Interview with Simon Easterby: The new skipper sees his job description in terms of leading by example, writes Johnny Watterson
Simon Easterby's politics yesterday bore little resemblance to the forceful cleaning out and rucking he will be required to do this weekend against arguably the best team in the world. The Llanelli captain was landed with a new job few thought was up for grabs and he never considered or looked for.
His balancing act in the Citywest hotel in accepting the Irish captaincy with honour and grace was set against the backdrop of Anthony Foley's plummet from not just the captaincy but also the squad.
It was a sharp point of debate as Denis Leamy was named at number eight and, doubtless, a crushing disappointment to the proud Foley. But few present could deny the armband is a snug fit on its new owner.
It was only when his broken nose was passed fit for resumption of backrow duties, the catastrophic fallout for the incumbent captain and Munster number eight was put into motion. Had Easterby's proboscis needed more time for recovery, Foley would still be Eddie O'Sullivan's lieutenant and the man who would lead Ireland against the All Blacks in a rejigged backrow.
"I haven't called anyone yet," said Easterby yesterday afternoon when asked whom he had telephoned with the news. Still mulling over O'Sullivan's call, he resembled a head-hunted executive arriving in after the vacancy had been created.
"Obviously it's a huge honour. But the captaincy is not something I've looked to do. It is not something I have gone after," he said. "Obviously with Brian (O'Driscoll) injured and Paul (O'Connell) injured the captaincy is offered to you by those who think you can do the job. As far as I'm concerned, I see it as a short-term thing.
"But I haven't been under any illusions and the most important thing for me was to get fit. I was desperate to get fit. I'm more concerned about the way I play than captaining the side. Eddie came to me this morning and asked would I, and I was delighted to accept.
"Axel (Foley) is a team guy. He's a good man and he'll want us to do well come Saturday whether he's involved or not."
With 42 caps Easterby is the sixth-most-experienced player of the squad and the fourth-most-
decorated of the starting 15, after Malcolm O'Kelly (73), Peter Stringer (58), John Hayes (54) and Ronan O'Gara (52).
But his work ethic has always found admirers and as the Lions foundered in New Zealand last summer, he emerged as one of the players whose reputation remained in shape.
Echoing O'Driscoll's philosophy, he hopes his performance will be more eloquent than any stirring, changing-room call to arms.
"Different players have different ways of reacting to the responsibility but hopefully if I can concentrate on my own game in making sure that I deserve to be selected - and that means putting in a performance - then when it comes to making decisions I'll be in the frame of mind to do it. But there are a lot of things you can't see if your head is buried in the bottom of a ruck, so I'll have to rely on other people too."
The understated determination of the captain and the unyielding quartz edge of the player could work very well. Typically, Easterby sees no profit from reacting to the All Blacks' ritual haka, as O'Driscoll did in plucking a blade of grass and tossing it over his shoulder a matter of seconds before being carried from the pitch during the Lions' first Test.
"It is a challenge," says Easterby of the haka. "The All Blacks set down a challenge and it is something we will stand up to and accept just as we've done before - it will be no different.
"We always knew they were going to be impressive and they were. Wales were down in numbers, as we are in a couple of areas. But it gives us hope that there are certain areas of their game that we hope to exploit on Saturday. The breakdown area is a big area for every All Black, especially the backrow. I think we've picked a backrow that can compete in that area."
Llanelli, Wasps and Munster forming an Ireland backrow. And nobody saw it coming.
