By Jason Harris
July 31 2002

Saracens coach Wayne Shelford aims to turn around his hitherto under-achieving side and beleives that some players are simply "too soft" for top class rugby. The former New Zealand Navy physical training instructor is quick to point out that history is unimportant and that past reputations mean nothing when future performance is considered.

After putting his squad through almost a week of tough Army training in Aldershot, Shelford told the Evening Standard that players, whether internaionals in the past or not, all have to stand up and be counted.

"Everyone," he told the Standard "no matter what they have done in the past, is going to have to earn the right to play for this team."

On players not being tough enough Shelford said: "A lot of players over here are too soft. Just because someone has played for France doesn't mean they are going to deliver. I need some key leaders who are uncompromising on the field. They need to get hard. Last season they lacked really tough boys up front. With these guys here, if it ' s a 50-50 ball, they might think: 'Not this time I might get hurt'. The guys have to be professionals. Some of them get paid but don't front up on the pitch. They cry off with small injuries. We are going to wipe out those attitudes."

Shelford will use Sarries' tour to Japan to run the rule over his squad, including last year's club captain Abdel Benazzi. But when asked about Benazzi's failed move to Sale and the ending of the Francois Pienaar era he said that both were "in the past. I am only interested in the future."