It would be interesting to delve into what makes a rugby player the virtuoso type as opposed to those who are more conservative. For religious types, it could be a gift from God, a blessing of a free spirit to transfix the masses. We can all name other-worldly players who the game appeared to come easily to: David Campese, Christian Cullen, Mark Ella and Carlos Spencer spring to mind. But the best of all of them was a Frenchman, born in Venezuela who was nicknamed by French fans as the “Pele of rugby.”
Serge Blanco was an attacking genius, extremely dangerous to opposition defence and revered around the rugby world for his majestic style. The French labelled him their favourite player and many named him the best-attacking fullback in the history of rugby union; Cullen fans may question that.
Blanco possessed a long, gliding running stride that covered more ground with each step and gave the appearance of comfortable speed. He may not have been known for bone-crunching tackles on defence but it raises the old argument of who is more valuable – the defensive player who saves points or the attacking one who creates try-scoring opportunities?
As is the French way, Blanco typified their flair and creativity, bringing a modern attacking approach to fullback play. Welsh fullback JPR Williams may have been a more complete player but would never have been capable of scoring the wondrous tries by Serge Blanco.
A shining example of the scoring ability of Blanco is his 1990 try against Australia where he launches himself at full speed from his own goal line, beating defenders including Campese with a fearless dummy to touch down at the other end of the field. Campo and Blanco would have been devastating runners together as they shared a similar offensive philosophy.
This description from espnscrum.com could be describing both players: “he could also be seen, as with so many virtuoso players, to be alarmingly inconsistent. While the game appeared to come so easily to him, his nonchalance and unruffled demeanour sometimes led to anonymity for long periods of a game. This inconsistency could be forgiven in a player so talented, and despite his calm exterior Blanco was a fiercely committed man.”
Serge Blanco was born 1958 in Caracas, Venezuela and moved to Biarritz, France when young. He had been a one-club man with Biarritz, where loyalty was prevalent in the amateur era compared to money being the priority in today’s professionalism. The best players go to the rich clubs and do not stick with a club from an early age.
In 2007, he said some profound words to Planet Rugby about the Super 14 which are still applicable today, “The Super 14 is not interesting to watch, he said, it removes the identity of the provinces here and it has no emotion at all. It is a prefabricated laboratory for Test players. The basis of all sport is that each club and province has its own culture. It’s nice to play and nice to watch, but there’s no ambience. Nobody seems scared, nobody seems too happy for a win.”
Blanco makes a telling point when he states, “Whatever is rare is beautiful. Everybody is getting bored today. There is no rarity, no variety, no freedom.”
Serge Blanco passes the ball as he is tackled during the 1987 Rugby World Cup Semi-Final match between Australia and France. (Photo by Russell Cheyne/Getty Images)
The sense of belonging to a club is more important than the almighty dollar and I believe Blanco would not have been content in the professional era with robotic-like coaching, strict diets and regulations, social media attention and little pleasure outside rugby. He makes another relevant point that, “the IRB should get around a table with everybody, and discuss having one rugby season. And to define a normal schedule of international games. The IRB needs to start looking at the specificity of each country.”
It is no surprise Serge Blanco became President of Biarritz Olympique after retirement and leader of France’s professional league, Ligue Nationale de Rugby.
If you google “Serge Blanco” you will be surprised by the number of fashion posts under the Blanco branding with minor attention to rugby, so he has been a successful man post rugby. Even a heart attack in 2009 did not hinder his progress.
Serge Blanco will always be remembered by Australians for his match-winning try versus Australia in the 1987 Rugby World Cup and the question will always be raised, was there a knock-on in the build-up to the try? I believe it was a fair try.
Blanco’s run from his own goal line against England in 1991 to create a coast-to-coast try for Philippe Saint-Andre can be compared to Campese’s similar attempt versus the British Lions in 1989. For argument’s sake, it is ingrained in the French way to attempt such a risky manoeuvre but the Australians did not have the skill, bravery or aptitude to pull it off. They did not have the awareness to know it was on.
The charismatic and audacious fullback Blanco was a counter-attacking weapon who can be summed up with the French word, majestueux!
