Username
Password
Q&A with Rod Kafer and John Wells
By Tigerstart October 3 2002
It was scrum down and a tactical talk, as Rod "Dave" Kafer and John Wells invited an audience of members to probe them with questions on Wednesday 2nd October at the Tigers clubhouse. It was definitely Mr. Sophisticated meets Mr. Laidback.

Rod turned up in a dashing purple shirt and jeans, where as John dressed in his Patty Howard sandals and training t-shirt. Burning issues on and off the rugby pitch were debated, as well as Peter Wheeler discussing the club mascots, the sale of Granby Halls and what’s the status of Oval Park. Chaired by Tudor Thomas and his Welsh wisdom, here’s the breakdown:

Q John, you have always wanted to remain in the background and shy away from publicity, but we are so in debt to what you have contributed to the club, could you explain your role at the club?

JW For the 3 years whilst Joel Stransky and Patty Howard were at Tigers, I was the Head Coach and looked after the forwards, as well as overseeing the conditioning and training programmes of the players.

Rod and I now combine the coaching roles, as we work together on the players programme. Rod has brought an advanced coaching structure to Tigers, as we have a skills coach and a conditioning coach and use Phil Larder.

This is as a result to the increased need to meet the Super 12 standards and not be left behind.

A typical week would encompass: Monday and Tuesday match analysis day, Tuesday coaching day (with two sessions), Wednesday morning session on defence and afternoon session on conditioning, Thursday rest day and Friday training.

Q Delighted to see that you are back in the side Rod – what is your role at the club?

RK It is a difficult role to combine playing and coaching. The areas that I concentrate on are the back line and pattern of play (attacking). It has been a disappointing start to the season but we have been using guys that are half fit.

Q Players knock each other about – is this why Tigers have so many injuries?

JW This season there has been no injuries in training, but the injuries have been due to success or early games. For example, Lloyd’s shoulder operation and Geordan’s operation was due to playing for their country. Late last season, the players were very tired and not 100% fit, but they raised themselves at Cardiff. Overall, we have had a slow start but we are in a period of rehabilitation and injuries to consider.

Q What do you look for in prospective players?

JW I watch videos, attend games and look at young lads away from Tigers. They are good athletes but play like mutes. The concern is that they play well all the way through junior level, but they have not got rugby intelligence – passing skills and handling. The players play to win but not have got the right mentality. Related to the school system and the condition of the pitches, dictates the amount of skills but in Britain has seen a lack of contact skills.

Q Are you happy with the Academy at Tigers?

RK I am not happy with the 1st team but have seen an improvement in their passing.

Q Has the 2-day England session impacted on Tigers training schedule?

JW In reality I have seen the players for 3 days in the last 3 weeks, which if you are a business isn’t very good. I know what England are trying to achieve, but it has a much greater impact on us than other teams. But we may find that less Tigers players would be in the England squad!

Q Is the England training session ruining basic skills?

RK Half of the squad said that it was ok and half of the squad said it was very good. It was felt that some of the sessions were not as taxing as our sessions.

Q Are Tigers limiting what they set out to achieve this season?

JW The Management team have the same belief as the players, in that we take every game as it comes. We have been spoilt by success and at some point we are going to be going through a transition period. It has taken time to build up our winning combination and platform, as from 1993-1998 with the likes of Johnson, back and Garforth. (Tudor adds that in 1993 it was lucky that Johnson arrived to score a winning try, as he was missed off the team bus and had to drive himself to London).

RK The challenge is to build upon previous success to generate more success and how well young players can be brought up through the ranks. We have a very strong team on paper but we haven’t transferred that to the pitch yet, as we did last year.

Q How should the League system be re-structured?

RK Less games and more money (Should I leave now?!)

JW The focus should be on the League, Europe and then International games, so the players can have a 3-month lay off over the summer.

Q What are your feelings about a World Club Championship?

RK Myself and Patty Howard could have played half a game each for Tigers and Brumbies last year. The League could be streamlined and it would be logical that a Championship could work at the end of the domestic season.

Q Who is going to take over the kicking if Stimmo gets selected for England?

JW He is not going to be selected, but if so, Ollie Smith.

Q Substitutions – mass substitutions or mass players running on when someone gets injured?

JW There are too many and not enough. In the Southern Hemisphere, they want 10 and in the Northern hemisphere they want 5. We need replacement as otherwise they would be no cover. However, it has meant that guys come on late in a game and earn a cheap cap (when not necessary as no one injured).

It would be advisable to have 5 substitutions with individual players being able to play in a variety of positions. It would reduce the comical farce of throwing players on late in the game, as it can distract play (for example, last weekend against Bristol).

RK It can distract from the game – players tend to lie down for a rest (I did it against Newcastle). It tends to be that the ball is in play for a limited time, 30 minutes in a half, as the time it takes for line-outs and scrums to be formed when players fake injuries.

Q What is Oz’s favourite position?

JW On the bench! Healey is blessed and can turn his hand, to what he refers to as “graced with magic”. He has not been consistent but is a very instinctive player. Every day he tell us that he won 2 European Cups.

These days, teams cut him down more due to video analysis, which were we the leaders in. The success with Austin is that he can switch positions and we have been successful in bringing him on as a replacement – perhaps its best to spend 60 minutes on the wing and then 20 minutes as either No.9 or No.10.

RK I would prefer to play with him and not against him, especially at big games. Oz has a big impact on games and has the most ability – what he calls “the magic” – and that he always says “I am bringing along my magic”.

Q What’s Healey’s favourite position?

Tudor: Head coach!

Q Home and Away or Neighbours?

RK No answer - (later probing on a one-to-one basis, revealed that Rod does not watch soaps).

Q Do you have feedback sessions from referees?

JW You wouldn’t think so but referees are professional today. The club has a good relationship, on the whole, but some players and the club have a poor relationship with certain referees. In particular, Tony Spreadbury is very willing to take the time and gives us feedback in our video room in a constructive manner.

It has been difficult to build a relationship with Steve Lander because he thinks he is always right and we don’t want the Lander-effect since Backy issue. For the game to progress, referees need to be willing to discuss issues in a positive manner.

Q From the Bristol game when Julian White was sent off, is there going to be any come-back on Tigers?

JW White head-butted Wiggy, which was seen by the touch judge, but I was a bit surprised by the referees decision. But it must have been a clear-cut incident.

Q What would be your back line of all time?

RK Not myself! It is difficult to compare players from different eras from the past to the present. My line up 9 George Gregan, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 11 Doug Hollier, 12 Tony Marsh (France), 13 Damian Warlock, 14 I would think of someone, 15 Jason Robinson (made a transition from league to union and is a fantastic player). The game has changed in the modern era and players have different abilities. For example, Campese would be woefully inadequate in the modern game. (Tudor adds surely no Welshmen?).

Q What would be your back row of all time?

JW Michael Jones (played against Tigers for the NZ Barbarians), where he chipped over Dusty Hare and scored, Peter Winterbottom (dirty, nasty competitor) and Gary Sykes (SA player from 1980s who played as hooker, No.8 and scrum-half). (Tudor adds surely no Welshmen?).

Q Are there any reasons why we have given away so many penalties this season?

JW 95% have been given away by the forwards. Sometimes we step over the mark, as we have a competitive nature, and turnover the ball that incurs the referee’s attention. We know that we are cheats and very good at it, but referees go over the top and they should apply the laws effectively and penalise both teams.

Q What is the source of penalties in the back line?

RK Holding on to the ball and hands in the ruck. We have eliminated offside.

Q There has been talk about introducing a clock – what are your feelings?

RK It’s not difficult to fake injuries, but I can justify the length of injury time. Introducing a clock would not get more rugby playing time.

Q What do you think about the latest trend of wearing mittens? (Goode and Bracken at Saracens)

RK I have no experience but I wonder if it may help in wet conditions – is it legal?

Q What are the rules governing message carriers and physio’s coming onto the pitch when there is a stoppage in play?

JW It is a disturbing trend. The bench should stay off the pitch but drinks should be allowed on, as there’s always the need for re-hydration.

Q How many number 9 and 10s does the club have?

RK 3 each.

JW No one’s fit.

Q Can you bring us up-to-date with the injury list?

JW It would take too long to list! The 22 pencilled in for the Bath game, has seen only 8 train today but by Friday a lot more would be ready.

Q Would the fans be able to loan out videos?

JW The club never misses out on making money! (Tigerstart explained that it was to due with supporters not making the Bath match last season due to a pylon falling on the motorway and Tudor said the comment would be passed onto the club).

Q What do you think to the fans who go to Pau, Paris and Perpignan?

JW When I joined the club in 1981, the fans then still come up and kiss me now.

RK I would like to see the fans who kiss him!

Tigerstart caught Dave after the session and quizzed him about his stylish dress code. The defeat against Bristol at the end of last season saw him wear the club suit in a Blues Brother style, to which he said “it was the club’s suit and he wasn’t doing an impression of Blues Brothers”. Commenting on this year’s black suit, white shirt and red tie, “I don’t like the white striped shirt”. Perhaps it’s more the case that the team are going to be nicknamed the “Oval Park Mob” or audition for “Men In Black 3”!

Bookmark or share this story with: