White keen on Larkham return
9 May 2012
Brumbies coach Jake White wants Stephen Larkham to come out of retirement and solve their flyhalf crisis.
The 37-year-old Larkham, who handles the Brumbies’ attack, hasn’t played Super Rugby since 2007. The left-field option came about from White’s desperation to find a competent pivot to lead their attack after he lost Christian Lealiifano and Matt Toomua to injury.
‘He runs all of our plays, he knows our plays – we would be crazy not to ask him, and it is a real option I could have Stephen Larkham running around for three games,’ White said. ‘I would never force him to play, but when two fly-halves go down you have to think outside the box.
‘If we think he can add value to us then we will pursue it … he’s 37 but there aren’t many guys out there and the ones who are, they aren’t much younger.’If he says to me he would play, then of course we will go with that.’
The Brumbies are on a bye this weekend and have reportedly given Larkham some time to consider the proposal. They are, however, also looking abroad, with Matt Giteau’s name mentioned in press reports in Australia.
31 Comments
9 May 2012, 21:59 pm
I thought April the 1st was over a month ago.. are these dumb debilitated morons SERIOUS ??
9 May 2012, 22:02 pm
It’ll be a cold day in hell before The Git plays under White.
Larkham would never tarnish his legendary status by coming out of retirement – neither should Big Vic btw.
9 May 2012, 22:05 pm
Skop you still got a boner for old Jakey boy – his ‘out of the box’ ideas are almost as f#cked up as some of yours….hehe
9 May 2012, 22:16 pm
this Jakey Fakey is one delusional arsehole.. and everyone around here reckons he’s a goddamn genius… How these schmucks are so absolutely fooled by this one season wunderkind.. wait till all the gloss wears off like it did in 2006 – 49-0 and the rest.., he gonna need Larkham in more ways than one.. like he needed Steady Eddy to f’ng prop him up like he never been propped up before.. or again.
9 May 2012, 23:09 pm
In his day, one of the best 10′s to grace the game. Though he was on the wane from 2005 onwards (as was gregan)
He was the complete package on attack. His legend status is secured. Maybe its best that things be kept that way. Besides, if he can’t last 80 minutes, then what’s the point
9 May 2012, 23:45 pm
Larkham is one of the finest who ever graced rugby pitch and for the sake of glorious memories about his playing career I hope he stays on his pinnacle as a retired legend.
He is no His Airness and the most certainly he is not the Supermario – the only superstar in recent decades I can recall returning from long retirement in his late 30s, playing in full-contact sport and being a stunning success nevertheless.
10 May 2012, 00:33 am
Larkham? 37 years old? A running back? Has Jake thought of calling up Joel Stransky? Has Jake gone totally mental?
10 May 2012, 02:01 am
to be fair and whats not mentioned in article is The legend that is Larkham only stoped playing in France last season.
Matt Gitau is most likely be selected. But Larkham is a legend, one of the greatest 10s in history. I would not discount him playing well if he did take up Jake offer.
10 May 2012, 02:05 am
@viewer(viewer)-5:
Tallest 10 to play test rugby but His passing game was the best I have seen in a 10. Larkham had deceptive pace and seem to operate in slow pace but manage control flow of the game.
His defensive game was the best for 10 I seen.
two words: complete package.
10 May 2012, 02:12 am
“We would be crazy not to ask him”………I here by commit you…Jake White….under the A.C.T mental health act, section six, paragraph five.
10 May 2012, 02:19 am
@skopskiet(skopskiet)-4:
So one really bad result make you a ****-up (49-0) thing. Ye right. Ask most succesful people and they’ll tell you of a disaster or two in their careers.
Really you are a moron
10 May 2012, 02:20 am
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-8:
I thought he last played in Japan 2010 then came back to Brumbies to take up coaching position at the end of 2010?
10 May 2012, 02:47 am
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-8:
Agree
10 May 2012, 04:37 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-7: Emmitt Smith was a running back. Not Stephen Larkham
Ye mist be kinfuzed, eh bru?
10 May 2012, 04:48 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-12:
He may have finished the season in the first part of last year but you are right, he was involved with the Brumbies last year already.
10 May 2012, 07:00 am
@Nils(Nils)-6: Is Supermario your name for Os?
10 May 2012, 07:03 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-12:
No. he was in france last season.
People will fill the stadium if he makes an Allan Langer like return
10 May 2012, 07:34 am
for me the no 1 flyhalf i have ever seen play the game.
but he should stay off the field now and let me keep my memories of him in his prime.
10 May 2012, 07:37 am
I’m surprised that Jake didn’t rather look at someone here in S.A. who has not got a Super 15 contract.
10 May 2012, 07:42 am
@iceman(iceman)-19: Earl Rose?
10 May 2012, 08:03 am
Maybe Timo Swiel- the kid runs like Beale.
10 May 2012, 08:08 am
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-17:
Oh my apologies… Where was he playing in France? If he makes an Alfie like appearance it would have to be against the Rebels.
10 May 2012, 08:14 am
Not a good idea at all Jake, ask yourself why he retired in the first place…
10 May 2012, 08:19 am
@ 20 Taahirah,lolz
is it true that Rose bliksemed his own father?
10 May 2012, 08:19 am
@BrumbiesBoy(BrumbiesBoy)-23:
He has “shot” knees?
10 May 2012, 08:20 am
“Larkham hasn’t played Super Rugby since he left Australia in 2007, and he finished his playing career in France at the start of last year. The veteran of more than 100 Tests and Super Rugby matches has been the Brumbies’ backline coach for the past two seasons.”
am sure it was Toulon
10 May 2012, 08:25 am
Okay even for me this is stretching my admiration for you Jake.
The dude is close on 40 FFS!
10 May 2012, 08:30 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-25: Most probably.
But you know how these guys also always say: “When I wake up one day & feel like I don’t want to do this anymore then I’ll know it’s time to quit?” Happens to all of them & I don’t believe that zest etc ever comes back.
10 May 2012, 08:34 am
Must have been taken out of context – must say congrats to Jake for what he has done at the Brumbies – such a loss to springbok rugby
10 May 2012, 08:50 am
@Rage(Rage)-24: I dont know. Everybody’s keeping mum about it, Spoke to his cousin recently and he wouldnt confirm or deny it.
Tell you what.
I wouldnt be surprised if its true.
10 May 2012, 10:40 am
@skopskiet(skopskiet)-4:
White is always right…even when he’s wrong. He’s that good. The only fake is you punk…calling for duh Villiers’ head just before the Boks RWC game aginst Fiji…then proclaiming duh Villiers a Messiah after the Boks beat Fiji.
The biggest fake of all is you wiper of other people’s bottoms.
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.