In the latest of his exclusive columns for FRC, Pau captain Paul Dearlove talks about pre-match nerves, Richie McCaw and the art of influencing a referee in the second part of his trilogy on the value of experience within today's professional rugby squads.

I used to hear the older guys saying things like “you can’t buy experience” and I’d pretty much always dismissed it as one of those things senior players say to convince the coaches they should be in the team for the weekend. Now, as a senior player myself (unbelievably, at 31, I’m the oldest player in the Pau squad!) I am realizing just how important experience is. Here's why...

Match Preparation. Don’t let anyone fool you – game day is a nerve racking experience. It doesn’t matter if you are the biggest or best player on the field – if a guy tells you he doesn’t get nervous, he’s lying. I remember a former international telling me a story about how he dealt with pre-game nerves. He asked me if I’d seen Saving Private Ryan (remember the opening 20 minutes? Pretty hectic stuff) and to think about how those men felt in those boats as they approached the D-Day beaches. They knew there was a strong likelihood they would be killed or horribly maimed. “Imagine that feeling” the player told me “and then think about what you have to do – it doesn’t even come close”.

In the latest of his exclusive columns for FRC, Pau captain Paul Dearlove talks about wasted effort, the fitness benefit of having children and the value of experience...

I used to hear the older guys saying things like “you can’t buy experience” and I’d pretty much always dismissed it as one of those things senior players say to convince the coaches they should be in the team for the weekend. Now, as a senior player myself (unbelievably, at 31, I’m the oldest player in the Pau squad!) I am realizing just how important experience is.

Gym work. If I had my time again I’d spend a lot more time at the squat rack and on my core strength (gainage as it is known in France). I shudder to think how much time and effort I’ve wasted in the gym doing things that haven’t made me a better player. Bench press, calf raises, bicep curls and basic sit ups all fall into this category.

Read More...

The Top 14 play-offs may be be generating the majority of headlines this week but it’s also a crucial weekend in ProD2, with four teams putting themselves on the line for the opportunity to take a step nearer plying their trade in France’s elite division next season.

Champions SU Agen have already secured their slot in Top 14, so now it’s over to Lyon OU, La Rochelle, Oyonnax and Pau to stake their respective claims.

Lyon OU finished second – although level on points with third-placed La Rochelle – and so have home advantage against Pau, while La Rochelle’s dramatic last-day win at Oyonnax means they now have a home semi-final against the same opponents.

Home advantage can be crucial in these matches, but Pau’s Paul Dearlove (and FRC columnist) says his side have nothing to fear from their trip to Lyon. Earlier in the season they drew 22-22 at Lyon, and they go into Sunday’s match full of confidence on the back of a run that seen them lose just twice in their last 18 games – dating back to mid-December.

“If you’re not cheating – you’re not trying!”

I have heard this from many coaches and players and I understand the mentality. Rugby is a game with many areas requiring interpretation and this opens the door to all types of games within the game.

But what is cheating? Slowing the ball down for two or three seconds is against the laws, but is it cheating? Holding or obstructing an opposition supporting runner for even the shortest moment can save a try - this is also unlawful but teams train strategies with dummy runners for exactly this purpose. I could go on but anyone who has played or watched a game of rugby could pinpoint innumerable examples of players ‘cheating’.

Read More...

While the rugby world digests Ian McGeechan’s British and Irish Lions this week – I thought it would be an interesting exercise to pick a current world XV and see how many of those Lions would make it. There are some notable omissions (as there have to be) and I’m sure there will be many of you that disagree with certain selections (I certainly don’t agree with everyone that has made the Lions squad) but I will explain my reasoning as we go and should my team ever get the opportunity to play the Martians – I reckon we’d do ok.

Let’s start at the front – where rugby starts anyway. You should ignore whatever those little men with the nice hair say.

Read More...