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In the run up to the 2003 Rugby World England head coach Sir Clive Woodward emphasized the importance of detail, and took addressing the minutiae of the England’s game to the next level.
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To paraphrase the philosophy – ‘If we do 100 things one per cent better’ we will be victorious. Indeed Woodward cited the importance of ‘critical non – essentials’ (CNEs), believing them to be key to England’s World Cup success in 2003.
Yet what about negative one percenters? The tiny things – that individually seem negligible – but that collectively can lead to the downfall of a team.
The enormous touring party, the individual hotel rooms for players and the presence of former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell were all widely considered detrimental in Woodward’s failed 2005 Lions tour.
Fast forward to the present day.
Enter James Haskell and the British and Irish Lions.
Haskell has been touted as that oldest of rugby clichés – the “good tourist” – he may not be pushing for a test place but he’s a good guy to have around camp.
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Indeed many fans – this one included – are looking forward to the prospect of Haskell’s videos surfacing on social media over the course Lions tour, not least how his relationship with reluctant ‘best mate’ Owen Farrell develops.
Yet is there a negative side effect to having Haskell – and more specifically Haskell’s overwhelming level of banter – in the squad?
Haskell is the type of character that the game of Rugby Union needs. Colourful, brash and with a quick turn of phrase, the self proclaimed ‘Bishop of Banterbury’ prides himself on mixing it with the best chatters in the business.
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But what people don’t like to talk about is the unspoken tyranny of banter. For banter bullies, if you possess ‘s*** banter’, then it’s a massive slight on your personality.
Haskell himself has frequently alluded to his own lack of tolerance for people who don’t have ‘good banter’. In a video addressed to his fans in March he unashamedly spoke of blocking anyone with ‘s*** comments, s*** banter, terrible chat’.
It would seem if the Bantersaurus Rex deems your banter unworthy, you don’t get a seat at the ‘banter table’.
Such are the whims of a banter tyrant.
And what of his British and Irish Lions teammates? It’s not impossible to imagine quieter players being intimidated by a perceived need to give and take banter.
It may come as a shock to some, but not everyone is good at banter, and not everyone likes it to start with.
Let’s hope for the sake of a competitive series that banter doesn’t become an overarching distraction in one of the most grueling Lions tours ever conceived.
