Twelve Feet Tall by Tony Ward

Author:Tony Ward [Ward, Tony and Doyle, Justin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

CHAPTER 12

KICKED OUT OF TRIPLE CROWN

The nightmare I endured in Australia continued when the squad was announced for the opening game of the 1982 Five Nations season. I was again on the outside looking in. The decision to play both Ollie Campbell and me in four of the five games the previous season had been most welcome. Newspapers rejoiced, the public was happy and we both enjoyed the opportunity. It appeared neither of us was going to be dropped to make way for the other. Ironically, Ollie probably felt a weight coming down off his shoulders with my inclusion. In the opening game at home to France he had one of those bad days at the office, so my recall probably gave him an extra incentive to play well.

The selectors bore the brunt of the public backlash over my latest dropping. The great Gareth Edwards very kindly stated: ‘We in Wales believe him to be a better tactical kicker than Ollie Campbell. Kicking plays a huge part in modern-day internationals so the fact that you have both Ward and Campbell in the side gives you a big advantage in the place-kicking area.’ However, against the Welsh, that proved to be anything but the case. We led 8–3 and both Ollie and I set up Ireland’s two tries. Unfortunately, neither was converted, and that failure came back to haunt us. Perhaps psychologically we were both handing the kicking responsibility to the other. Or maybe the intense media and public scrutiny about who was the best kicker eventually took its toll. We both missed every kick we were entrusted with and Wales came back to win 9–8.

Aside from our kicking, our general play was good and both of us linked well to cause problems for the opposition. The revered Con Houlihan (RIP) intimated in his Evening Press column that it was almost like I had never been away when he wrote: ‘Ward made the return of Jesse James seem about as dramatic as the coming home of a man who has just taken the dog for a stroll. He began kicking up-and-unders that had the Welsh backs hypnotised by a swooping hawk.’

By this stage I was totally fed up of the whole debate. I think it definitely took its toll on both of us in that game. If I missed a shot at goal then Ollie was the best kicker; if he missed then I was better. Personally I do not believe it is a good idea to have two recognised kickers in a side. It can instil a laissez-faire attitude in the build-up where, in terms of mental preparation, both kickers renege on their responsibility. One player, and one player only, should be nominated as kicker. Our woeful day against Wales was down to a lack of responsibility. Call it passing the buck, but neither of us had been given the role outright so we were not as focused on the job as we ought to have been. This meant there was a constant and intense pressure on us both.

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