Talk of the Toony
The Autobiography of Gregor Townsend
0.3
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The autobiographies of two of my rugby heroes, Gavin Hastings and his younger brother, Scott, were disappointing affairs. Gavin's High Balls and Happy Hours was readable and had its moments, but Scott’s Great Scott, was almost forgettable.
So it was with some trepidation that I read Gregor Townsend’s autobiography, Talk of the Toony. It was a book I picked up at a signing in Edinburgh during the 2007 World Cup, so whatever the quality of the writing, at least I would have a signed first edition. But I needn't have been concerned as Talk of the Toony, is as good a rugby autobiography as I have read.
"Frustrating mercurial" is what one commentator said of Townsend (and Townsend is not the only Scottish sporting icon to be described thus), a description that would have been used more than once during a career that lasted 17 years, during which time he played for Gala, Warringah, Northampton, Brive, Castres, The Borders, Natal Sharks, Montpellier and the Border Reivers. In a ten-year international career, he played 82 times for Scotland (scoring 164 points, including 17 tries). Who could forget Townsend's reverse pass that set up Gavin Hasting’s match-winning try at Parc des Princes in 1995? Surprisingly, he played only twice for the British and Irish Lions.
He tells of all the highs and lows of his international career (I can still remember being absolutely gutted when Scotland went down 14-15 to England in 1994). Not surprisingly, there is an entire chapter devoted to the final 5-Nations Championship in 1999 - so nearly beating England at Twickenham, his all-round performance against Ireland and the "du beau rugby" at Stade de France. There was also his personal triumph of scoring a try in every match of the campaign.
The highlight of Townsend's career and in many ways the highlight of the book as well is the 1997 Lions tour to South Africa. This is the tour where everything went as right as things on the two subsequent Lions' tours went wrong. In 1997, so many things were spot on: the coaching combination of Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer, the management of Fran Cotton and the captaincy of Martin Johnston (who, as a result of this book, leapt bounds in my estimation).
As well as its highs, his career has had its lows and controversy: his omission from the 2001 Lions squad, the 1994 Scotland tour to Argentina (where Townsend's enthusiasm for rugby was nearly destroyed) and finally his enforced international retirement. Townsend does not pull any punches either. He (quite rightly in my opinion) criticises both the 2001 and 2003 Lions' tours and is critical of many aspects of the Scottish Rugby Union, especially in its handling of the professional game north of the border and in particular the events of 2006-07 which led to the demise of the Border Reivers and chaos at Edinburgh Gunners.
Whilst a disappointing campaign as far as results are concerned, Townsend's diary of the 2003 World Cup is a joy - an almost faultless marriage of sports writing and travel writing (if only some of the performances on the pitch could compare!).
This was quite simply a joy to read and a book I couldn't find fault with. If you support Scottish rugby, I suspect that you have already read this, but if you haven't, buy it! If you are less fortunate and don't follow Scotland (!!!!), there is still much to recommend this.
About This Entry
‘Talk of the Toony’ was posted by Liam Doyle on Thu, 24th July 2008 at 11:42:31 BST and filed under book reviews.
