News

Cowan passes Eden Park test

August 03 2008

Alcohol problems and late night incidents coupled with a broken nose and an injured knee in Sydney, all totalled a degree of pressure for scrum-half Jimmy Cowan - but he rose to the occasion by playing the best game of his short international career in an All Blacks jersey on Saturday.

Cowan put aside off-field problems and injury to help to steer New Zealand to an emphatic 39-10 victory in Auckland.

Whether it was enough to edge out Andy Ellis for the number nine jersey when the All Blacks face South Africa in Cape Town in a fortnight was something he was not prepared to speculate about.

"That's for the coaches to decide and I'm just trying to put my best foot forward," Cowan told NZPA.

"I'm sure Andy will come out firing in the next couple of weeks. We'll just keep pushing each other and see what eventuates."

Both Ellis, as the starter, and Cowan played - and were injured - in the 19-34 loss to Australia in Sydney last weekend.

Ellis, who took a blow to the ribs, was dropped from the 22 for the Eden Park Test over the weekend having earlier been part of a three-way bracket with Cowan and Piri Weepu.

Cowan, meanwhile, overcame his knee injury to make the starting XV for only the second time in his fourteen Tests.

The Southlander agreed that the match was probably the biggest of his career, with the All Blacks anxious to avoid three defeats in succession for the first time in a decade.

"We had our backs against the wall like that, after two losses," he admitted.

"There was a lot of pressure throughout the week."

Cowan's personal build-up was disrupted by his knee problem, which prevented him from training with his team-mates until Thursday. He then spent the night before the match getting up regularly to apply ice.

The Highlanders star felt the knee during the pre-match warm-up, but once the opening whistle was blown he forgot about it.

Cowan played down his strong all-round display, deflecting praise instead on the players in front of him.

"The boys laid a good platform and I had a pretty easy run," he said.

"The ball was sitting there on the plate."

While New Zealand back-line coach Wayne Smith praised kicks and catching coach Mick Byrne for his efforts, Cowan said all the coaching staff had helped.

"They've worked with individuals throughout the week and I think it showed on Saturday, we won the kicking duel and that was probably a big aspect from last week, that and the physical side of things," he said.

Off the field, Cowan, 26, has had a battle with alcohol and in recent months has been in trouble with the law three times.

While he had wanted to repay the faith of the All Black selectors, his main focus had been about having pride in himself. Cowan said his progress on and off the field was a continuing one.

"It is an ongoing process. Them things aren't behind me, I'm still going through the process so I've just got to keep going about my things and play good footy - let my rugby do the talking," he said.

He said his nose was still tender but his knee was fine and could still handle the kicking requirements.

"There is always pressure on the kickers, it's always a tough kick for a half-back kicking inside your 22m - it's a 50/50 kick really, you either get the right bounce or the wrong bounce, there were a couple of wrong bounces on Saturday but it certainly brings them forward and opens up spaces in behind.

"I think we managed to do that, they changed their structure a fair bit with the wee kicks. It also takes a lot of pressure off Dessie [Carter]. You can't always rely on him at 10."

Communication was also important in assessing options at the right times.

"It comes from the wingers and the backs, I get a wee call but I sort of see it too as I am approaching a ruck."

Cowan said he would cherish the game, especially after, two losses and a lot of pressure throughout the week, as well as making a starting appearance.

"To come out and have a good win is something I will never forget," he said.