RIP Dr Jack

[hwntw]

Shane taking down that useless donkey Banahan on the line perfectly illustrates his philosophy on tackling.

[hwntw]

Originally Posted by UKHamlet

Thanks for that H, that was a great watch. The Saes were fecking useless, mind. 51,000 in Jack Park FFS.

They were a joke side all through my youth, for all the bravado the nigels huff and puff with, it took their greatest ever era and our worst ever era for them to draw level on the win/lose ratio, that after their dominance when the game first started, the delusion of the 2003 generation is ignorance writ large, their belief that they are up there with the All Blacks is hilarious, they had their brief moment in the sun, it's ancient history now.

[jibman]

He spent time in the same care home as my father in law,he stayed a true gent even with the dementia issues.A true rugby great.

['twyn]

Originally Posted by Freezin-in-Canada

I have had my avatar of him at his fighting weight for a year or so since he got really sick, and have been dreading this day.

He was one of my Dad's great rugby heros, along with Bryn Meredith. My dad use to talk non stop about him and Bleddyn's partnership - "a thing of beauty son that I hope someday you might have the chance to see a centre partnership even half as good". Lucky to meet him relatively early in his retirement, thanks to my Dad and then at a few dinners over the years. A great character and a wonderful man, and behind his pleasant demeanour a real steel.

we use the word great and legend far too often and easily these days, but a measure of greatest is just how highly your opponents hold you in their esteem years and decades later. There will be real mourning around the rugby world for one of our true greats. Another measure of greatest is how people regard you as a person, despite your sporting status. For those who never met him, let me assure you he was equally if not more highly regarded off the field and later in life as a man. He was a TOP MAN in every sense, and one that shines true pride on wales.

RIP Dr Jack. Cannot think of anything more you could have done with your life - god rest , and say Hi to my Dad up there. Excuse his enthusiasm to see you. He thought you were the best.

A heartfelt post FIC. He was before my time but my eldest brother always heaped praise on both Dr Jack and Bleddyn Williams.

[Numbers]

Originally Posted by hwntw

Some stuff from the other place, Dr Jack on tackling

"The Art Of Tackling"
Tackling is one of the most satisfying aspects of the game of rugby football. It causes one great satisfaction and a feeling of great achievement when one has lain low his opponent by means of a well-executed tackle.
The tackled person very often takes a few valuable seconds to gather his wits about him again and very often this short lapse of time has produced one of several advantages to the opposing side.
The art of tackling is one of the most difficult parts of the game and there is no easy way out. To tackle an opponent without yourself getting injured is the art one has to learn, and very often this has to be learnt the hard way. The smallest and lightest player in the team can effect the most perfect tackles and can bring down the very biggest and heaviest man playing--and what satisfaction!--and what disgust is shown by the giant opponent.
Tackling can be learnt by all players; there is no secret about it
What are the attrbutes of a good tackler? Really they can be summarised quite simply. First of all the player must be fearless--he must not be afraid of any opponent irrespective of size or mass. He must show determination and resolution in all his actions. He must show confidence and have no shadow of doubt about his capabilities. The player must be fairly fast on his feet and have the sense of timing. Timing is probably the next most important criterion to fearlessness. In nearly all games and sports timing plays a great part. It plays an important part in the delivery of an effective punch in boxing and also in strking a golf ball, and so it does in the tackle. It is of course a great advantage if one has good physique but, as I have already stated, the smallest of players can be a very effective tackler.
A tackle is nearly always associated with defence, but this is by no means a true assumption. On numerous occasions a tackle especially of the crash type can be a great attacking weapon. Very often if such a tackle is performed the ball goes loose and your own side very often can gain possesion and an attacking move is well on the way. Thus the tackle is a tactical weapon that can be used both defensively and in attack.
Very often powerful tackling has a devastating effect not only on a particular player but on the whole opposition. It causes players to take their eyes off the ball and also causes players to part with the ball much sooner than they should, and also causes players to kick instead of run. It often changes the tactics of a team; often for the worse. On the other hand if tackling is half-hearted the opposition soon take advantage of this and become the masters. Thus tackling has a great psychological effect on a team.

Some great footage too:

WALES BEAT ENGLAND

Was it Dr Jack who broke someone's sternum in a tackle?