Room 101: Tom Voyce – London Welsh winger
This might surprise you but I know from first-hand experience how tough being part of a scrum is. On a few occasions at Wasps and then Gloucester I was asked to fill in on the flank in a defensive scrum after we’d had a forward sent to the sin-bin. I remember the tight-head at the time, Phil Vickery no less, giving me a slap on the back for my contribution. In rugby terms it doesn’t get much better as a back-three player to get praise from a prop for your pushing ability. Plus, you never know when you’ll need their help in a fight! After that experience I had new-found respect for the forwards because my legs were like jelly. It amazes me that they can put their bodies through so much exertion in the scrum yet still run around the field carrying the ball and making tackles. Sadly, the scrum is not what it used to be. I’d say that at least 20 minutes of playing time is wasted because of the lengthy stoppages where the referee issues detailed instructions as well as the actual process of re-setting scrum after scrum. The game is getting boring because of this. My front-row mates are as frustrated as anyone and would love for the scrum to be restored to an eight v eight contest based on technique and strength.
TRP verdict: When push comes to shove it’s a tough one to leave out. You’re in.
2. Urban Foxes
The city-dwelling fox is, in my opinion, a problem getting out of control. The easy pickings to be had from the leftovers in dustbins means their population is growing year-on-year, which not only causes a litter problem but is leading to more and more accounts of young children and pets being attacked. At the moment the solution seems to be to capture the foxes and release them into the countryside. But this does no-one any good not least the urban fox, which simply does not have the hunting instincts to survive outside the habitat it’s become accustomed to.
TRP verdict: One of the greatest rugby league playing families of all time was an urban Fox: Wakefield’s Don, Peter and Neil. You’re out.
3. Rubber-neckers
I used to regularly drive from Gloucestershire to London via the M4 and you could quite often add a good half an hour onto what should have been a 1 hour 20 minute journey because of ‘rubber-necking’. It beggars belief that people slow down when they see the occupants of a broken down car standing on the verge on the opposite carriageway. One braking motion can quickly morph into a traffic jam for no reason other than this curious form of curiousity.
TRP verdict: Wind your neck in Tom, you’re out!
