LAST UPDATE | 1 Jun 2018
A NEW TITLE, but players and coaches alike expect Jared Payne to bring the same intelligent influence to Ireland camp.
The Ulster and Ireland back announced his retirement from playing rugby at the age of 32 last week, a little over 11 months after playing his final match.
That his last outing came in Waikato as a Lion reveals so much of the esteem coaches held Payne in. Never the quickest or most physically imposing, Payne’s game intelligence (and no shortage of silky skill) continually kept him one step ahead.
Hand in hand with the announcement of Payne’s retirement due to concussion was the positive note that he will remain on in the job he has held unofficially for the past four months, Ulster Rugby defence coach.
His progress in that field will also be put on the fast-track of exposure to the international training scene – an initiative Felix Jones, Girvan Dempsey and Ronan O’Gara benefited from last summer – as Payne has linked up with Ireland for pre-tour training in Carton House and will remain with the squad until after the first Test against Australia on 9 June.
“It’s a role that’s going to suit him,” says CJ Stander, a team-mate of Payne’s for both Ireland and the Lions.
We’re all professional and we want to work as hard as we can. When he spoke, he said what he’s going to do and did it. That what he expects from players.
“He’s always been a defensive leader, especially in Irish camp. In defence when he spoke, people listened. This tour, and this week so far, he’s learning and seeing what we’re doing. Then I think he’s going to take that experience and then go to Ulster and show them what he can do.
“An unbelievable player, he’s going to be a great coach.”
Payne won all 20 of his Test caps under Joe Schmidt. The Ireland head coach continually showed immense levels of faith in the versatile back, first, tasking him with filling Ireland’s 13 jersey to smooth the transition into the post-Brian O’Driscoll era.
Payne’s final cap came in the 2017 Six Nations win over England when the Ulster star was still working back to full fitness after a horrible kidney injury left him passing blood during the November 2016 win over Australia.
“I’m very tempted to put him into the side,” Schmidt joked, albeit with a deadly serious expression, yesterday.
The head coach will be glad to have his compatriot’s influence within the squad on this tour, even if he won’t be able to lay a hand on a ball or personally marshal the line.
“He’s a great character as well as a really clever player. A couple of years ago we went to South Africa with a very young side, he was an incredible leader in that situation with some of the detail and advice he gave.
“He’s been coaching for the last two years in our environment. So for him to pick up (coaching) and do so well with Ulster in a very short space of time. Already it promises plenty from Jared’s perspective…without putting much pressure on him, you’re inevitably learning.
“I’ve been doing this for about 17/18 years and I’m still learning every time we get together.
“He’s a good learner, he’s already got great game knowledge. he’s got a real ability to communicate positively.”
Seems harsh regardless of 13. His eyes were on the ball.
@Martin Quinn: I’ve never understood why the jumping player has no duty of care for himself. Also, I believe the term tackler is not accurate as there was no tackle or player in possession.
@Martin Quinn: he is not the tackler, he was going for a high ball which does not constitute a tackle.
Issue here is consistency. Last week that double tackle on the French went unpunished given the lack of intent. Result, double facial fracture for the player. This week, where’s the intent? Possible interference too, clearly accidental. Obviously landing is horrific and we’re all for player welfare but the result is far less severe than what came before. The cancer on the game, Neil Francis aside, is that each week a different referee comes out with his own interpretation and it ruins the game.
did have eyes for ball which is frustrating for french player but still red
It’s a red. Unfortunate yes. But he took him out in the air and he landed on his head.
@David OfBrien: that is one of the things that bothers me, David. Barrett landed on his head, yes, but if he hadn’t would it have been a yellow? There has got to be an objective assessment of a tackle being or not being dangerous without consideration of the outcome. I say this because sometimes referees take the outcome into consideration and sometimes not. Then we end up having long discussions on whether it should have been a red, yellow or no card.
@David OfBrien: looks like he landed on the top of the shoulders to me but looks horrific all the same. Very lucky not to do more damage. You have to admire the bravery of players fielding the ball like that but could there be something more done to protect them?
@David OfBrien: Decisions shouldn’t be based on outcomes. Both jumped for the ball, the rules I think are a bit upfair as they sort of say that if you jump the highest, you have licence to do pretty much anything.
@Olive Barnes: 100% agree. Yes the outcome is bad, he clearly landed on head/neck, but as you say if he landed on his side that would have been a yellow. Referees should be officiating on the nature of the tackle and not the outcome.
@David OfBrien: they both went for the same ball. One player jumped the other stayed on his feet. The player who jumps puts himself into danger.
Completely different if he wasn’t watching the ball.
But in an accidental collision why should the player who’s least injured the penalised.
@Joe Kennedy: what’s on top of your shoulders Joe?haha ya I think it was a red. There was no intent to injure the player, but unfortunately the onus is on the player to make sure the opposition lands safely, and he didn’t. The issue here is that Fall didn’t jump for the ball. If he did, it would have been a fair contest and the contact with Barrett would have been higher on his body, so he wouldn’t have flipped like he did. I don’t know if there is anything that can be done to protect the players more in this case to be honest. Just a risk in the game.
@Olive Barnes: I agree. The tackle on Kearney was a clear spear tackle only Kearney got a shoulder down. Should have also been a red all day long.
Can’t hell but be cynical and wonder what the outcome would have been if the roles were reversed
Ref never seemed to consider the touch by 13 on Fall. It made him stumble slightly hence his timing for the challenge was all wrong. Bastereud should have brought that to the refs attention rather than the “eye on the ball” excuse. Probably still a red but the French must feel very hard done by. Can see a few scraps before this finishes.
Every 50/50 decision in this game has gone the way of new Zealand. Letter of
@s mc: Blame the ref not the players
@Andrew Goodman: Don’t see where he blamed the players. He made an observation. Kiwi fan feeling persecuted even when its an observation on them receiving the rub of the green!
Fall is pushed by NZ no.13 in under Barrett. (In the 2 seconds before this video) Surely this needs to be taken into account.
It is also clear that something needs to change about the rules…accidental stuff like this ruins a game. Don’t know what the answer is, but it is ruining games.
Jeez that’s awful harsh. I know player safety is at a premium now but how can you blame him for the way he ended up.
It was a red. But after last week they were robbed.
Seems to be one rule for nz and one for the rest. Also try after was forward.
@Shougeki: lies
Might seem harsh if you’re a French fan but it’s the right call by the ref. Players need to be protected in the air.
@Jim Demps: sorta agree , but this is leading to players jumping early and catching the ball in an unnatural position where they are already leaning backwards as they know that first in the air will get the refs call.
@Jg Igoe: perhaps but the rules are there for the players safety. If you get a chance go back and have a look at warburtons tackle against France in the wc that he got a red card for. At the time there were huge arguements whether it warranted a red or not. On viewing it with today’s eyes it’s a shocking tackle and the game is better off for having stamped it out.
@Jim Demps: agree on your general point but I do think the nudge from Lienert Brown means it should’ve been a yellow
Harsh red card.
After the mugging France got from the ref last week no one wanted to see this. But it was a fair call. Refs have to do what they can to protect players. That could have been a serious injury
France have a bit of pride and spirit now.. Something they have not had in a good few years
The rule should be red if intentional
Only way to stop this is players cannot jump to catch the ball. Tough I know but it’s all about player safety
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