Archive for April 15th, 2009

Meet Scott Hamilton – the Crusader who became a Tiger. The only New Zealand delicacy the former All Black wing is missing is pineapple lumps. In Leicester, England, you get lumps the size of pineapples kicked out of you and that’s from your own team mates at training.
You also get to play in the two biggest games in European club rugby – the Guinness Premiership final and the Heineken Cup final.
At Twickenham on Saturday…then Heineken Cup final
Hamilton, Christchurch born and bred, had not even set foot in Europe before arriving in Leicester – a city its mother would find hard to love and only on the map for its rugby. Hamilton’s first few weeks were cold and the style of play not to his liking. He is glad he stayed and the Tigers are very glad to have him and you cannot overstate the importance of the underrated Hamilton to Leicester’s magnificent season.
“It has been an awesome first season in English rugby, but it was a very tough first month.”
It is no coincidence that after some pretty dour, kicking dominated rugby from Leicester as the English game got to grips with the ELVs, Hamilton started relaxing in his new home and Leicester started playing attractive, all court rugby.
“A happy side is usually a successful side. It is not all work, work here at Leicester. We know when to switch on, but also when to have some fun.”
Hamilton knew all about the Leicester reputation for over-competitive training – a euphemism for laying into eachother, tigers marking their territory and being especially harsh on newcomers. Considering you are an outside if you live five miles outside of Leicester, what chance did the pasty kid from the other side of the world have or breaking into English rugby’s most notorious brotherhood?
“I have actually only seen one punch thrown in training. It is a really tight-knit squad –a closeness and an environment that reminds me of the Crusaders. I have been made very welcome and the supporters are so passionate about the club.”
Leicester’s season was disrupted in x when their new head coach Heyneke Meyer had to resign to return to South Africa because of family illness.
Richard Cockerill, the former England hooker who went eyeball to eyeball with Norm Hewitt during the Haka, took the reins, supported by backs coach Matt O’Connor, the former ACT Brumbie.
“The whole coaching system has been simplified and players have had a much bigger say in the way we play, making us more accountable.”
It pays to give players of the calibre of Hamilton a big say. He is never going to scorch the earth, or do a show pony somersault on scoring a try, but he has quickly earned the label the thinking man’s wing.
Hamilton reads the game so well, as befit a man equally adept at full-back. He helps organise both Leicester’s attack and defence and mixes superb timing and anticipation with patience and work-rate.
Hamilton is a long-striding glider rather than staccato sprinter, who can shape an attack and break a line – a proven finisher who will look to add to his x Heineken Cup tries in the final.
“I am never going to be the quickest. But I tend to get to the right place at the right time. My last couple of seasons at the Crusaders I struggled with my form, but I am full of confidence now and scoring tries.”
He has formed a great understanding with Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy, the Leicester captain.
“Geordan plays with great guts and has awesome skills. He reminds me a lot of Leon MacDonald.”
Such has been the dominance of Leicester’s pack in years gone by, a Tigers wing caught hypothermia more often than the ball. But Leicester have reached two finals with enterprise as well as muscle.
“My parents back home say, in terms of enjoyment, they would rather watch the English Premiership than Super 14,”
This Saturday Leicester seek their third Heineken Cup triumph to join French side Toulouse as the most successful in the history of the competition.
“One of the reasons for my move was to play in this very special tournament and to be in the final is what dreams are made of.”
A European Cup victory would cap an incredible 12 months for Hamilton, having left New Zealand with the Super 14 title and the Air New Zealand Cup in his locker.
“I have not seen too much of Leinster, except their great win over Munster in the semi-final/ They have class backs such as Brian O’Driscoll, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney.”
Hamilton would have landed in Leicester confident of silverware, given the Tigers standing in the European game. If you told him he would find himself at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff lining up a penalty in rugby’s first penalty shoot-out to keep Leicester in the Heineken Cup he would have choked on a pineapple lump.
“That semi-final was surreal. The atmosphere was nothing I had experienced before and one of my best moments on a rugby field.”
Hamilton had joked before the game with Tigers kicking coach Paul Burke about the pecking order in the event of a penalty shoot-out, which would never happen, would it?
“I was going to be number six – first in sudden death – but moved to five when Toby Flood was injured.”
Hamilton, cool as you like, stroked it over in the manner of a man who has spent too much time at training potting goals with Dan Carter.
“I have actually kicked for my club Glenmark, so fancied a shot.”
Fellow New Zealander Craig Newbury, the former Highlanders flanker, then kicked a sudden death penalty and after Cardiff’s Martyn Williams missed, Leicester number eight Jordan Crane kicked the winning penalty to take Leicester to the final.
While mixing with the local lads, Hamilton and his partner Ruth, fellow former Crusader turned Tiger Aaron Mauger and Newby have created a small Kiwi community in the Leicestershire village of Kibworth.
“We miss the laid back appeal of New Zealand. It is a special place. But Craig and I have joined the Kibworth bowling club.” All Blacks in all white? They actually got a dressing down from an old member – are there any others in a bowls club? –for not dressing, as etiquette requires, in white.
Hamilton has another year on his Leicester contract. Having travelled this far he is keen for a bit more of Europe, either with an extended stay with the Tigers, a move to France, or perhaps a club closer to home in Japan.
Hamilton, who won two Test caps in 2006 against Argentina in Buenos Aires, scoring on debut and South Africa in Wellington, all but accepts his All Blacks career is over, although New Zealand backs coach Wayne Smith told Hamilton on departure for England he was still in the frame.
“The move to Leicester was a financial one as well as sporting. Having seen the likes of Lelia Masaga at the Chiefs, New Zealand are not exactly short of quality wings. It is probably the All Blacks strongest position at the moment.”
Considering his run of form expect Hamilton to lift the Heineken Cup and then be crowned Kibworth bowls champion. As for those pineapple lumps Scotty, try the New Zealand Shop in London’s Covent Garden.

From Rugby News - New Zealand - www.rugby.co.nz

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