Cowan bounces back
Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:29
Back from the brink: Jimmy Cowan
A late Andre Pretorius penalty for the Springboks in September 2006 not only brought an end to 15 straight test wins for the All Blacks, it also signalled the start to two years of international isolation for scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan.
Fast forward to the start of this summer and it didn’t look much better. Lying behind Andy Ellis and Brendon Leonard in the pecking order for the No. 9 shirt he earned a call-up and later replaced the injured Leonard.
Exploits on the field were overshadowed by incidents off it however, leading to a week suspension in 2005 following an incident in a Brisbane bar while on tour with the Junior All Blacks. Three arrests for disorderly behaviour in the months leading up to this year’s Tri-Nations opener with South Africa, put his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) in jeopardy.
It threatened to end an international career that, at 26, had yet to gather real momentum. "They were tough times," recalls Cowan. "I was in a dark place. I was at rock bottom and you can’t get any lower than rock bottom."
The NZRU stepped in with Manager, Darren Shand issuing him with an ultimatum. "Jimmy must change his behaviour if he wants to be a professional rugby player in New Zealand. We have made it a condition of his employment that he stop drinking altogether," said Shand at the time. "This is his last chance."
"That was one of the initial stages, realising I had the problem and trying to fix it," according to Cowan. "It’s not hard because at the end of the day I had a decision to make. It was either rugby or the drink. It’s a pretty easy sacrifice to make when you think about it. Rugby means the world to me and playing for the All Blacks means the world to me."
Cowan was retained for the Tri-Nations, appearing as a substitute for Ellis in the opening two games. "I just reassessed my life and where I was going. Hindsight is a great thing, isn’t it? My steps were to climb and I’ve managed to climb and I see a bit a light at the end of the tunnel as they say. It’s fair to say I’m glad it happened and I’m benefitting now."
It seemed that he was destined to get another shot and it came with more than a hint of good fortune, as another All Blacks halfback was hit by injury. Having scored a try to edge New Zealand 19-17 in front against Australia in Sydney, Ellis went off with injured ribs to be replaced by Cowan, but returned as a blood substitute for Cowan. A patched up Cowan later re-entered the fray in place of Ellis whose next outing, against Scotland last week, saw him suffer a torn rib cartilage on the opposite side that ended his Tri-Nations campaign.
"Who would have thought eh?" said Cowan of a year which has seen him go from omitted from the original Tri Nations squad to first choice halfback for the All Blacks defence of their Grand Slam tour. "This game is all about taking chances. It just shows I stuck in for the long haul and I am reaping the rewards now. I’m very fortunate where I’ve come with injuries to the other guys ahead. It’s disappointing for their sakes but it’s a bonus for my sake too, so I can’t look too far behind and just concentrate on the job in hand."
With their 103 year unbeaten streak against Ireland still intact, the job in hand for Cowan is making sure a Welsh side, which pushed to within five points of South Africa, don’t record their first victory over the All Blacks since 1953. The narrow defeat to South Africa in 2006 is still on his mind and Saturday gives him another chance to exorcise any remaining demons.
"As we all know I still have it in my mind that it was a loss and I took a hammering from the people at home. I stayed true to myself, I stayed strong in myself, always believed in myself that I had the ability to play international rugby. International rugby is a tough place to be but something I thrive on to, when the going gets tough, it is something I really enjoy.
"The coaches have put faith in me too. It was just about me going away and working hard on my game and hanging tough. Working hard and not giving up. As I said someone has been looking down because I’m here now and it’s through other people’s bad look, but I can’t worry too much about that. I have to worry about what’s ahead of me now."
The Bledisloe Cup in Hong Kong and the bruising encounter at Croke Park were the latest challenges for Cowan who although linked with a move to Stade Francais in 2007, didn’t follow the widespread exodus of his fellow countrymen to Europe. "I’m at the age of 26 now where I haven’t really achieved a lot in my rugby career. I haven’t won a lot of titles. I’ve been sort of plodding along from A to B, whereas now I really have a chance to cement my spot in this team and I’m just doing everything in my powers to do that."
Coach Graham Henry was satisfied with his performance against Ireland which should see him start against Wales next weekend. "I think he got better as the game went on, when he started dive passing and clearing players around the ruck area. There were a lot of players around the ruck which slowed the ball down, which was frustrating. Once he started the dive passing he got out of that situation, orders from Wayne Smith from the stand."
The ‘hanging tough’ mentality that has seen him put past problems to rest is something he prides himself on. It was evident in Saturday’s crushing 22-3 defeat of Ireland in which he was substituted after an hour and is sure to benefit him against a strong Welsh side.
"They’re very physical and probably it doesn’t get recognised," said Cowan of the home nations. "These guys are tough and they play it week in week out twenty six weeks of the year so these next few weeks will be tough rugby."
His focus is clearly on the last two games of the tour, against Wales and England, but the biggest test is yet to come. Both Ellis and Leonard will be back in contention by the time next year’s Tri Nations comes knocking. A disastrous test in either of the remaining games could signal a longer stint of international isolation while triumph could see him follow in the footsteps of Justin Marshal and Byron Kelleher in securing that the No. 9 shirt as his own.
It’s been a difficult year for Cowan and should he get the pick at scrumhalf for the clash at the Millennium Stadium against Wales, it will give him yet another opportunity to repay both the support and the faith shown in him by the All Blacks management, players and his family.
"I want to let rugby do the talking and that is how I am sort of paying them back. It’s always been a dream to become an All Black and once you get here you just want more and more. It’s an addiction. It’s a dream and to be here is pretty special."
Cillian O Conchuir is a freelance sports journalist based in Ireland.
