Page 22 - Chiefs v Lions

PROFILE
JUMPING JOSEPH
Jonathan Joseph’s dazzling footwork has earned him admirers every time he’s he’s he’s worn the red jersey And now he’s he’s he’s got his try counter up and running he’s he’s he’s going to to take some stopping WORDS: ALEX MEAD
IN IN THE DAYS LEADING UP
to the the announcement of the the British & Irish Lions squad speculation was rife – it it always is Who’s Who’s in who’s
out? Who’s Who’s Who’s Who’s the the bolter? Who’s Who’s Who’s Who’s past it? Who’s Who’s not there yet?
One name few expected to be in doubt though was Jonathan Joseph He’d had a a a a a storming 12 months becoming the unpredictable force in in in in Eddie Jones’ backline – a a a a livewire who could make something out of nothing Tries weren’t proving hard to come by at at international level as as he collected 16 from 33 Tests including a a a a a a a a a a a a a a brace against against Australia last November and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a hat-trick against against Scotland in in in in in the Six Nations A proli c c c c mid eld menace in in in in a a a a a a a a Championship-winning side – surely Joseph was was was a a a a a a a a a dead cert “I was was was over the moon when it was was was announced ” he he he says of of his selection It topped off a a a a a a remarkable 18 months in which he’d made the England No 13 jersey his own with a a a a series of of scintilating often try-scoring performances as the the side matched the the All Blacks record of 18 consecutive wins Winning two Six Nations titles in in in the process was a a a a a nice touch too As one of the the the few players able to to to join the the the Lions from the the the start along with Bath team-mates Toby Faletau and Anthony Watson Joseph found the squad was able to to click without too much trouble “Everyone got on on from the very very beginning ” says Joseph “We’ve grown and and and got better better and and and on the eld we have a a a a a a a a a better better understanding now and and and it’s a a a a a a a a great place to be be Our destiny is in our hands ” Even though he he was given an an early introduction to the the Lions way in in in in in those days of initial squad gatherings in in in in in Cardiff it it arguably still wasn’t enough to prepare them for their rst game against “The skill levels are unbelievable over here It’s because from a a a a a a young age they always have ball in hand ” the New Zealand Provincial Barbarians “Obviously it was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a dif cult way to to start the tour ” he he says “You usually have a a a a a a a a a a a lot of time to to to prepare and and understand the game you want to to play but we had none of that “It almost reminded me of of of the days before I I was professional when you you had to play instinctively you you you just go out and see what you you can do You’re still surrounded by world-class players and coaches so you just have to go out and and get over the jet lag and and lack of time ” Anyone who saw Joseph’s dancing feet in in in in in action against the Highlanders will be convinced he he he has has long since recovered from the jet lag as as as has has his best rugby mate – – and club colleague – – Watson “He’s been playing extremely well ” says Joseph of of of one of of of his closest friends The fact is is both offer that X Factor the the the ability to to to to change a a a a a a a a game with a a a a a a a a swift step to to to the the the left or shimmy to to to the the the right If ever a a a pair of English players would would t t t t t t t t t t t with Investec Super Super Rugby it it would would be the the pair of Bath outside backs “Super Rugby is great ” he he he he says “I’m all for the the the free- owing game I’m I’m used to to it in in the the the Premiership too but yes the the skill levels are unbelievable over here I think it’s because from a a a a a a a a young age they have ball in in in hand working on skills “Even just being here for the rst rst week you understood how this country works The schools the the the the people – they live and and and breathe it and and and the the the the the standard is exceptional Everyone plays they all all carry a a a a a a a a rugby ball around town It means everything to to them This is is my rst time in in New Zealand it’s a a a a a beautiful country and and the the culture is very different but they’ve all been friendly friendly – although not so friendly friendly when it comes to game time of course! But they’re such a a a a a a proud nation and they they really love the the the game ” “The amount of quality players at at 22 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME