Leicester's Lions #2: Neil Back

Leicester's Lions No.2: Neil Back

Neil Back

Even at a club with a long and glorious history like ours being selected for multiple Lions tours is still a special achievement.  The names drip off the tongue Wheeler, Woodward, Richards, Underwood, Corry and more are a litany of legends.  But only two men have been on a third tour.  They stand head and shoulders above the other giants of the club.  Back and Johnson. 

Neil Back played 338 times for Leicester and ended his career as one of the most decorated players in English rugby history.  5 League triumphs, 2 European titles, 2 domestic cups, top try scorer in the history of league rugby, 66 caps for England, a grandslam, two more Six Nations championships, a World Cup, 5 caps for the Lions, a winning Lions tour.

Short sighted England coaches Geoff Cooke and Jack Rowell continually snubbed Back during the early 1990’s due only to his build, preferring the outsized Steve Ojomoh, Ben Clarke and at one stage even Tim Rodber.  The Lander incident in 1996, though he only missed 13 matches, left him further than ever from the international scene.

But the Lions helped change all that.  In those days the home nations’ coaches would put forward the names they thought were good enough for selection, 62 were entered for the 1997 tour to South Africa but Rowell had not included Back.  However tour manager Fran Cotton and coaches Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer had other ideas; Back was on the plane. 

It’s hard to imagine now but Back was considered a massive gamble and was a sure fire “dirt tracker” by many, he proved them wrong though by playing 8 games including the last two tests.  In the second test it was Back’s turnover that led to Wood hacking forward and Guscott being able to slot the winning drop goal.

With Woodward now in charge Back was a fixture of the England back row missing only 8 of the next 70 test matches up to the 2003 World Cup final.  Back captained England on 4 occasions winning them all. 

Back’s second Lions tour was not quite the success as the first as he was hampered with a rib injury which ruled him out of the first test.  The Lions lost the two test matches he featured in but they were both close run things with Back scoring a first half try in the 2^nd test to go into the break 11-6 up.  The second half fight back by the Wallabies has gone down in history as they surged past the Lions to win 35-14.  The third test didn’t go the Lions way as Justin Harrison, who earlier on the tour Austin Healey had described  as a plod, a plank and an ape, rose on the last play to paw the ball back on his side from  a Lions attacking lineout and seal the victory for Australia.  On his debut too.  Git.

Of course just before that crushing low Back and his Tigers team mates had experienced the ultimate high.  Paris.  A try scorer in the second half come back before Healey set up Lloyd for the stunning finale.  Need I say more?

Tigers had secured their 3^rd successive league title back in March after romping away from the competition and sealed the inaugural Play Off final (just an end of season jolly then rather than the title decider) against Bath the week before the Parisian dream.  2002 saw the Premiership and Heineken Cup retained, with Tigers matching Bath’s record of 4 successive titles and becoming the first side to retain a European title.  Back’s “hand” in the 2002 victory is massively over played as Tigers were by far the better side that day and Munster could have played for another hour without scoring a try.

Back’s greatest honour though was won in Sydney on 22^nd November 2003.  Neil Back played the whole 100 minutes as England, led by fellow Tiger Martin Johnson, beat Australia to become World Champions for, so far, the only time.  

Back was on the winning side in 31 of his last 33 England caps, a remarkable record and testament to both his greatness and that of his teammates.

He had one final international to play though.  His stunning form for Tigers as they topped the table in 2005 saw Back selected to tackle the All Blacks and go on the 2005 Lions tour alongside 7 of his Leicester teammates.  This selection tied Back with his greatest friend Martin Johnson on 3 Lions tours apiece.  

Controversy, though, dogged Back as he was suspended for the first 4 weeks of the tour after a fracas with Joe Worsley in the opening stages of the 2005 Premiership final defeat to Wasps.   Despite playing just one provincial game Back was selected for the first test, becoming the oldest ever player to represent the Lions in a test match; the 21-3 defeat was as near to the All Blacks as the Lions got and Tigers teammate and protégé Lewis Moody was the openside for the final two tests. 

Back’s final ever game of rugby was in a Lions jersey against Manawatu, he came off the bench and scored a try as he finished his career 16 years and 457 games after his Nottingham debut.

Since retiring Back has moved into coaching; first as an assistant at Tigers where he was part of Pat Howard’s backroom staff that guided the club to an historic double in 2007.  A year later he took over Leeds and guided them to promotion at the first attempt, then retained their Premiership status for one year before cruelly being relegated on the last day of the 2010/11 season on points difference from Newcastle.  Back dropped 5 divisions to lead the ill-fated Rugby revolution, as backer Michael Aland’s promised funds never materialised, however he did notch another promotion before the wheels fell off.  This year he worked under Michael Bradley at Edinburgh but was unable to bring his winning touch north of the border.

Back will always be remembered as one of the true greats of Leicester, England and the Lions who overcame early setbacks, some self inflicted most not, to win it all.  

Leicester's Lions #1: George Beamish, click here to read more 

10 Great Heineken Cup Moments

Ollie Smith gasses O’Driscoll

2^nd April 2005

This is the moment.  We know we can do it.  We can beat these.  It’s a Leinster throw in after a booming clearance by Andy Goode.  Louis Deacon rises above the Irish international pair of Mal O’Kelly and Leo Cullen to steal the ball.  It goes through the hands to Ollie Smith.  He’s up against the Blackrock bullet.  The best centre in the world, the best player in the world.  He’s about to be confirmed as Lions captain.  He’s Brian O’Driscoll, talisman of the Leinster challenge.  He doesn’t stand a chance.  He thinks he can cover the inside runner, leave a gap to his winger.  He’s Brian O’Driscoll.  Walloper of Wallabies, frier of Frenchies.  He can give this Young Turk from Hinckley the outside no problem.  I’m standing on the terrace behind the action at this end, where the old gouge in the terrace was, I can see the gap “GO! GO! GO!”  Ollie is miles ahead of me.  He’s gone, gone, gone.  O’Driscoll is left grasping at air.  The knot of Tigers on the terrace goes wild.  Believing is half the battle.  Half the battle has been won.

The Hand of Back

25^th May 2002

Neil Back was a bastard.  A tough bastard.  A great bastard.  But a bastard none the less.  This was the triumph of his bastardness.  It’s the 79^th minute, though in real time it is more like 90, and the score stands 15-9 to Leicester.  Munster are lucky to be this close.  Johnson’s already had a try ruled out as has Freddie Tuilagi.  Munster’s wing O’Neil came close, only a super human tackle by Austin Healey kept him out.  John Hayes and Graham Rowntree’s scrum tussle has got the referee Joel Jutge’s attention.  He’s on that side as the scrum goes down.  It all happens in a blur.  Peter Stringer is flapping his arms about, Corry has the ball at his feet and Healey fires the ball towards the touchline.  Has Dorian West just won it against the head?  No.  Neil Back, that magnificent bastard, has instead.  Replays show that Lewis Moody tried on the previous scrum what Back achieved to so much derision at this one.  He won the ball.  He “cheated”.  But then, so what?  He wasn’t the only the player to risk a penalty for a turnover that day.  The Corinthian ideal of fair play was old hat when Tom Crumbie was knee high to grass hopper.  You do what you can to win, and if you win then you’ve made the right calls.  Neil Back was a bastard alright.  But he’s my bastard.

Healey rolls over O’Gara

25^th May 2002

 This try epitomised everything that was great about Healey.  He’d been in iffy form in the run up to the final, it wasn’t certain he’d start at all let alone at 10.  But Deano was no mug.  He knew a big game player when he saw one.  And Healey knew a weak tackler when he saw one.  He had Ronan O’Gara in his sights.  A dummy to Rod Kafer was all it needed, O’Gara was bent out of shape showing Healey a weak shoulder and an inside track.  It was a purposeful and powerful burst, the sort that got him 50 England caps on the wing, as he ghosted through O’Gara and his attempted tackle.  Under the posts and after grounding the ball he flicked the Munster fans behind the goal a cheeky V sign.  V for Victory perhaps?

Stimpson hits the bar then post

April 28^th 2002

Llanelli.  In Nottingham.  It wasn’t going exactly to plan.  They’ve been all over us, though have never threatened the try line.  It doesn’t matter.  Llanelli 12 Leicester 10.  The final’s to be in Cardiff against Munster.  The clock is ticking down and Llanelli are safe in Tigers’ territory.  It’s a scrum just past the Tigers’ 10 meter line.  Darren Garforth gives one almighty shove.  Martyn Madden buckles under the pressure and referee David McHugh whistles for Garforth.  We know the script from here: kick for the 22, maul it forward, ruck it centrally and have Goodey, Geordie or Stimmo drop the goal.  West and Johnson are deciding where to chuck it in, when Stimpson has a different idea.  “I’ve got it” he says.  On the angle it is 60 meters easily, even on a short football pitch like this.  Behind the refs back he steals a metre.  Has he got the legs?  Only one way to find out.  It starts to drop, is it going to make it?  Short, oh my god its short!  BANG off the cross bar, its ballooning up.  The Leicester fans in the Trent End are blowing it over, the Llanelli fans behind the posts blowing it out.  BOFF off the post.  Splodge in the mud.  The crowd roar as the touch judges raise their flags.  We’re going to Cardiff.  Thank god for that metre.

Healey’s break, Lloyd’s finish

19^th May 2001

This was of course the greatest of them all.  20,000 fans travelled to the Parc Des Princes.  And we were losing.  Diego Dominguez had kicked 9 penalties and a drop goal to give Stade a 30-27 lead with only moments to go.  How long?  Nobody really knew.  This is France, there was no clock.  Obviously.  Why would we need a clock?  It’s only the European final!  It’s a lineout about the half way line, just inching into the Stade half.  Its slapped back on the Leicester side and Hamilton flings it towards Healey.  The Stade defence is rushing up.  But it isn’t in a line.  There are more dog legs than a Korean buffet.  Venditti is the unlucky one singled out.  Healey is through the gap with only Christophe Dominici between him and the line.  But he’s slowing, he’s cramping up.  Not now Austin any time but now!  Leon Lloyd is steaming in on his outside from his right wing position.  Healey spots him and times his pass to perfection.  Lloyd is now in foot race with Dominici to the corner flag.  To the victor the spoils.  To the victor a European title.  Nobody beats Lloyd to the corner.  Not today. 

Ospreys’ wings clipped

December 18^th 2005

This was an ugly game, Ian Evans has taken Ellis out with as vicious donkey kick after the whistle and Gavin Henson has kicked Moreno in the head after breaking his nose with an elbow.  Tigers are deep in their own 22 with the clock showing 80.  Down 15-10.  This is going to take some doing.  Ospreys have never lost a game at the “Liberty Stadium”.  We need some magic, some inspiration.  We need Andy Goode.  I remember the two keys moments of this move differently.  The first I remember the TV view, the second from my seat.  The first: It’s a ruck inside the Tigers 22, the defence of the Ospreys is narrow.  Tom Varndell is not in acres of space, he’s in hectares of space.  Goode finds him with the cross field kick and he is haring into the Ospreys half.  Stefan Terblanche is the last man back and makes his tackle.  If we’re not careful we’ll lose this.  Ollie Smith arrives in the nick of time.  His rucking is superb, he hefts Terblanche out the way but stops himself so he can bridge over the ball and keep it in the ruck.  We’re now back into my view, high up the stands on the 22 we’re attacking.  The ruck is on the other touchline.  Leon Lloyd is the senior back and takes charge; the ball comes out to him in the middle of the field.  He finds Dan Hipkiss on his outside.  Is this the moment?  No.  It’s another ruck.  Lloyd is still bossing the play and runs a switch to set up another ruck.  Hipkiss is back up and is on the blindside wing, near to us.  Lloyd is still playing fly half.  He goes to the line.  He attracts the defenders.  Hipkiss is arching his run in to support him through the contact.  But Wait!  No he isn’t, he’s got the pass.  He’s slipped through the net.  He’s round the posts and the Tigers faithful erupt.  That’s why Lloyd was playing fly half, he’s a bloody genius at it.  What bushel has he been hiding that under?  Goode converts and Tiger have a famous victory.

Dupuy’s dummy

11^th April 2009

This is Vesty’s moment.  This what he dreamed of watching Jez Harris growing up, this is what he dreamed of:  The drop goal hero against the most hated of foes.  Bath. Spit.  He remembers 1996 and 1994 and 1989.  Bastards.  This one’s for Dusty, for Dosser, for Deano.  Bath know it too.  The scion of the club.  4^th generation Tiger.  His name has always been destined to be written in the stars.  He lines up in front of the posts to drop for glory.  The ball is whipped back and the Bath defence is on him in a second.  He’s no time for the kick.  The Bath defenders look pleased.  Then the roar.  They turn to stone.  A funny sick coloured stone but stone none the less.  The Leicester team is streaming into the end zone.

What’s happened?  Dupuy has happened.  The Bath defence is so quick on to Vesty he never passes the ball, slipping through the fringe defence and grateful for Nick Abendonan’s turnstile defence he’s under the posts.  Sept points.  Always in the shadow in of others in France in Leicester he’s found the limelight.  He couldn’t look more French if he had a string of garlic cloves around his neck a Gauloises between his lips and a wife on one arm a mistress on the other.  He couldn’t be a bigger Leicester hero if he’d been berthed on the Crumbie.

JC kicks us to Edinburgh

3^rd May 2009

We’ve bottled it.  14 points up “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” ringing in the Welsh ears and we’ve blown it.  Jamie Roberts has destroyed us, he’s going on the Lions tour and you can see why.  We hang on into extra time, JC tries an outrageous cross field kick which Tom Croft takes to within an inch of the line.  Who does he think he think?  Forwards don’t kick we all know that. 

It comes down to penalty kicks, the first time since the 1981 French Championship, though no one remembers that at the time.  Cardiff get first shot.  To begin with it’s all going swimmingly, Vesty, Dupuy and Geordan Murphy have slotted kicks as have Blair, Robinson and Halfpenny.  Disaster.  Johne Murphy the Naas winger has hooked it left.  His John Lilley inspired technique has let him down.  Tom James the Cardiff winger has his kick for the first ever Welsh final.  I couldn’t even look.  People talk about heart in the mouth moments, but in reality it’s more like stomach hanging half way out your arse.  Relief.  He’s shanked it wide right and I haven’t shat myself either.  Scott Hamilton the unflappable Kiwi is not flapped as he buries his kick into Glanmor’s Gap.  Richie Rees squeaks his in the bottom right corner.  What’s happening now?  Tigers have sent flanker Craig Newby up.  Lions tourist Harry Ellis is available, surely as a back he’d be better?  It matters not, his slow and rhythmic style ticks another over.  It was probably the best kick so far.  Martyn Williams is up for the Blues.  Pontypridd’s finest is considered a footballing flanker, surely he’ll have no problem?  He looks nervous, shifty like a golfer with the yips.  He snatches at it.  It’s missed.  I’m going wild in the stands.  This is it boys!  Lion Harry Ellis will slot it and we’ll be heaving into Edinburgh before you know it.  Wait.  That’s not Harry Ellis, its Jordan Crane!  Blonde hair slicked back with sweat, the baby blue scrum hat left back on half way.  He lines it up.  The contrast with Williams couldn’t be more different.  This is a man who knows his place.  He trusts his skills.  Pandemonium in the Leicester end, across the aisle in the Cardiff block its rock bottom, dejection.  As he finishes his kicking stroke JC celebrates, is he yawning?  Is it some bizarre red Indian pow wow gesture?  He’s enveloped by Scott Hamilton.  We don’t care and drunk on victory (as well as the beer) we celebrate the night away in Cardiff.

Much later we find out JC kicked in his school team ahead of Shane Geraghty and Ryan Davies.  No wonder he was confident.

Varndell’s try sinks Stade

April 1^st 2007

I can still see this try in my mind’s eye.  Hipkiss, who never passes, has the ball going towards the Alliance & Leicester stand, he steps one man and is left with two defenders in front of him and Tom Varndell on his right hugging the Crumbie touchline.  Bergamasco straightens his shoulders for just a second.  BANG. The pass, and Varndell with it, is gone.  He’s destroyed him taking 10 meters before Bergamasco can blink or think.  Made him look an April Fool.  Under the posts, Goodey converts and Tigers have their 1 point lead they never lose.

Tiger’s pack, O’Connell’s folly

20^th January 2007

It’s 8-6 to Tigers.  60^th minute.  Tomas O’Leary’s kick through has got Munster a penalty 5 meters out.  Penalty for the lead or Try for the win?  Try to crush the soul and the spirit?  Try is what O’Connell wants.  Scrum down he tells Joel Jutge.  Scrums, Jutge, Munster and Leicester, what could go wrong?  Heave 1, and it’s down.  Heave 2, and it’s up.  Heave 3 and Julian White monsters Marcus Horan, splinters the Munster pack and the moment is lost.  Soul intact.  Spirit higher than ever.  7 minutes later Ollie Smith seals the win and Thomond is demolished both in fact and mythology.