Shingler's move to Rugby Union finally paying off

Sunday 5 February 2012

When Scarlet's back row forward Aaron Shingler was informed that he was to join the Welsh squad, in one of Warren Gatland's infamous training camps in Gdansk, Poland, the icing was well and truly on the cake. For the cake had been baked only 48 hours previously when, with the Scarlet's line under severe pressure from powerful French side Castres, Shingler intercepted a try scoring pass from Fijian fly half Seremia Bai, to race the length of the field for what was to prove the turning point in a full blooded battle in the South of France. With the West Walians holding out for a 16-13 victory to claim a place in the quarter finals of the Amlin Challenge cup, it was to cap a sensational first half of the season for Aldershot born Shingler.

But oh how things could have been different! Unlike the majority of Shingler's new team mates, who show under 20's, under 19's and under 16's caps as their own personal building blocks to the national team, Shingler had no such development. For it was the Glamorgan cricket team that had his obvious talent's at their disposal. A right handed quick bowler with terrific speed and hand eye-coordination, Shingler made such a mark he was included in the England under 19's team to tour Bangladesh in 2005. It was only when he fell out of favour with the Glamorgan selector's that he turned to rugby.

It was through his home town club Hendy, where his father was youth team coach and his brother himself a player with the youth team, that Shingler's rugby ability became evident. Blessed with raw physicality and the footballing ability of an outside back the 106kg Shingler made such an impression, that he was given the opportunity to play for Llanelli R.F.C one of the feeder clubs for the Scarlet's.

Impressing weekly in the Welsh Premiership the Hendy product shifted from the second row to the back row regularly, with his raw pace and exceptional lineout ability marking him out as a star of the future. It was in the 2009 Welsh cup final against Neath that Shingler really caught the eye. A length of the field solo effort forcing Scarlet's coach Nigel Davies to take a punt on Shingler, in the Scarlet's back row.

And so the journey to Gdansk began in earnest for the man who only a few short years ago, seemed destined for a career in top class cricket. However, despite some stand out performances for Llanelli Shingler found it difficult to establish himself at regional level with question marks being raised about his lack of physicality at the contact area, despite his obvious talent. As is the case with many of the Principality's bright young beacons, Shingler was sent to hone his skills on the sevens
circuit. The exceptional ball skills and outrageous pace that was evident in the Welsh Premiership, wooed crowds in such places as Hong Kong, and Las Vegas, where rugby very rarely touches.

With the Scarlet's investing heavily in home grown talent, it wasn't long before Shingler was given the chance to impress the Scarlet's faithful once again, moving between the front five and back five of the scrum on an almost match by match basis.

As Max Boyce famously declared the existence of the Welsh fly half factory in the 1970's, he could quite easily declare the existence of a similar factory of back row riches in the Welsh Valleys. And the Scarlet's have been at the forefront of the production line with Josh Turnbull and Rob Mcckusker being moulded into top class internationals at Parc Y Scarlet's along with (whisper it quietly) Ben Morgan for England. Not an easy back row to force his way into in West Wales! Yet alone the whole of Wales! But break in Shingler most certainly has done, with eye catching performances firstly during the world cup, where Josh Turnbull also was absent due to injury, allowing the elder Shingler to make the Scarlet's number six jersey his own.

Impressive performances in front of the Sky Sports cameras in the Heineken cup along with the extremely impressive statistic of being the Scarlet's top try scorer in the Heineken cup pool stages, has finally propelled the former England under 19 cricketer into that elusive Welsh back row pool.

And what chance of Shingler making his test bow during this seasons six nations? Very good as a matter of fact, considering there is a doubt over Dan Lydiate, who, as Shaun Edwards would say was a vitally important cog in the Welsh back row engine during that memorable world cup campaign down under.

Now Shingler may be more Tom Croft or Rocky Elsom, than Dan Lydiate or Jerome Kaino. And there may be some that tout Ryan Jones for that Welsh back row jersey, and rightly so considering he has over half a century of caps and is one of the form players in a very average Ospreys team. But I have a hunch that if Shingler had been playing for the All Blacks under Graham Henry he would have been awarded at least twenty caps by now. The former headmaster has never shied away from blooding talented yet extremely raw back row players, such as Highlanders number six Adam Thomson.

So, Shingler's dynamic presence In the Welsh back row, along with his top class skill set and useful lineout ability, should ensure Wales have useful alternatives to work horses Dan Lydiate and Ryan Jones. One thing is for certain should Shingler be selected to take on Ireland, Warren Gatland won't be complaining if Shingler decides to do his impression of Usain Bolt as he did In Castres on the weekend.

But I have a hunch that if Shingler had been playing for the All Blacks under Graham Henry he would have been awarded at least twenty caps by now. The
former headmaster has never shied away from blooding talented yet extremely raw back row players such as Highlanders number six Adam Thomson.