Could there finally be a rugby-based movie worth watching? Clint Eastwood is directing 'Invictus' (formerly 'The Human Factor') — featuring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon — that tells the story of Nelson Mandela, Francois Pienaar, and South Africa's underdog run at the 1995 RWC.
Here's the plot synopsis from the studio:The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa's rugby team to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.
I am not a huge biopic fan (especially when the characters are still alive) but the heady brew of rugby, Eastwood, Freeman, and Damon all the sudden put this movie on my must-see list for this fall/winter. The movie is set for a December 11 release and I am sure that we will organize a team event to check it out.
In the meantime, check out some pictures from the shoot and a delightfully cheesy concept poster that seems to be based on the artwork from such Eastwood classics as 'Every Which Way But Loose' and/or 'Where Eagles Dare':
Friday, September 18, 2009
Nelson Mandela/RSA Rugby Biopic
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
British Lions South Africa Tour 2009: First Test
Setanta has started airing the rebroadcast of the first Lions/RSA test match from the 2009 tour and it is definitely worth checking out. Without spoiling anything, the match comes down to the wire and is an exciting spectacle, but more than that we see a lot of what we have been practicing put into action.
South Africa makes the most of the ELV changes by dominating the lineouts and setting up an absolutely devestating maul. You can easily see how patience and coordination makes this move almost unstopable now that you can no longer collapse the maul. Just about every time they use it they get a) 20+ meters, b) a Lions' penalty, and/or c) a try.
On the other side of the ball, the Lions' centers create a ton of headaches for the defense with hard running into contact and great offload passing. There is nothing fancy about #12 taking the ball at pace and running through a tackle or two before dishing to a guy sprinting up on his hip. In a lot of cases, #13 takes the ball back inside looking to hook up with a forward rather than forcing something outside.
The kicking game from both teams is also worth noting, especially how the ball is contested in the air and the back three coordinate counters. All-in-all, one of the more instructive matches that I have seen in relation to the game plan we have been trying to execute.
I will try to find some good clips from the match and update the blog as well as figuring out how to get this on DVD so that people can check it out.
In the meantime, here is a little Brian O'Driscoll move from his club play that you can try out tonight at 7's practice...
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
A Note From Reuben
Fellas, here's a some lunch time entertainment to reiterate some of the finer points made at practice last night. (2009 Hong Kong 7s finals)
Few notes (approximate minute)
(1:02) support scores tries, keep your feet on attack and keep your head on a swivle knowing who's runing support and where
(3:33) drop back into position (behind the ball), don't run through after you pass, you're useless otherwise
(8:10) keep a flat line on defense, otherwise teams will punish you. we see this last one all the time, if we don't come up hard and fast TOGETHER on defense guys with any pace can weave right through our line and we're put on our heels. don't give them the opportunity and come up together and hard as a flat line.
