Eddie
Saunders is one of my all-time sporting heroes and that's no throw-away
comment. I've taken quite a few sportsmen and women to my heart over the
years
but in my personal hall of fame he's right up there with Kevin Keegan, Viv
Richards and Daley Thompson.
I've always thought he's the best and the most entertaining player Lions
have ever had. Other candidates like Ken Taylor, Tim Cowell, Stan Purdy,
Roy Pebody etc may have all been brilliant players but I refuse to believe
anyone has ever been so popular in the White (or Orange) of the Lions.
I reckon Eddie's success over they years is mainly down to the fact that
he's extremely hard to tackle. His speed combined with an ability to step
off both
feet make him nigh-on impossible to snare (and his defence isn't too bad
either). Trying to tackle Eddie must be like trying to catch a salmon in
your bare hands (our more suitably seeing as his nickname is 'Electric' -
an eel I guess.)
I've always loved watching his opponents size him up before and during a
game.
Aware of his legendary status, they normally take one of 2 approaches: sit
back
in awe or try and 'mix it.' The next thing they know he's spinning out of
tackles from a standing start as his opponents grapple at him like a bar
of soap in the shower.
But its not just his talent its his charisma too. He seemed to get away
with murder at away games. During the halcyon Brain-era you had the
impression he turned up to grounds after most of the supporters
never mind the rest of the team. I'm sure it was impossible to get angry
with him as he strolled into the dressing room with 10 mins to spare. I
can just imagine the likes of Heywood, Bowman & Ellis psyching
themselves up as Eddie turns up with Lorraine and Harriet and a big smile
on his face. I also think the rest of the players cut him some slack
because they realised just how
important he was/is to the team's cause (he broke the Lions try-scoring
record in his first season (39 in 1987/8) and he was the top English try
scorer in the next 2 seasons too, eventually running in 101 tries in his
first 100 games)
Of all the tries Eddie has scored for the Lions the one that always sticks
in my mind is the try he scored in my favourite ever game. You can keep
your Baa-baas v New Zealand in Cardiff in 1973 or your 26-all draws at
Twickenham, my favourite match took place at Webb Ellis Road on April 11,
1992 20-7 down at half time against star-studded Harlequins and with
victory a must to avoid relegation Eddie scored the try that kept Lions in
the game. (Steve Smith breaking Andy Mullins' nose probably helped too) I
can't remember many interceptions from Eddie over the years - it tends to
lead to an uncharacteristically direct run to the line for one thing - but
this was something else. Under pressure, pinned in our own 22, facing a
back-line featuring England trio Will Carling, David Pears and Simon
Halliday. Eddie decided it was about time our side saw a bit of the ball.
He seemed to be running in sand for the final 20 metres but - of course -
he got there in the end. As Ian Capewell described in the Advertiser:
'Eddie, who'd been shopping in Leamington at 2pm, admitted he started to
tie up but the crowd kept him going.' Of course we were still behind in
the 79th minute and it took some brilliant second half kicking from Mapes
to see us home. I was at Welford Road the following week to see us clinch
an incredible draw and confirm our survival but that fightback against
Quins will always be THE game for me.
I know I'm biased but Eddie must top that long list of 'the best players
that never played for England.' I remember Simon Geoghegan, Ireland's
spiky winger from 1991-6, described Eddie as the most difficult opponent
he had ever faced. Stuart Barnes remembers the first time he lined up
against Eddie during Bristol's triumphant 1983 Cup run. 'We faced Coventry
in the semi final at Coundon Road and all the talk in the national press
prior to the game regarded the strength of Cov's pack (which featured
future Lions Graham Robbins and Steve Brain) - but the player we really
feared was Eddie. About ten years later, when, as a Bath player, we faced
Rugby, Saunders was STILL the player we most feared. Those long legs had a
habit of finding their way across your try line".
I think his big opportunity for England came when he played for the
Midlands in
1990/1 but he had a couple of disappointing games and his chance was gone.
When you consider that Rory Underwood went on to claim 85 caps - it seems
harsh
that Saunders got none - I reckon he was better than Chris Oti and Nigel
Heslop.
Like Underwood he'd developed incredible patience (the Lions shot up the
leagues with a nasty pack and a team that played a predominantly 9-man
game) yet he continued to run in tries.
So when Eddie looks back on his amazing career he can feel disappointed
that he was deprived of the chance to pit his wits with the very best but
he can console himself with the knowledge that he's the highest-scoring,
most entertaining and
generally fantastic player Rugby Lions have ever had. He should, of
course, carry on for a few years yet, he's only 40 after all. As Dewi
Morris said 'Anyone who is still playing rugby at his age is either an
exceptional athlete or mad. Fortunately in Eddie's case it's the former.'
I'm proud he chose to play for us after he left Coundon Road and I'm proud
he wanted to carry on playing for us for so long. I came down from London
to watch his farewell game against London Welsh in May 99, how
thoughtful of him to abandon his retirement to run in another hat-trick of
hat-tricks the following season.
So go on, give it to Eddie.
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