When Brock James left the Western Force to head to France to play for Clermont in the Top 14, it caused barely a ripple in Australian rugby circles. In the pre-Gits era of the Force, James, Scott Daruda and James Hilgendorf, had all been used as fly-halves without much success.
Leaving Australia as a failed Super 14 player at the age of 24, it was not expected that anymore would be heard of the former Sydney Uni/GPS (Brisbane) fly-half – but how times have changed.
With a penalty goal in Clermont’s loss to Perpignon in the final of this year’s Top 14, Brock James racked up 1000 points in the Clermont jersey, not bad when you consider it only took him three seasons to complete.
In fact, so prolific has James’ scoring been in France, he has lead the Top 14 points scorers every season since he joined in 2006, not bad for a bloke who was ass-holed from Australia.
His name can be added to the ever increasing list of ex-pats who have had to go overseas to gain employment as professional rugby players and have flourished under different conditions and styles of play.
Given the Super 15 expansion is under way, and more than likely the new team to be based in Melbourne, what a perfect fit for Victorian born Brock James to come home and be a foundation member of the new franchise.
Although the ARU has mooted a raid on the mungo ranks to fill some of the 30-odd spots for the new team, and a dearth of local rugby talent running around, let’s hope the ARU throw their cash his way instead of some ageing-mungo.
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<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="3427 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=3427">14 Comments
Yeah, good call Mr Cote.
I have to be honest and say that I hadn’t heard of him until now.
The thing about the 5th Aus team that scares me is the good young/ish players that have just recently signed overseeas contracts.
Don’t forget though the team will be starting up in 2011. ARU will get their world cup windfall so that should give it a strong base.
Id love to see him back, but I am not convinced he would flourish in the S14. Anyone know what his offload game is like?
Id also love to see James Hilgendorf come home too. He is a great player but I think he is after Japanese representative honours. I think he is only 27, so could be available for a few S14 seasons yet.
Brock James and James Hilgendorf both played for Taranaki in the NPC in 2004 (and I think the year before) and were very successful. James came to Queensland for the 2005 Super 14 season but only stayed for that year then shot through to the Force. He never really got an opportunity for the Reds as Hux and Flats were the main players at the time.
It seems that, like Lachie MacKay, he never really reveloped at the Force. That first season was a bit of a disaster for them so I guess he paid the price for that. I haven’t seen him play any French rugby but maybe as a kicking five eighth (which I gather is one of his strengths) the conditions up north are more suited to him.
It would be interesting to see if he would be able to foot it again in Super 14/15. The conditions in Melbourne in winter are fairly heavy, and bearing in mind the season will be extended over that time frame in the expanded competition, I’d say he could be a good fit. Notwithstanding that the ELV sanctions will be disappearing, the game’s going to be a bit slower anyway which also may suit.
James has certainly done well playing with the Michelen men in Clermont Ferrand…I had mixed emotions about them losing to Perpignan in the French Final. Clermont has now lost 10 finals, and for the Catalans, it was their first time lifting Le Bouclier de Brennus in 54 years-and they did it WITHOUT their big money signing, Dan Carter.
I don’t know if he has done as much as Rocky Elsom with Leinster to get a call back to the Wallabys…
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I’m an Aussie from Perth working in Clermont-Ferrand. It was jolly good to see an Aussie in this side with all the hoopla that went on the other night.
The team did good to make it to the final.
Eric, I agree, the fact that the Michelen men were able to beat Toulouse IN Toulouse was no mean feat.
How are you liking life in the Auvergne? it’s a pretty land-locked place for somebody used to sun and sea.
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IIRC, James was injured a lot during his time with the Reds and Force (and then left when Gits was signed?). He isnt a great defender and runs the ball a bit like Mehrtens ie only when he has to or there is no one in front of him.
Good kicking game though and not a bad distributor.
Clearly a decent distributor since his team is also the highest try-scoring team.
I suggested this a while ago on this blog, I agree entirely.
Hope we don’t end up seeing him in french colours. He would qualify under residency by now, wouldn’t he?
Ed, that is an interesting point given the travails that the French national team has had with it’s kicking game and fly half play has been uneven, to say the least. I think they found a good scrumhalf in Parra this year, but I think James could qualify to play for the French.
Nursedude’s last blog post..A Good Time Was Had by All…
It is amazing how much the new once-and-for-all rules have raised the stakes – look at the fuss over JOC, Cooper, SBW and maybe now Brock as well.
This highlights the need to make Australian rugby an attractive place for young talent, not just marquee players. After all anyone who does not have any full international caps is potentially eligble to play for Australia, we should try and have the best field we can get to pick from.
He has played Oz 7s so he isnt available for France.
I didn’t realise sevens counted. Doesn’t seem fair, really – he isn’t in the scene in Oz besides a few fans, so if France wanted him (and vice-versa) I reckon they should be entitled to him. The only ‘integrity’ rule needed is that you can’t notch up three years whilst calling yourself ‘ineligible’ for your national team, you have to actually be unwanted by your own country.
That would stop the original problem of ‘mercenaries’, particularly from the Pacific Islands. Now, of course, they just don’t play for their own teams at all if they think they are a shot for NZ, and Pato Noreiga and Tiaan Strauss would have to forego their retirement bonuses (although I never really figured out the motivation for us with Strauss).