By apb
August 18 2005

Iain Balshaw was - at the time - Leeds' biggest name signing. First coming to prominence in 2000 in Clive Woodwards England side, he was a Lions tourist in 2001 and a World Cup winner in 2003. Young, good looking and Northern, he had everything going for him.

So why then, did the Bath fans on the Sportnetwork messageboards say, almost with one voice, "Thanks Iain, but you're no loss to us"?

Well of course, the profile of the man meant that he can command a handsome salary, and no doubt there was a hint of relief at a large chunk of salary cap released for new players. But we all really know what the main problem was: injuries.

During the time between the Lions tour of 2001 and his leaving Bath at the end of the 2003/4 season, Balshaw had played few games for his club. He was accused by the hard of heart of not really caring about club rugby, and putting his efforts in only in order to gain selection for international duty.

There's no doubt there was something of a pattern to his playing appearances: Long term injury, followed by a couple of club games and then call-up to the national squad. Play at Twickenham, get injured, and not appear for the club for another long stint. Repeat ad-nauseum.

So when he did leave Bath, not only did one west country wag say "Iain who? Has he played for us then?", but there were several dissenting voices in the Leeds ranks too. Several worries that we would not get value for money from an obviously talented but apparently fragile player. Worries that we would see even less of the player at Headingley than the Bath fans at the Rec (even the ones NOT in that dreadful temporary stand!).

And if you look at it in the cold light of today, where Balshaw is currently recovering from a badly broken nose in the pre-season friendly against Edinburgh, after having just returned from a bad quadracep injury, it looks like those worriers might have been right.

But there is a difference. And its a biggy.

On joining Leeds, it would have been tempting to put him straight into the team and make him work his magic, in spite of a niggling knee strain that he might just have played on with. Indeed previous evidence suggests that had be remained at Bath, he would have played. Not here. Phil Davies made sure the man did not strap on his boots until October, when no trace of the injury was left. A fully fit Balshaw was ready to take the stage.

And he did, to great effect. The media sat up and took notice, and in their own minds, fast-tracked him into the England team for the Autumn internationals of 2004. He didn't play, but remained with Leeds, gaining match fitness. He had a good run of matches after Christmas, and just as the Powergen Cup final was coming up, he damaged his quad in training. By this time he'd been named in the Lions party to tour New Zealand, and the old image - however unfair - of Balshaw only doing it for the International scene haunted him once again.

But for those doubters, the crunch came on the 16th March 2005, when Balshaw led the Tykes out on to the Twickenham pitch to play in (and ultimately win) the final of the Powergen Cup. Balshaw was right there for his club, playing with what turned out to be a serious injury that put him out of the game in the space of three minutes, but more significantly, put him out of the Lions tour. Balshaw had put club first.

And now we come back to the present. Once again he played with a real verve and sharpness that made us all watch with baited breath. And then he went down and stayed down to a sizable groan of dismay from the fans. Will it happen again? Will the Porcelain Prince be smashed again? Well for that match, yes, but news coming from the Tykes camp suggests that he will be right for the start of the season, ready to give his all for the club.

A fit Balshaw is a sight to behold. He will worry every team he comes up against, whatever the dissenters and the uncharitable say out loud. They will know in their hearts that he is a handful in attack, and committed in defence. He may have bent his nose last weekend, but his running this season will be straight: straight across the try-line many many times....

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