Posted by Professional sports is packed full of great stories, it’s one of the aspects that makes it so great. Narrative around players, coaches and teams as a whole are what keeps people engaged beyond just looking out for results and league positions.
At Cardiff we’ve got some fantastic examples of this, but this season none have been better than the stand-out performances of Alun Lawrence just 12 months on from the number eight finding himself suddenly unemployed after the shocking demise of Jersey Reds.
It’s a remarkable rise back to the top level for the 26-year-old who has never allowed non-selection, release and redundancy dampen his work rate and seemingly huge enthusiasm for the game, which is now being rewarded in abundance with some fine form and an extended run in the Blue & Blacks starting XV.
Big Al has always had something about him in the carrying stakes. From Cymru D20 through to playing for all three development pathway clubs in the Welsh Premiership at some point or another, as well as turning out for Cardiff A in the Celtic Cup, it’s something that should have been built around during his first stint at the club.
John Mulvihill seemed to have spotted it, getting the number eight regularly involved in matchday 23s pre and post-covid, but when Dai Young took over it seemed the writing was on the wall for the former Llantrisant and Pontyclun man, being restricted to just two outings for the Misfits XV in the Champions Cup.
Playing regularly for Jersey seems to have done absolute wonders for Lawrence though and he’s now become the primary ball carrier that he was destined to be, currently sitting 4th in the URC’s dominant carries list with 31 across five starts and an appearance off the replacements’ bench so far this season.
Whether launching off the back of a scrum, coming off the top of a lineout, returning a kick-off or popping up in midfield he is constantly looking to make metres with the dual threat of having great footwork to beat a man and the power to go through them.
That physicality extends to the defensive side of the game where Lawrence has displayed the most development, rounding his game away from simply being a major carrying option. His 86 completed tackles at 88% are also fourth in the URC so far this season as he has become a key figure in Gethin Jenkins’ defensive system.
Alongside playing he has taken on the role of Forwards Coach at Chew Valley RFC just across the border in England’s National League 3, and that game understanding is evident in his positioning and organising of those around him on the field.
With the addition of Josh McNally there has been a significant uplift in collision and set piece dominance on both sides of the ball from Cardiff this season, but Lawrence’s contribution to those should not be underestimated with his size and rugby brain clearly contributing to giving this Blue & Blacks pack some real edge.
What makes Lawrence an instant fan favourite beyond his skills, is his underlying work rate. It’s something that recruitment and retention appears to have focused a lot on in these tough financial times, finding and rewarding players with talent and, critically, a point to prove.
Looking at Dafydd Hughes also coming from Jersey, Ed Byrne and Josh McNally as senior players who were in their previous environments a long time, Ben Donnell and Rory Jennings who have come out of the London Irish demise, Johan Mulder and Tinus De Beer stepping up from the Currie Cup, and the raft of young Academy graduates looking to prove themselves in the senior game, there are multiple drivers to perform individually and for the club.
Clearly Lawrence, with the added incentive of proving wrong those who did not give him a chance previously, is not about to let this opportunity escape him and since coming into the matchday 23 towards the back end of last season has never let his effort level or output dip below 100%.
And, of course, when you need him to throw into the lineout he won’t let you down!
All in all though it’s been a terrific fixture block for Alun Lawrence as he established himself in the Cardiff 8 jersey and as one of the top carriers in the United Rugby Championship, alongside posting excellent tackle stats. Exactly what you want from a position as talismanic as his.
The particularly exciting element is that he’s still only recently turned 26 and has plenty of potential to improve over the next few years if he continues to earn and be rewarded with regular playing time.
I’d love to see Lawrence building a relationship with the likes of James Botham, Thomas Young and Dan Thomas to make a serious impact in the turnover stakes, and in attack Cardiff should now be looking to build on his carrying work with the implementation of an offloading game around the number eight, as well as mixing up his positioning to threaten the outside channels more where his pace and mis-matches against smaller backs can be effective.
There may well be a concern when Taulupe Faletau is fit, and with Mackenzie Martin still requiring game time to develop, that Big Al could find game time restricted, but with Sherratt being smart about his squad rotations, regular use of a 6/2 bench and competition driving good form, I’ve no doubt there’s a lot more to come from Lawrence.
Cardiff Rugby Life 