In August 2000, Australia lock John Eales nailed a late penalty kick to earn victory towards New Zealand in Wellington and make sure the Wallabies retained the Bledisloe Cup.
The chance of one other second row emulating Eales’ feat and successful an important match towards New Zealand has at all times appeared unlikely, however that would change in Bristol on Friday.
When Canada face world champions New Zealand within the semi-finals of the Ladies’s Rugby World Cup, their quantity 4 Sophie de Goede might be the participant who decides the match.
Aim-kicking has at all times been dominated by obsessive backs – suppose Jonny Wilkinson and Owen Farrell with their meticulous routines – however Eales confirmed that forwards also can have the required temperament and technical abilities.
“John Eales is somebody I like as he gained a World Cup with Australia,” De Goede instructed BBC Sport, when requested about the opportunity of successful the match as a goal-kicking lock.
“They’re actually large sneakers to try to comply with in.”
The 26-year-old Saracens ahead is a fantastic kicker too, nailing 17 conversions to this point on this yr’s World Cup – essentially the most within the match.
“I do know it would not make sense for conventional rugby individuals, however I grew up enjoying fly-half as a result of each my mother and father performed rugby, which isn’t widespread in Canada,” she mentioned.
“I ultimately grew into my physique and received moved ahead. I really like kicking and discover it cathartic to exit kicking on my own, and so I simply stored up with it as I loved it.
“I get individuals within the stands saying ‘I’m a ahead and kick too’ and I really like watching you.”
Eales’ dimension 13 sneakers will not be the primary large boots De Goede is aiming to fill, with each her mother and father, Stephanie and Hans, having captained Canada at World Cups.
She emulated her mother and father by main Canada on the final World Cup and would have most likely performed so once more however for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage in June 2024, which denied her the prospect to play within the Olympic sevens match.
“My mother and father had been at all times nervous that in the event that they coached me an excessive amount of then it could really feel like there’s a whole lot of stress,” mentioned De Goede, who additionally performed basketball at college.
“They helped me discover my very own approach in rugby to search out the participant that I’m myself. I grew up enjoying fly-half and so they had been each forwards.
“The place they’ve actually helped me is in management classes. They each captained Canada and discovered so much alongside the best way when it comes to methods to work together with team-mates and be a greater chief and particular person.”
