Howlett homes in on record try count

NOT TOO long ago, things weren’t looking good for Doug Howlett. Though long established on the All-Blacks side, when Graham Henry picked a squad to go on a reconditioning programme — a squad seen as a definite World Cup indicator — Doug was a shock omission. Few were more surprised than the man himself.

“Obviously I was taken aback initially, it was quite tough to swallow, but you can turn it around; that gave me a Super 14 window, six games before the All-Blacks came back, where I was playing to stake a claim for an All-Blacks spot.”

He was given an explanation, but it seemed more like a pay-off line. “They just decided that Joe and Sitiveni (Rokocoko and Sivivatu, Fijian-born cousins, the other All-Black wings) would benefit more from the conditioning; they felt I was at a good level of fitness, didn’t need the conditioning.”

Or, in different terms, it’s not that I don’t love you anymore, it’s just that we might be better off apart for a while.

There are some who would have preferred that route, who would rather be playing rugby than doing the background work, the unglamorous lung-bursting slog that people don’t see. Not Howlett.

“At the time I would have preferred the conditioning, to tell you the truth, some time to work on speed, a bit of strength work, get over niggles.”

Work on speed? Is it possible for Howlett, 29 today, to get faster? “Yes, it’s a never-ending goal of outside backs, everyone wants to be quicker than they are, there’s always room for improvement.”

So is he faster now than when he was strictly an athlete, a sprinter? “I’d say pretty close. It’s been a long time since I ran the 100m but I’m feeling sharp, the experiences I’ve picked up along the way have added to making me a little quicker, I know where to turn up, at the right time.”

Much of his rugby success is down to natural talent, that perfect combination of power, speed, and rugby intelligence, the eye for the opening; the rest, however, is down to sheer hard work.

“Early on I modelled myself on Tana Umaga, he was an all-action winger. Whether that was because he was a centre who was moved to the wing, I don’t know, but he just moved all over the field. That’s when I came into the All-Blacks, and that’s how I wanted to play the game. Over the years I’ve tried to develop that technique.”

Seven years he’s been on the wing now for New Zealand, seven years during which the role of the winger has changed dramatically. The basic duties are still the same, but now there’s much more to being a complete rugby international winger. “First and foremost there’s the finishing ability, the chasing of kicks, but you’re making a lot of tackles now, you’re in and around rucks and mauls – it’s a pretty enjoyable position to play.”

Imagine, then, if he’d be going to the Munster team of ten or 20 years ago – he wouldn’t have seen a ball! Even 29 years ago, a certain day in Thomond Park. “Yeah, I’ve been told about that many times,” he grins, “1978, yes.” But he’s still got a lot of research to do on his new team-mates.

“I know very little at this stage. I’ve enjoyed my time in Ireland every time I’ve been there, that’s what I can say. I know they have some international players, and Ronan and Peter, and they’ve got a pretty good track record. I like the history they have, theirsupport, the fanbase.”

What swung it for Munster was Howlett’s own experience of Ireland: “The Irish public, the people — every time I’ve gone there I’ve enjoyed myself. It’s an English-speaking country, which is important not just for myself but also for my wife and child, it will make things easier initially at least.

“It’s just something new really, a new challenge is what I’m looking for. I’m going in a little blind, still haven’t decided on a base, still doing my research as we speak, but my priority at the moment is this World Cup, that’s what I’m trying to get my head round. When that’s over, I’ll have a month or two to decide on a base.”

As for the other Munster New Zealand signing, Rua Tipoki, there should be no problem about these two linking up. “I know him very, very well. He’s a little older than I am but we grew up playing for a lot of the same rugby teams in the same club in Auckland. At the time he told me he was going there I still didn’t know what I was going to do, so it’s a surprise to hook up again.”

Exciting times in store for Munster fans then? “All I can do is do what I do, and that’s play rugby. If the opportunities arise I’d love to get some free-flowing ball.”

Hopefully, for Munster’s sake, that happens; meanwhile that supply is more or less guaranteed this Sunday. There is only one international team against which Howlett has failed to score a try, and that is Scotland; given that the All-Blacks don’t pick players who aren’t home-based, this is probably his last opportunity to do so. What are the odds? Not as foregone a conclusion as some might think. “I just can’t recall an easy game against them,” he says. “They’re always there or thereabouts, quite a tough opposition to play against. Throw into the mix the fact that it’s in Murrayfield that will add to a big occasion.”