Nations.
Dan Parks has been a good and honest servant to Scottish Rugby. Like many players, he came over to play when progression in Australia was no longer an option. Who can hold that against him? Not I; we live in professional times. Parks was not the first and he will not be the last.
Few will argue that he was a limited international fly-half. His left hand pass was very ropey indeed and whole crowds would wince when he threw a loopy lofted left-handed effort, often eschewing the spin-pass in favour of some other hybrid. He rarely took the ball to the line and he was really quite slow. The same crowd would gasp in horror when he decided to feint and go - what was he attempting? - and, finally, he was a poor tackler and a worse defender. I am in no position to condemn him for any of these faults - which of us are? - especially the last two.
Anyone educated in rugby football knows that there have been much worse fly-halves to defend alongside.
But what Parks did well, he did very well indeed. His odd kicking style, with his odder style of boot, has spawned a whole generation of Scottish kickers. For several seasons I adopted this slinging, round-the-corner style, trying to drill the ball into the corner like Parks did with such ease. He was ballsy, too, often just dropping the ball in-field, giving the full-back hope, before beating him to touch.
When his right leg was swinging well, he was the best tactical kicker in the world. Better than O'Gara and really he was the only other 10 who could claim to be such an expert.
His goal-kicking, too, was something to be admired. Stuart Barnes once said something like, "I have immense respect for anyone who can kick goals in international rugby." So few seem to recognise this. While Dan may have shirked a tackle, he never shirked a shot at goal. Perhaps that was the Aussie in him. He was a fighter.
Too often when Parks had led his team deep into opposition territory, he would opt for the drop-goal. Maybe he knew his limitations and those of his team. Certainly, some were the correct choice and others were emphatically not.
More often than not, his drop-goals were ugly. I salute him. There is nothing more beautiful than an ugly drop-goal.
It is deeply distressing that a player has felt so low that he feels he has nothing more to give, that his best option is to walk away. Parks has had bad games, bad campaigns, but has always fought back. This time, clearly, he hasn't the energy. And so many people to fight against! Whether he should be picked or not really has nothing to do with him. No. 3: "no one picks themselves."
I hope this is a wake-up call to Scottish Rugby fans, and all those who allowed their feelings on a matter of selection (controlled by a coach) to focus on the player. Players are pawns: they try their hardest, they try to improve at all times and it is the coach who controls his pieces. Debate should be directed to Robinson, not Parks. His failings are his failings, not his fault.
Who will the Scotsman commenting mafia turn their ignorant ire to next? Who will they hound out? Who will become the next symbol of Scottish failure? Whoever it is - and it will be someone - I cannot feel sorry for them enough.
Dan Parks is clearly a very likeable chap and is hugely respected by his peers. That's the important legacy, the esteem he is held in by those whose faces "are marred by dust and sweat and blood," not what JockyBadger from Bathgate thinks of you.
To conclude, let us return to our three unalterable and unchanging facts of international rugby:
1. You cannot be any better than you are/your failings are your failings, not your fault.
2. They are all trying their best.
3. No one picks themselves.
This is a sad day for Scottish Rugby, let's hope we all learn the lessons.
No comments:
Post a Comment