Unsung hero Hill looks for big finish

Apr 5 2008 by Andy Howell, Western Mail

QUESTION: Who has been the most influential player in British and Irish rugby over the last 11 years?

Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Keith Wood, Brian O’Driscoll?

All names that sprang to mind when we discussed the issue in the office.

For what it’s worth, I don’t reckon it was any of the above. No, my choice is one of the unsung heroes, a man who has gone about his business quietly and never shouted his mouth off like some of the famous five I’ve mentioned.

You see, I’m talking about Richard Hill here. Richard who? Let me repeat the name so it can sink in: Richard Hill.

As far as I’m concerned, the British Lions and England back-row forward has been an absolute colossus, the Paul Scholes of rugby union, if you like.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said, before they won 2-0 away in Roma in Europe last week, “If I was picking my Champions League final team, I would only need to find 10 players because Scholes would already be in it!”

Hefty praise, especially when a certain Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney play for United.

Now, if I tell you Fergie’s views coincide with those of Sir Clive Woodward when he was England and Lions coach, you’ll get my drift.

Hill was the first name down on Woodward’s teamsheet.

If the Saracens star, who was at ease in every position in the back row, didn’t play, England or the Lions didn’t function as well.

He provided the glue that held them together.

It was abrasive former Wales and Lions flanker Richard Webster who alerted me to the qualities of Hill, at 6ft 2in and 16st.

“Perpetual motion, he’s non-stop, he’s at you all match,” said Webster, who was plying his trade with Bath at that time.

Hill was picked for the Lions’ tour of South Africa in 1997 on the back of just four appearances for England.

The Lions took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series against the then world champions. Hill was immense even though media darlings like Wood and Dallaglio stole the headlines.

Hill, because of illness, missed the third Test. Result? The Lions lost.

Fast forward four years. The Lions are up against World Cup holders Australia and Hill takes no lesser a figure than George Smith to the cleaners during a first Test romp at the Gabba in Brisbane on one of rugby’s unforgettable, must-be-at occasions.

It’s shaping up to be the same story in the second in Melbourne as the Lions lead with half-time approaching when, bang, Hill is concussed by a vicious off-the-ball elbow on his jaw from Wallaby centre Nathan Grey.

Targeted, I’d call it, as Lions skipper O’Driscoll was by New Zealand captain Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu in New Zealand in 2005, dislocating his shoulder after barely 90 seconds of the opener after they speared him into the ground and out of the series in another off-the-ball assault.

Back to Hill, the Lions won all three halves he was on the field against Australia, but lost the three he wasn’t and, consequently, the series 2-1.

The 2003 World Cup provided more compelling evidence of his worth. Hill damaged a hamstring in a pool match and, minus Hill, England were in panic mode as Wales threatened a stunning upset at the quarter-final stage.

Hill was back for the semi-final against France and England took them apart, 24-7 in Sydney.

A week later they became the only European winners of the World Cup, beating Australia on Wallaby home turf.

A knee problem which kept him out for most of the 2004-05 European season didn’t prevent Woodward taking his Mr Reliable on the Lions tour of New Zealand that followed.

And, sure enough, Hill was on the teamsheet for the first Test in a freezing and wet Christchurch.

Unfortunately, he didn’t last much longer than O’Driscoll, being carried off with another serious knee injury after twisting awkwardly.

Following 18 months out, Hill’s steely determination got him back on the rugby pitch, but he has announced, after 71 England and five Lions caps, his retirement at the end of the season.

Hill’s suspect knees can’t take much more.

But, you can be sure, this resolute character won’t want to go out with a whimper when Saracens take on the Ospreys this weekend.