Similar skippers

Rivals grow through adversity

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Posted: Friday October 29, 1999 02:49 PM

Taine Randell (left) and Raphael Ibanez have emerged from losing streaks with new-found strength. Jamie McDonald/Allsport, AP

LONDON (AP) -- It's hard to believe, but just last year self-doubt was gnawing away at Taine Randell as the All Blacks slumped to a catastrophic five defeats in a row.

The 24-year-old Otago flanker said he was convinced he wasn't the man to lead the All Blacks: "I thought my reign as captain would be short-lived. I didn't have enough experience. I definitely wasn't ready for the job. It was daunting."

When he leads the resurgent All Blacks out for the World Cup semifinal against France at Twickenham on Sunday, winning his 30th cap, he may spare a thought for rival skipper Raphael Ibanez.

The 26-year-old Perpignan hooker has also tasted despair and frustration after France lost six tests out of eight in the runup to the World Cup, leading to public and locker room discontent.

The two say they have come through adversity far stronger.

Randell has been one of the pillars of the All Blacks' almost flawless showing at the World Cup so far, and seems to be growing in stature with every match.

"Losing five tests was hideous, but it made me and a lot of the guys in the team grow up and toughen up," he said. "At that time I wasn't really ready for the captain's job ... we went through a loss of leadership."

The captaincy had been given to Randell after the retirements of veterans Sean Fitzpatrick and Zinzan Brooke. And he now credits fullback Jeff Wilson wit helping him handle the pressure.

"I learned [from him] that you must be confident about where you're going and just keep to your guns," he said. "Everything else is trivial really. I had to learn a lot about team dynamics and how to handle different individuals and I think I'm a better player for it.

"But captaining the team is just something I do. I wouldn't say it is something I enjoy," he admitted.

The French team has nowhere near the same weight of public expectation as the All Blacks, but nevertheless 'Les Bleus' were written off before the World Cup by skeptical fans, despairing of the side's dramatic loss of form.

Coach Jean-Claude Skrela nevertheless kept faith in his skipper, who, like Randell, had had the captaincy thrust upon him in 1998.

Ibanez had a dream start, leading his country to a Grand Slam in the 1998 Five Nations campaign.

He says he is mightily relieved to have made the last four of the World Cup -- and is determined to relish the experience.

"In my two years as captain I have experienced every type of emotion -- the best and the worst. But that's life," he said.

"It's been a very interesting experience and now I'm very happy because it's a big honor to play a semifinal.

 

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