Writing for InTouch Magazine #2- Sean Lamont

Interview with professional rugby player Sean Lamont for InTouch magazine (May 2007):

Northampton Saints are on the verge of two unthinkables; Heineken Cup glory - which after toppling Biarritz in an error strewn match is peering through the gap of possibility at the men in green; and relegation from the Guinness Premiership - an occurrence that would shake the roots of this old and respected club.
One man whose job it is to make sure that the former happens and the latter doesn’t is Scotland star Sean Lamont. The big, bleached winger has still managed to shine in a stuttering Saints team that is languishing at the bottom of the league table, claiming five tries in thirteen starts.
He also shone for another bottom placed team as Scotland were handed the wooden spoon in the 2007 RBS Six Nations. Lamont, with an air of calm around him that doesn’t betray the pressure that must be upon him, is methodical in his assessment of the two teams’ failures this season.
“With Saints, I think we really just haven’t clicked in the second half of the season. There has been so much pressure on the team and, as the end of the season approaches, the pressure keeps building up. Most of the players are just trying so hard - maybe too hard - and it means we are always playing on edge.
And with Scotland?
“I have to say that overall it was a good fun Six Nations, although obviously we’re disappointed about where we came in the championship table.
“But it all hinged on small and silly things. We made a lot of silly mistakes against England, and ended up on the wrong side of a nasty drubbing.
“With Italy, three tries in the first seven minutes was a total fluke, and again it was down to our mistakes. Against Ireland we just lacked a bit of composure towards the end. We only lost by one point, and on another day, we might have won by one point. Against France we put up a decent battle but they were simply too good. In the second half we seemed to fall apart and that game was disappointing for us.
“We got the wooden spoon which isn’t a proud achievement, but if we had had a bit more composure against Italy and Ireland then one win (against Wales) could have been three. So we can take a lot of positives from this Six Nations tournament.”
The winger is confident that he hasn’t let either side down. He earned himself the Famous Grouse Scottish Player of the Year Award in March for his international performances over the past year, including classy tries against Australia in the autumn and France in the Six Nations.
He became the first winger to win the award, streaking past other strong contenders such as Simon Taylor, Kelly Brown and Chris Paterson.
Again, a coy Lamont doesn’t let any excitement or pride show as he discusses his achievement: “It was a nice little surprise. I got a phone call from Famous Grouse in the middle of the week, telling me I had won it. I had to go up to Edinburgh to receive it, and it was a good experience.
“I don’t know if I deserved the award. For me, Chris Paterson was probably the player of the year. He really drove the team forward and his kicking quality was there for all to see.”
Personal praise isn’t something that is needed for the Scot. With the pressures surrounding Northampton and Scotland, he is understandably modest on recognition for his playing performances:
“It wasn’t that I did anything particularly special during the Six Nations, I just didn’t make many mistakes. I just stuck to our game plan and it seemed to work for me. It is good to receive an award for my effort, but it was for the team, and it is a team game. I would rather the team won something than just me.”
Without the formalities of a Scottish award, Lamont has plenty to look forward to and worry about. On April 22nd Saints will run out at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena to face Wasps in the Heineken Cup semi-final, a week after facing them in the Guinness Premiership.
“We just need to concentrate on each match as it comes. We need to beat Wasps twice, once to make sure we are in contention to stay up in the Premiership, and again to get ourselves into the Heineken Cup final. It is a big ask, but we need to look at each match one by one.”
If Northampton were relegated yet won the Heineken Cup, it would be one of the most unexpected events in the history of the game, as Biarritz was already the biggest upset in European competition. If results go the right way, they could end up against their biggest rivals - Leicester Tigers.
“I would absolutely love to beat them in the final, we already beat them this season, so why not?”
And if that wasn’t enough, then there is a small competition coming up in November that is on any professional rugby player’s mind - the World Cup.
Lamont, when fit, is one of the first in Scotland’s team, but can’t afford to be complacent as Scottish compatriots such as Simon Webster are knocking on the door of a starting place.
He said: “At the moment, the World Cup is definitely in mind because it isn’t far away at all. For myself, I need to consolidate my starting place. There are a lot of talented guys contesting my place in the team, and that is a good pressure to have. So if I can put in some good performances for the rest of the season, I can help Saints as well as my international hopes. Of course, I need to hope that I don’t take too many bad knocks.
“I know all too well what rugby can do to your body. Recently both Steve Thompson and David Quinlan (both at Saints) have had to retire prematurely from the game because of injury. It’s terrible for them, and I also hope the same thing doesn’t happen to me.”
There is a massive test for Scotland as they tackle tournament favourites New Zealand in their group, and then face a rematch with Six Nations rivals Italy, two games they will probably have to win to make it out of Pool C.
“For the team, I think it is a must that we get out of the group stage. If we don’t, then it will be a great disappointment, especially in my first World Cup. After that we can try and go as far as we can.
“We have come across the teams in the group a few times before. There are the All Blacks, and everyone can see the brilliant rugby they are playing at the moment. I played against them in the 2005 Autumn internationals and they were brilliant, but we gave them a few problems too. Hopefully we can cause the same problems in the World Cup and turn it into a win and points.
“I think we feel we can beat Italy. They are a good team, but we made our own problems in the Six Nations. We are confident we will put together a more assured performance in November, and have a good go at beating them.
“Our team is settled, we just need to make that we are gelling well and come the World Cup we can take Scotland as far in the cup as possible.”
And so, with a wry smile and a firm handshake, Sean Lamont goes on his way. It is as if he doesn’t have a care in the world, and with the performances he has been putting in for club and country, why should he?
If he performs to the best of his ability you will see him charging down that wing at the World Cup and scoring plenty of tries, whether his scores can take Scotland into the latter stages of the cup remains to be seen, the Scots can only hope.