Reborn Grayson thrives in old role

Heineken Cup: Northampton benefit from expertise and enthusiasm of veteran fly-half

Paul Grayson needs no help in getting up in the mornings – not with twin baby boys aged six months in the home – but at 31, he finds himself leaping out of bed anyway for training sessions which routinely start at 7.30. The Northampton fly-half is enjoying his rugby as much as ever, buoyed by the support of the ex-All Black No 10 Wayne Smith as his coach and mentor, and the dawn chorus has never been more tuneful.

"When Smithy arrived last December I was third choice," said Grayson. "Within two weeks I was back to first choice. Every game I've been fit for since, I've played. It's been a complete joy. My wife will tell you, I'm a different character entirely, a much nicer person to be with. I've got something to shoot for; every day's a challenge, and an enjoyable challenge."

Smith's initial impression was much the same as the game's at large. Grayson had moved into coaching when he worked with England's goal-kickers on tour in North America in 2001, the last cap for his country was at the 1999 World Cup, and injuries combined with an occasional outing at full-back had blurred the picture. The coach wasted no time in resharpening the focus. "He said 'prove it to me you can still play, show me you've got the desire'," Grayson said. "I did that and in return he's shown faith in me."

It ought to be no surprise. Just as Alan Shearer has proved there is life after England, why would Smith look elsewhere when he has Grayson to pull the strings? The all-time top scorer in the English First Division, Grayson garnered a healthy 310 points in 23 Tests (third behind Jonny Wilkinson and Rob Andrew), and it would be difficult to pinpoint an occasion when he let his country down. Among the ifs, buts and maybes of a sporting career, he got the verdict ahead of Mike Catt in Clive Woodward's early selections, before injury intervened around the same time as the emergence of Wilkinson.

Today, Grayson goes up against another international fly-half, David Humphreys of Ulster, as two former winners of the Heineken Cup complete the first round of this season's matches. But whereas Hum-phreys is still seeing regular action for Ireland, and hence makes only his third start for Ulster this season, Grayson has said thanks for the memories, and moved on.

"If England rang up and said: 'we need you to do a job for us', I'd be delighted. It's not going to happen. But every time the Northampton lads go off for training, I'm pleased for them. I'm particularly proud of Ben [Cohen] who's had a difficult time in his personal life in the last couple of years. He's the most improved player in the England side, and his name would one of the first two or three on the England team list, for me."

It might not be long before Grayson is required to help draw up such a list. Last season he progressed to being backs coach to the England Under-21 side, a role he hopes to continue until next summer's Sanzar tournament. For now, Northampton are getting the benefit of his undivided attention as kicking coach and guiding hand on the field. Handily placed in the Zurich Premiership after four wins in six matches, they have a chance to put two non-descript European campaigns behind them, in attempting to reclaim the crown they won when beating Munster at Twickenham in 2000.

Grayson – who started playing the game when he was 18 "for a bit of fun and a few beers"– knows the tournament's potential for creating instant heroes. In the semi-final of 2000 he had been on the field for three minutes when he kicked the winning penalty against Llanelli. "It's a moment in time that people always come back to," he said, "and I'd say they are few and far between, except that I'd done the same against Wasps two weeks before, in the quarter-final. Tim Stimpson had a similar one for Leicester against Llanelli last season. That's what Europe can do, it makes the headlines."

The effort Northampton put into winning the title, while falling marginally short of adding the domestic league and cup, undermined the task of defending it. "In the final we had players being held together with Sellotape and bits of string," said Grayson. "Over the next 12 months there were about 20 operations and it ripped the heart out of our squad."

A clutch of senior players departed, and perhaps only now is the reconstituted line-up, under Smith, beginning to gel. "I've always enjoyed being given responsibility," Grayson added, "and lots of information from coaches who are very clear what they want me to do. Come the weekend, I'm in no doubts how Smithy wants the game played. There's always been a work ethic here, but when it's mixed in with a bit of smartness, it's going to bear fruit. I'm doing as much work as the kids of 17 or 18 in the academy. You're learning right up to the day you drop down dead, or retire, whichever comes first."

Quality signings such as the Spanish flyer, Oriol Ripol, and the under-rated Peter Jorgensen in the backs, and Andy Blowers, Mark Connors, Steve Williams and Tom Smith up front have left Northampton, according to Grayson, "playing a different way, but with the potential to match the team of 2000."

Not forgetting Jon Sleightholme, restored from the commercial manager's office to the wing after a prolonged absence with injury. "There's quality right through the squad," said Grayson. "Mind you, we can stand next to the replica of the Heineken Cup in our clubhouse, but we haven't been anywhere near the real thing since then. We've found out in the last two years that it can be over before the fat lady sings. If you lose your first two games, you've got four left and it's away from you very quickly."

If Northampton emerge from a pool which also contains Biarritz and Cardiff, they will be a good bet to go all the way. And Grayson, inevitable nicknamed Larry by his fans at Franklin's Gardens, will be making a fine fist of the regeneration game.