Interview With....

JAKE HOWARD

Jake Howard is the middle man in three generations of Wallabies. His father-in-law, Cyril Towers, was one of the worlds's best centres in the 1930s and played 19 tests between 1926 and 1937. Jake a prop, from the Sydney University club,  won seven test caps from 1970 to 1973, while his son Pat Howard, collected 20 caps from 1993 to 1997, as a five eighth or second five. Soon after finishing his playing career, Jake turned to coaching with the Queensland University club and won three successive titles from 1988. He also guided Queensland Uni to the Australian club championship in this period.

His coaching ability was rewarded when he joined Bob Dwyer's  Wallaby staff in 1990 as an assistant coach, with the forwards his main priority. He played a major role in the Wallabies 1991 World Cup triumph and continued in the national job until 1993. Since then Jake has coached all over the rugby world. He had a season with Dublin club, Wanderers around 1993 and later guided Japanese club, World Corporation, to their first and only  (up to now) all Japan final. He also coached Harvard University for a couple of years at Cambridge, Massachusetts on the American east coast and also worked on the west coast with Santa Monica.

When former Wallaby back Joe Roff (86 tests) was captain of Oxford University in 2007,  he brought in Jake as the team coach. Along with several of the world's best coaching brains, Jake has been invited to the Natal, South Africa national coaching conference  on two occasions and also to the Canadian national coaching conference, also two times. While coaching at Harvard, Jake remembered that his tight head prop was a nuclear physicist, his loose head an astro physicist and his hooker was a Maths genius. " These guys kept me on my toes, " he laughed.

Barry Ross caught up with Jake at his home in Brisbane just a day ago to ask him his thoughts on the Wallabies in 2009 and modern rugby in general.

BR- The All Blacks wiped the Australians out at the breakdown in their strong 33-6 win at Wellington on 19 September, while the Springboks have also been impressive in this facet of play this year. Is rucking an important part of the game again?
JH- One of the saddest things is that rucking went out of the game. If a team does this well, it creates chances all over the field. The All Blacks are rucking very well and are very physical in their approach.

BR- Are the Wallabies committing enough players to the breakdown?
JH- If two men go into the ruck situation, you would want them to feel like eight. But for the Wallabies, two players feels like two. If you can trust your defenders you can put more into the tackle situation. The All Blacks have an advantage in this regard with their lock Brad Thorn, who is an extremely hard worker.

BR- Have you a comment on the Australian scrum?
JH- I am a big fan of Patricio Noriega (24 tests for Australia, 25 tests for Argentina),  as a scrum coach and having him on board is a big plus for the Australians. The Australian scrum has been good this season, although I know things were not at their best last week against New Zealand. But the All Blacks have one of the best scrums in world rugby and we shouldn't be too quick to criticise their efforts last week. Ben Alexander had some problems but he is still only 24 and is up to the task.

BR- Your comments on Wallaby loosehead Benn Robinson.
JH- He is one of the leading looseheads in the game. He scrummages well and plays strongly all over the park. He has been terrific in 2009.

BR- What about Stirling Mortlock, is he finished at test level?
JH-  No, he still has something to offer. If available he would still be my Wallaby captain, while I feel the team can certainly use his size, leadership and presence in midfield.

BR- While speaking of captains, who would you choose after Mortlock?
JH- Berrick Barnes will be in the team on playing ability and he is a level headed, cool character under all on-field conditions. He would handle the job and I also believe Stephen Moore would be a good choice. But there is some doubt about Moore being a regular starter and this has to be considered. I must say I would choose Moore as the starting hooker, because of his more accurate lineout throwing.  George Smith is also ok, but you want younger men if you are looking towards the future. Without doubt, I believe Nick Farr-Jones is the best Australian captain ever.

BR- After winning his first five tests as Australian coach, Robbie Deans record now is only 13 wins from 23 tests, which is less than 57 percent. Is he the right man for the Wallabies?
JH- Yes, he is the right man. You only have to look at his record to see what an excellent coach he is. I like a lot of things he does, for example the way he encourages his men to play club rugby whenever they can. I think that we don't put enough importance on the club scene.

BR-What about the Wallaby team? Are there some changes you would make?
JH- Some of the blokes should go. Nathan Sharpe, who has given Australia good service in his 70 odd tests, is one I would drop. He spends too much of his time as a runner, when he should be mostly involved in the heavy work in tight.

BR- Where would you play Matt Giteau?
JH- I would swap him and Berrick Barnes. That is I would use Matt at second five and Berrick at five eighth.

BR- What about James O'Connor?
JH- I don't believe he is ready for test level yet. When you are paid as much as he is, then you are not considered as a 19 year old and that is all he is. He probably made six costly errors against the All Blacks last Saturday and he should be learning by making these mistakes at club level. On saying that, I do believe he has plenty of talent.

BR- Are there any fringe players, not currently in the Wallaby squad, that you like?
JH- Yes, there are several players scattered among our four Super Rugby teams, who have impressed me. One is 23 year old Western Force lock, Tom Hockings. Another is 21 year old Brumby five eighth , Christian Lealiifano. Both have the ability to win a Wallaby jersey.

BR- Moving on from this, are the Australians selecting the right payers?
JH- Basically they are , I suppose. But what worries me today is that we often identify players rather than selecting them. Not everyone is fully mature at 18. Two of Australia's greatest Wallabies and World Cup winners, Phil Kearns ( 67 tests) and Nick Farr-Jones (63 tests), could not make the first XV at their high School, Newington College. Perhaps they would have missed out using some of the current methods. Club rugby is also very important in this regard. In club games you can see young players developing at a lower level.

BR- The Wallaby players have been criticised for wanting $2,500 a man to play in a Possibles-Probables selection trial match for the end of season Grand Slam tour to Britain and Ireland. Your comments on this.
JH- There are two sides to every story but on the surface this looks bad and is not good publicity for the game. At $11,000 a test match, win or lose, plus their signing on fee, they are well paid. To not play this game appears to be based on greed. Sometimes we all have to do things for nothing. But as I said, there are two sides and we should perhaps find out what the Australian Rugby union intended to do with the gate receipts for such a game.

BR-Is Argentina joining the Tri-nations  good thing?
JH- Yes, I really think this is a positive thing. But the logistics have to worked out before it is  done deal. On the surface, the many Pumas plying in Europe (mainly France), would have to give up a lot of money before they agree to play in the Tri-nations. Will they give this up remains to be seen. I don't think the Argentina Rugby Union could afford to pay the players the necessary money, but maybe there are some behind-the-scenes things going on of which I am unaware.

BR- What about Japan hosting the World Cup in 2019?
JH- I am elated with the decision. We have to spread the game around. Japanese rugby is made up of many positive players and officials. I think they will do a really good job. Having Sevens added to the Olympics is another very positive thing for our game. The same applies when we play tests in Hong Kong, Tokyo and maybe Denver in the future. These tests not only spread the game, but they bring good financial rewards and all unions need this.

BR- What are the main differences in the game today, compared to when you played?
JH- Money and culture.

BR- Finally, does the Players association have too much say?
JH- I believe the association has done some good things, but it has also done some things that I feel are not so positive. The game has to over-ride the players. We all own the game. The publicity from turning down the chance to play the Possibles-Probables game was terrible. If they are winning maybe the public would accept it, but it made the papers just a few days after their 33-6 loss to the All Blacks. Many people believe the players are too greedy and are not earning their attractive salaries. The association should really be aware of this.