HE may have been portrayed in some quarters as a Johnny-come-lately who gatecrashed his way into the Scotland squad at the expense of homebred players, but John Hardie, the New Zealand-born flanker, has revealed his move north had been almost 20 years in the making.
“I remember watching the World Cup games in 1995, with the Hastings brothers and all that,” he said. “I remember my Dad always telling me my grandmother was born over there in Scotland and that was pretty special. Later John Leslie and Brendan Laney played as well so I had a real connection from them.
“I didn’t really think of it like that [wanting to play for Scotland]. I did not know at that age, just took a real interest, in both Scotland and New Zealand and it went on from there. I can still remember it, and when I listen to the World Cup theme song, I remember as a kid I used to love it from the 1995 World Cup in South Africa. I remember getting up to watch the final in the middle of the night.”
Hardie would have been six years old at the time of the 1995 World Cup, when Scotland were desperately unlucky to fall to a final-second try to France that put them into a quarter-final against a Jonah Lomu-inspired All Black side. They lost, but the 30 points they scored was the most by any side against the All Blacks in that tournament.
“When I came over here I wanted to learn a lot more about Scotland and the culture as a whole,” Hardie added. “I did that through asking players, management and people outside of the circle as well, and Vern [Cotter, the head coach] has gone through a lot of things with the squad on how much it meant to represent your country and the thistle. That was pretty special. I just keep learning different things every day and it’s been awesome.
“When I first came over I could see straight away the passion around the boys and how they went about their work, their work ethic, and the way they got themselves into their rugby, and so it’s been about learning off the boys and they’ve taught me a few things. I just hoped to get a bit of respect off them because that, for me, is what it’s about.”
Preparing to face Japan in midweek, Hardie’s background does give him a special insight into what to expect. He has played alongside Fumiaka Tanaka, the scrum-half who was his team-mate at the Highlanders in Dunedin, and against Michael Leitch, the Japan captain who represents the Chiefs, the Hamilton-based franchise in New Zealand.
“I’m pretty sure they’ll [the Scotland coaching group] have it covered and I won’t have to say anything. Fumi [Tanaka] is a real character and a good rugby player as you know. He is a good attacking kicker, is a good sniper, and we’re going to have to keep our eye on him. He’s free as a character and is pretty passionate Japan as well.
“I played against Leitch this year and watched a couple of his games. He’s a good player – a good ball-carrier, good on defence – but they have quality players all over the field.
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