By Simon Barnes
April 5 2007

Simon Barnes had his reporting head on on Monday. Not only did he give a great account of Leeds' final A league game, he also caught up with Lanny to discuss some of the burning issues of the day.....

SB       What are your thoughts on today’s A league game?

 

SL        First and foremost delighted with the win. We played Newcastle right at the start of the season and we had an opportunity to beat them in A league game and didn’t. We played too much rugby if you like; we spoke after the game about learning to win. It’s as much as my responsibility having coached them many of these players. In the A league to date we have used it as a development programme, giving the lads an opportunity to play. We have always been struggling because of the age difference, we have always been younger than the opposition but now we are competing on parity. Part of a young player’s education is to learn how to close games out, so to actually come up here and be down 17-12 at half time then to come back into it at 17-15 and to score the penalty was fantastic I’m really really pleased with the result.

 

SB       I thought it was a difficult game...

 

SL        Newcastle play an exciting brand of rugby as do we I thought both set of backs were even Stevens against each other. Newcastle got a couple of early tries in the first half we dug in well and showed tremendous character and was delighted with there attitude and it just shows how the character in the squad is really developed to dig in and the last ditch tackling was outstanding.

 

SB       I noticed Adam Greendale and Calum Clark weren’t used today are you keeping them fresh for Huddersfield?

 

SL        No they weren’t available there are players who we can’t select due to international commitments there’s a lot of international games on at the minute. It does give others an opportunity to come in I thought Tom Whittaker did a great job and Jacob organised the game well for us.

 

SB       Looking to Thursday game with Huddersfield it’s the last ever game at Chandos Park, will you be ringing the changes?

 

SL        No it will be a very similar side, because we have a heavy programme. What we looking to do is to give these lads a clear up tomorrow with a recovery swim we will watch the video of the game and they will have Wednesday off and we will play Thursday night. Now with the A league season over our next target is to retain the Yorkshire Cup. Its important for the squad as a whole to have goals and it’s a fitting end to Chandos with the Yorkshire Cup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SB       What are you thought about that?

 

SL        Quite sad really, I’ve been to Chandos more than anyone and played there more than most and coached there. I’ve always liked Chandos; it was a little fortress I think and no-one ever liked coming to but we always liked playing there. So we used it to our advantage a lot and I’ve got a lot of fond memories of the place and I’m sad to see it go but I also recognise that the facilities that are being built at WestPark Leeds will be fantastic, the 2 grass pitches, new clubhouse, a gym and an astro turf pitch. 

 

SB       What are your favourite memories as a player and coach at Chandos.

 

SL        As a player that will be in 1995 when Leeds second team played against Newcastle firsts team and we beat them at Chandos and Alan Tait was playing with various others from Newcastle.

 

SL        As a coach, probably beating England under 19’s with our under 19’s last year that will probably be the best two for me.

 

SB       How do the youngsters get spotted for the academy?

 

SL        With good structures around the county. It starts with the new CB’S of school rugby. (Constituent body school’s of rugby.)as the first part of the identification from there they join our junior academy and progress through to senior academy.

           

            For detail on the cb’s school of rugby see the following link

http://www.communityrugby.com/communityrugby/index.cfm/Fuseaction/Home.Downloads/StoryTypeId/105/SectionId/1123/StoryId/12165.cfm

 

SB       Isn’t that similar to the rhino’s structure?

 

SL        Yes but the difference is that we look after the whole of Yorkshire and it’s a hot bed of rugby union talent. It takes some managing, but we have everyone buying into it. People see it as a natural progression as young players to come through the academy. The RFU awarded the academy status in 2001 and are rewarded on a geographical basis so we look after the whole Yorkshire.

 

SB       Looking to the Otley game are there any injury concerns going into that game?

 

SL        Not really John Holtby picked up a back spasm and we will see how that settles down just a few bumps and bruises really.

 

 

 

 

SB       What are you expecting from Otley on Saturday?

 

SL        I think they will through everything at us including the kitchen sink. It’s a massive local derby for both clubs especially as it’s a very important game for both sides. So we need to be mentally and physically prepared for that game.

 

SB       How easy is it to keep the players focussed on one game at a time coming into the critical stage of the season?

 

SL        It’s easy as it’s a discipline that’s developed over the season by the players and coaches. Its something I believe in as you can only control the controllables and the next game is the most important game. If you get carried away with thinking what’s going to happening 2-3 weeks then you can take your eye off the ball so our focus is firmly on Otley.

 

SB       Do you expect Joe Bedford to play against us as its going to be a strange game for him I suppose with him wanting to win promotion with Rotherham and him signing for the tykes?

 

SL        Can’t see why not he scored two 2 tries and was man of the match it shows the integrity and character of the player.

 

SB       Obviously we signed a fly half was it a position you looked at the begging of the season with only Vasey on the books?

 

SL        Yes but identifying and getting one is two different things. We are really please with how Richard has developed this season and how he has stepped up especially in the last 6-8 weeks.

 

SB       We’ve seen Hepworth there do you see him more as a centre?

 

SL        Yeah Johnny brought great versatility to our backline there’s times he’s played 10, 12 and 13 so it’s a little bit like Newcastle’s philosophy  don’t worry that much about the shirt I think Johnny fits that role. He’s a great distributor, carries the ball well and is a great attacking threat for us.

 

SB       What do you think of the announcement today of the English clubs boycotting European Rugby.

 

SL        It’s the first I’ve heard of it as you’ve just told me really?

 

SB       Yes I’ve just heard it in the bar on sky sports news.

 

SL        Off the top of my head things are coming to a head between club and country. That’s a big statement by the clubs, it’s a shame just take the games at the weekend. I suspect it will excel and bring things to a head.

 

SB       Where do you stand on the debate between club and country?

 

SL        England needs to play well and need a fair chance to do so that drives the national game they have very little time to prepare for games and often can’t pick the best team. The game is at club level is driven financially by the clubs. I am concerned about the progression of young player development if you don’t get that right young players don’t get a chance to get developed. Then irrespectively what they decide to do at the top in regards central contracting or making time available there won be continuity or sustained success as the young player will never be able to step up. For me they have to sort two things. Concentrate in developing the young player programme and a way of doing that is no relegation which promotes that you don’t have to go overseas like Newcastle who had 22 English players playing against us like last season and they recruited a load of Kiwi’s and whatever else to stay in the premiership and they are a good as us in the academy system. There are issues regarding promotion and relegation. I like the idea of incentifying it financially to squads to have 60%+ English based players. As you can see from my vision statement I would like to see 60% home grown talent in 3 years time and I think its achievable and if you get rewarded for it even better as its our philosophy. That has to be the way forward for English rugby if young players don’t get a chance at the highest level or keep getting benched or not being involved in squads it won’t make a difference.

 

SB       I’ve noticed this season some of the premiership clubs loan players out to National 1 sides. Is that something you would consider in the future?

 

SL        Firstly we need to be in the premiership first so don’t jump a head of yourself. Remember Otley one game at a time. Yes if you take Leicester’s model for example loaning to Bedford. Yes I think it is the way forward take National 1 has done for Kearnan Myall, Chris Hughes, Richard Vasey etc etc. Theses no doubt in my mindn there has to be a balance between A League and National 1 and National 2 for younger players. Yes I think it’s the way forward for player development.

 

SB       The LTSA are inducting 5 players into the Hall of Fame who would you pick to enter it?

 

SL        (Straight away) Mike Shelly no questions about that one, (SL pauses and is giving it a lot of thought)

            Simon Easterby an outstanding player for the club always thought he was a special player. (A pause again)

            Tom Palmer, Mark Luffman he played over 100 games and is a fantastic servant to the club,

            (Yet another pause)

SB       That leaves you with one more choice

 

SL        Just one? (SL deep in thought) Chris Thornton who was a winger played over 100games and scored some fantastic tries.

 

SB       Thanks for your time this evening Stuart.

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