Metronomic Hodgson doesn’t miss a beat

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby‘s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

What’s happening here?

It’s February 14, 2014 and Charlie Hodgson is doing what Charlie Hodgson does on his return to his old club. Here he is lining up a vital penalty attempt for Saracens against Sale in a very tight game which will unquestionably go down to the wire. In difficult wintry conditions Scotland flanker Kelly Brown is lying full length on the ground to hold the ball in place while looking on in the background are replacement prop James Johnston and wing Chris Ashton.

What’s the story behind the picture?

It’s all about the most prolific and consistent goal kicker in the history of English League rugby, and perhaps ever domestically. Hodgson was money in the bank for the two clubs he played for, Sale and Saracens.

He was the model of consistency despite losing the best part of two seasons to separate ACL injuries. He damaged his left knee in 2003 playing for England against Italy which cost him a place in the 2003 World Cup squad and right knee in 2006 which ruled him out of contention for RWC2007.

For the rest of his 16 year professional career he was always on the case, always present and correct. His total of 2,625 Premiership points will possibly never be surpassed. Of modern-day players the closest is Jimmy Gopperth with 1,598 and George Ford on 1,507.

Internationally, of course, he suffered from being a contemporary of Jonny Wilkinson, but in 38 Tests for England – 28 starts and including 12 matches in which he wasn’t the goal kicker – he amassed 269 points. That included eight tries – he had a well developed try scoring sense – while his distribution skills were such that he started five of his Tests at centre. He might not match Finn Russell but his variety of passes was exceptional. A perceived vulnerability in defence was often cited against him but his misfortune was to always be judged against Jonny. In fact his defence was on a par with most of his contemporary fly-halves.

Sport is full of ifs and they often govern how you view a player. Great player that Wilkinson was I’ve always thought that if he – and not Hodgson – had picked up that ACL in the 2003 Six Nations it’s perfectly possible, indeed likely, that England would have still won the 2003 World Cup with Hodgson at ten. Or indeed Paul Grayson. The randomness of sport can never be underestimated.

What happened next?

Well, he kicked the goal of course but you knew that anyway. Hodgson rarely missed when it mattered and on this evening he was on target with five of his six penalties as Saracens stole away with an invaluable 15-9 win.

People tend to forget his Saracens years. Not only did he score 870 points in his 132 games for them – often giving the young Owen Farrell his head as a goal kicker, he was a massive, if quiet and unflashy, influence behind the scenes. Professionalism in all things, consistent repeating excellence week after week, was his trademark and he helped embed that in the Saracen DNA.

The old legs weren’t quite what they were and it was time for the young tyro Farrell to take the lead but lest we forget Hodgson earned two Premiership winner’s medals with Sarries, coming on as a replacement in both the 2015 and 2016 finals and also won a European Champions Cup winner’s medal in 2016, again getting in on the action as a replacement.

Why is the picture iconic?

In some ways this is almost a generic cliched shot – and that’s meant as a compliment. They are often the images that stay in your mind.

It’s a god-awful Friday night away to Sale, it’s cold and windy and it has suddenly started to hail. Sale are putting up a dogged fight and Saracens – not yet the mean machine and serial winners they were to become – are trying to dog out an invaluable road win.

Every professional rugby player has been involved in something similar.

And in such circumstances I would suggest that along with Wilkinson or possibly Andy Goode, the player you would want taking such an important, probably match-winning kick, is Charlie Hodgson. Mr Consistent, Mr Unflappable.

He’s getting on a bit here, the balding skull being compensated by an embryo beard. That rising, gusting wind is tricky, he needs Kelly Brown to come up and do the honours and lightly hold the ball in place. It’s going to be a tad slippy underfoot when he places that non-kicking foot and he needs to factor in the freshening breeze which is bringing in the dirty weather.

But he knows all that. He’s done it thousands of times before and that superbly grooved kicking style remains, the perfect balance and relaxed concentration. The unfussy routine. Hodgson is on the case and his Saracens colleagues are breathing easy. They know this is going over.

Hodgson is a kicker for all seasons.

Footnote: Hodgson still holds the record for the greatest number of points by an England player in a Test – 44 on his debut against Romania. His greatest day though was probably the 27 he bagged in a 32-16 win over the Springboks in 2004. Five penalties, one dropped goal, two conversions and a try.