May 20, 2008...2:15 pm
What has Sir Matt Busby got to do with Rugby?
I am reading Matt Busby’s biography at the moment.
Busby was a serious football manager. By serious I mean he was outrageously gifted in what he did. He transformed the landscape of British football and created a culture of family in Manchester United that still exists today.
As a player, Matt was a leader. Not through words, but through actions. He took personal responsibility for the team and the result on the pitch. He always wanted the ball, regardless of the score. He was always prepared to make mistakes in tight situations. This kind of guy is rare.
Rugby, like football, has its share of fair-weather players. Lads who only want the ball when the going is soft and the game is won. You can tell everything about a player’s character by how he responds when his team is behind. Does he shirk responsibility or does he demand the pass? Is he willing to make a mistake?
The greatest usually are.
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