England need to step up to win 2015 Rugby World Cup

The pathway is clearly delineated by Parker, from the simple matter of turning

left out of the England changing room to get a final adrenalin boost from

the customised messages boards erected in the tunnel with dedications from

fans and family.

Nothing is left to chance in Parker’s world, from the hot pants he introduced

into cycling to prevent any tightening up between heats and finals to

individually-designed mattresses carried round the entire Tour de France. He

did a similar hotel reconnaissance job in Argentina last summer to ensure

the England boys got their kip.

The new head of athletic performance was brought on board a year ago, a coup

for Stuart Lancaster, a man described by Parker as very similar to cycling’s

David Brailsford, both hailed as “visionaries and inspirational”. Parker

knows how to keep the boss sweet.

There is a mystique about Parker himself, as if he were the guardian of inner

secrets beyond the ken of anyone else. He has his peccadilloes, innovations

too, and is not afraid to go against the grain in downplaying the benefits

of ice-cold cryotherapy chambers, the buzz item in Wales’s conditioning

programme.

“I know what we need and cryotherapy is not part of our day-to-day practice,”

said Parker.

Each to his own is Parker’s ethos. He is a strong character, a questioner

rather than a dogmatist. He is also a listener, looking to investigate

problems rather than impose edicts.

“There is no one thing that is going to make the difference,” said Parker. “It

has never been like that in sport. The Fosbury Flop in high-jumping is about

the only single one thing that has had a radical impact. There is no silver

bullet. And this is not a science project where you are looking to do things

for the sake of doing them. You can overdo it, have paralysis by analysis.

You have got to do what is best for the player and not what you think is the

best. It is about the day-to-day detail. There is no magic formula, no one

intervention that will give you the edge.”

Parker, 38, is very much on-message with Lancaster, believing in the power of

emotional energy, that sense of identity, topped off by world-class

standards in every aspect. Parker looks after all elements of athletic

performance, from strength and conditioning to sports psychology. He is

there as a thinker as much as a doer, noting that there are predominantly

evening kick-offs in the World Cup so England need to get used to training

at night.

He has no rugby background but nor did he have cycling experience before

spending six years there. A slew of gold medals was no fluke, nor did

Bradley Wiggins’ ascent to the summit, literal and metaphorical, come about

by chance. Parker was never far away.

He was surprised by rugby’s set-up when he arrived 12 months ago. “You never

heard anything about rugby and I expected it to be further back,” said

Parker, who had previously worked in swimming, squash and athletics. “I felt

that this was a challenge I couldn’t turn down. There is great work going on

in the clubs. England have won a lot of games but it is time to step up and

start winning championships.”

Much as Parker works to demystify his role, there is little doubt that he will

consider every detail in microcosm to get England across the line. He is in

close consultation with Canterbury in designing a World Cup kit. Clive

Woodward revolutionised that aspect with the skin-tight jersey all those

years ago.

Yet footage from that 2003 World Cup training camp shows that sweat and toil

were at the heart of that campaign. Parker is of the same mind. His

PowerPoint presentation highlights key phrases: Clear Direction, Winning

Culture, Good People, Relentless Pursuit of Excellence with the overarching

motto of Hard Work, Discipline, Honesty.

He shows a slide with a picture of Wiggins. Again, more seminal slogans – Want

to be the Best, Never Back Down, Be Prepared to Sacrifice. Human qualities

trump scientific gizmos every time.

“It is very easy to fill training with junk,” said Parker. “In the end, it is

about the people.”

Article source: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/welsh-rugby-crisis-everything-you-6455243

England need to step up to win 2015 Rugby World Cup