REGULAR writer Ralph Henderson picks up the thread of last week's Oakfield News dialogue about the great game of rugby and reflects on some more of the good, the bad and the ugly around the sport.[.B2]

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HINDSIGHT is always romanticised and "rose-coloured spectacles" are as pernicious as myopia. Those of a certain age will reminisce about the fluency of England's rugby in the sixties and seventies when blonde favourites, Richard Sharp and David Duckham lit up Twickenham with their extravagant dummies and ingenious vision.

Jeremy Guscott was their disciple. The truth is that their moments of magic shone like beacons through a mist of prosaic, forward dominated matches, which is always a problem where success dictates all. Few coaches are sacked when winning, regardless of the style of victory!

David Duckham, the great Coventry, England and Lions wing and centre is remembered for some wonderful tries and the most sublime dummy for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973. Yet he must rate as the most under-used player in English rugby history.

For those who like statistics; during his 36 games for England, he received, on average, three passes a game. It is a real testament to his abilities that he still managed ten tries, most of them more memorable than the games in which he played!

David Trick, one of the quickest wingers of all time as well as a former Bath president, played twice for England. He lists playing free-flowing rugby for the Public School Wanderers as a highlight of his career.

Now a famous public speaker, Trick tells the story of how during one of his games in the fog at Twickenham, he was so redundant on the wing that a spectator offered him a cigar and a "Gin and Tonic" which he gratefully accepted!

Dennis Stone was the nearest I knew to David Trick. The former London Welsh and Saracens flyer was always on my shoulder demanding some of the action. Like Chris Ashton, you only found him on the wing when a try opportunity was imminent. Not many people know this but, when he was young, Dennis was quite ugly!

Shockwaves were sent through the country early in 2020 when Nigel Wray, Saracens' supremo, philanthropist and owner of one of the best collections of rugby memorabilia, resigned as boss of the English and European champions.

Then, with the virus taking hold, the year took on a whole sea change from every other peacetime season in history.

First and foremost, it is vital that we all appreciate that there are far more important matters in life than sport and our thoughts are always with those who have suffered and their families. We are starting to appreciate the value of life and how privileged we are to be able to help others.

We are also keenly aware of the fact that we are "social animals" and we are missing the involvement with others. Therein lies the greatest opportunity for Community Rugby viz by offering entertainment, camaraderie and loyalty, the club scene will ascend to great new heights!

At community level, there was not much to report, but these are some of the key moments in an interesting Rugby year which was not quite the annus horribilis you would imagine:

January

When 2020 began very few people suspected that we were about to enter a new "Dark Age" and to witness such megalithic changes to our lives. We learned to live with the most savage consequences and heart-rending events as the disease took its toll.

Nigel Wray resigned as Saracens Chairman as his club was relegated to the Championship for breaching the salary cap.

Thurrock struggled for consistency as injury toll mounts.

February

Dai Young was sacked by Wasps and Finn Russell left the Scottish Six Nations camp after an alleged dispute with Gregor Townsend.

March

Covid 19 enters the fray and puts a stop to all rugby.

Martin Jones becomes Director of Rugby at Thurrock as co-directors move to complementary roles.

April

Newcastle awarded promotion to Premiership.

May

Gloucester part company with Johann Ackerman.

Thurrock plan pre-season, more in hope than expectation!

June

Premiership Rugby set return date for 15th of August.

Clubs agree to complete overhaul of salary-cap system.

July

Exeter lead the way as the only profit-making club and demonstrate their stability by signing a new deal with 30 top players.

Thurrock are deep into pre-season training as outstanding Thurrock player Brad Rettigan confirms his retirement. One of the best players ever to play for the club.

August

Premiership rugby restarts. Community rugby delayed.

September

Semi-Finals of European Cup.

Opening of Orsett Heath Academy, a magnificent new facility and the "Gateway" to the future.

Martin Jones and Thurrock's Olympian and England star, Emily Scott, start coaching youngsters at Orsett Heath and William Edwards.

October

Exeter become Champions of England and Europe in a unique double, just 10 years after promotion from the Championship.

England win the Six Nations after disappointing competition, lit up only by Jonny May's try against Ireland and resurgent France inspired by Antoine Dupont and Romaine Ntamack.

November

England's Women( The Red Roses) claim a second successive Grand Slam as Emily Scarratt is named as best Women's player in the World!

First Autumn Nations Cup begins.

Leicester dismiss Club legend, Geordan Murphy.

Community Rugby still on ice as club's struggle to survive.

December

England win Autumn Nations Cup, but little cheer as,France apart, teams play "safety-first" rugby, characterised by " kick- tennis" and seemingly endless scrum offences!

European games cancelled with teams being controversially penalised by Covid!

Community Rugby deferred once again.

Legal battle begins over head injuries. Campaign led by former Internationals, Steve Thompson and Alix Popham.

For most people it was the worst year in living history and the prospects seemed bleak as we entered 2021.

There has been no let- up as new mutations accelerated the transmission of this awful disease.

As the New Year began, it would have been easy to cling on to platitudes such as "Things can only get better!", but they didn't and we went into complete "lockdown" as the numbers of infections rose and we became incarcerated in our own homes apart from an hour a day!

In these circumstances, it seems incredibly churlish to even write about sport, but sport has many redeeming features including a diversion from the vicissitudes of life, a form of escape from reality as well as a route to fitness, a raison d'etre and psychological respite.

We were told to "Be strong because things will get better. It may be stormy now, but it never rains forever." Except it did, at Parc y Scarlets, as we endured some of the dreariest internationals in history! Soulless stadia, turgid, incessant, aimless kicking and we had all paid additional fees to Amazon!

All along we were losing ground to football as the Premier League started to produce some of the best football for generations. There were some amazing games that you couldn't take your eyes off, like Aston Villa's epic 7-2 victory over World Club champions Liverpool. There were great individuals at the top of their game like Son and Harry Kane, the irrepressible Mo Salah and, above all others, Jack Grealish! He is worth the Sky fees alone! Whenever he gets the ball, there is a tingle of excitement as you know he is about to mesmerise opponents and make something happen. An incredibly loyal player, he has withstood enormous pressure and incitement, but remains a Villa supporter like his manager.

Cricket and golf, too, were providing some memorable moments, especially Jon Rahm's extraordinary hole-in-one; but the real heroes were those whose inspiration provided the antidote to the malaise.

As global sporting events such as the Olympics, were postponed, into the arena stepped a host of intrepid paladins setting fund-raising records through fitness targets and events.

Top of the list had to be Captain Sir Tom Moore, who captured our hearts by walking 100 lengths of his garden at the age of 99 and raising £33million for the NHS! Maureen Lightbody, 95, walked 10,000 steps a day and who can forget Ravinder Singh, the "skipping Sikh"?

Margaret Payne, 90, completed the marathon stair climb, while Imogen Papworth-Heidell did 7.1 million "keepie-uppies", aged just 10. Dabirul Islam Choudhury, OBE, did 100 garden laps during Ramadan. Lloyd Scott wore a diving suit while completing the "Three Parks Challenge" and 104-year-old Ruth Sanders finished a marathon walk, after being housebound for months.

"I got fed up with all this and so I asked my son in North Wales if he thought it would be alright if I went for a walk?"

We all remember Rugby League great, Kevin Sinfield, 40, who ran seven marathons in seven days for old team-mate, Rob Burrow. Freddie Xavi, nine, ran a phenomenal 100 kilometres in a remarkable act of friendship for his cancer-suffering pal, Hughie.

It was a year of epic sacrifice by so many and epitomised by five-year-old Tony Hudgell who was so badly abused by his parents that he became a double-amputee! This splendid little fellow walked 10 kilometres on prosthetic limbs to raise more than a million pounds.

That puts everything in perspective!

Where were the knight-errants of rugby? Tuilagi was injured again; Ford and Farrell were misfiring and Wales in disarray. Where were the Bennetts, Edwards, Williams and Davies of yesteryear?

How we longed for a maverick like Gavin Henson or Shane Williams .Perhaps Finn Russell could provide the spark? Even in the days of the Max Boyce tales of the" Pontypool Front Row", Gerald Davies, at the age of 35 had scored five tries in one game against Ray Prosser's "Mean Machine"!

"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing!".

This famous phrase, attributed to UCLA Bruins football coach Red Saunders seemed to be the mantra of all the Six Nations teams, apart from France. Eddie Jones was previously defending his safety-first strategies; Andy Farrell was rebuilding and unsure about when to deviate from the Sexton/Murray axis. Wayne Pivac was beset with injuries and still living in Gatland's shadow, while the fast improving Scots would take a win at all costs!

Fabien Galthie's Les Bleus were the real entertainers as France displayed a joie de vivre of old. How refreshing to admire the free-running spontaneity of Dupont, Ntamack and Penaud.

There is real strength in depth; great leadership from Joss Nunn's alter ego, Charles Ollivon, the French captain and they are fast becoming favourites for the next World Cup.

Rugby is about unique courage, friendship and passion.

Exeter's story is heart-warming and demonstrates how the game can transform a sleepy city into the English and European champions. Without such fairytales the world would be a poorer place. Exeter's story is the reason we must never ring-fence the Premiership. Rob Baxter's teams can play an "all-court" game. There are times when they play highly structured, functional rugby and their rolling mauls are relentless and seemingly unstoppable.

Yet they are also wonderful in open play with the likes of Jack Nowell, Henry Slade and Joe Simmonds displaying the highest levels of skill and determination. The Exeter model is based on developing their dynasty with everyone sharing their unique DNA.

Most of their players come up through the ranks like Luke Cowan Dickie, Jack Nowell, Jack Maunder and the Simmonds brothers. Outstanding coaching turns imports like Phil Dollman and Gareth Steenson into loyal, outstanding clubmen. This culture is transmitted through the generations and ensures sustainability.

Utilising the forward-looking head of Janus, it might be worth dwelling on the words of Rob Baxter: "We've got to be really careful we don't have this romantic idea of what the game used to be like……

"Football is thrown billions of pounds of TV money. Are we saying there has to be six goals every game to make it sellable? Course we don't. There are incredible 1-0 games where crowds are enthralled. Actually a 5-0 is now seen as a waste of time. It's not always about points and tries.

"Fans will help 100%. Imagine these internationals that are being criticised. Are we seriously saying England beating Wales will ever be a poor occasion? Wales beating England will never be a poor occasion will it?

"Imagine that in the Millennium Stadium - it doesn't matter if it's 3-0! We all know it.

"So let's see how it all unfolds for a little while before we all start panicking."

Wise words, as ever, from Rob and echoed by Welsh great, Jamie Roberts last weekend at Rodney Parade: "I cannot wait to play in front of crowds again. I have memories of these places as a kid, bouncing with the crowds and I am sure all the players across Wales cannot wait for that moment, because rugby is very different at the moment!"

There are few who would disagree with those sentiments and we are all beginning to understand the importance of sharing great occasions with friends and family; discussing nuances and points of law over a pint or two.

"And this is where the great opportunity lies and why rugby must "seize the day"! 2021 offers hope and possibilities at every level. The isolation and loneliness have made us appreciate the value of social clubs. To re-populate our clubs and maximise membership must be a top priority when some sort of normality resumes. The work of Pfizer and Astra-Zeneca must not be in vain!

At the end of 2020 many were bemoaning the death of rugby and then the phoenix rose from the ashes as Wasps and Bath provided the complete antithesis. When Rhys Priestland sprinted in from 50 metres we knew there was a commitment to an unstructured feast. The enterprise became seductive and infectious.

Taulupe Faletau displayed his immense array of skills and a new star was born in Paolo Odogwu! Ollie Lawrence of Worcester is being feted as the new Manu Tuilagi, but Odogwu was incredible. This full-size battleship penetrated the Bath defence at will, even bouncing off England's best tackler, Sam Underhill! Surely he must have a Welsh grandfather?

Wasps won the game by 44-52, which would have been of no consolation to the Bath faithful, but a huge boost for the vast majority of the rugby fraternity!

Sometimes such rugby is borne out of desperation, but these teams were committed to re-active, unstructured rugby throughout and deserve the plaudits. Give me the Jonny Mays and Finn Russells every time!

It was as if the players themselves wanted to bring some joy into the New Year and remind us of the nature of freedom. Even the Welsh derbies improved after the gloom of the Dragons versus Scarlets game when the men from Llanelli drove us away from our screens with 81 kicks!

It is easy to understand the mentality of coaches whose livelihood depends on success.

Stuart Lancaster built a culture of respect for the RFU using the skills he had brought from his teaching background, yet one positive decision by his captain Chris Robshaw, in the 2015 World Cup game against Wales, probably cost him his job!

Yet he understood the importance of values and legacy in sustaining a culture and remaining true to your beliefs. Lancaster was far more courageous than the desperate coaches who betray their beliefs in order to hold on to power and little surprise that he was snapped up by Leinster, whose longevity at the top of European rugby is built on the very same values that he espoused.

A year of lockdowns has automatically increased television audiences.

"Big players" like Amazon have entered the arena. Many people have created cinema rooms and built pubs with big screens, in their gardens! There are many competing alternatives and it is vital that rugby takes up the challenge and adapts to the new era.

Winning is important to partisan devotees who will get pleasure from every re-set scrum or crooked throw as long as victory is ensured. However, those enticed to television sport are largely neutral and they are the very people we need to attract to our local clubs to enjoy and perpetuate "the total rugby experience". Compared with football, the laws are quite complex, but everyone can appreciate skill and athleticism.

There is no country more devoted to rugby than New Zealand, their fanaticism unrivalled.

Having been fortunate to travel there on several tours, I have been shocked by the decline of their club scene. During the World Cup of 2011, our party visited clubs the length and breadth of both islands. Yet even in Ponsonby, Counties Manukau or Carlton Grammar there were so very few locals. Our party of a dozen or so easily outnumbered the locals and we were feted for our efforts.

Upon enquiring about the paucity of local support, we were told that the younger generations had erected big screens in their gardens and were more family orientated than hitherto! This was quite alarming and seemed to follow the pattern in places like Wales where clubs had ceased to exist following the collapse of community support.

But,now in New Zealand, we have seen the revival of clubs as the full-blooded encounters of the Bledisloe Cup, and Tri Nations have brought the passion back. The domestic rugby has been thrilling and New Zealand provides the clue to what the post-Pandemic World could look like!

Unlike some critics, I am not convinced that we need to change too many laws in order to make the game safer and more attractive. We need to adapt some and back officials to enforce others.

The biggest area of criticism is the scrum. Unless you are a Jason Leonard or a Phil Vickery, you haven't got a clue what's going on and the referees appear to take a pretty arbitrary approach when deciding who is at fault for the latest collapsed heap of bodies.

There are on average 18 scrums per international game(and far more where skill levels are lower) These take up 20% of the game! This may not seem quite so bad watching on television when you can see a replay of an exciting move or listen to the pundits admitting that they, too, know nothing about scrums, but to the new recruits and club sponsors freezing on a touchline, this is the goose that laid the rotten egg!

When you have paid £100 for a ticket, you feel a little "short-changed", especially as when play resumes, the Daffodil-heads spoil your view as they stand up ready for their latest beer round or comfort break.

Scrum laws have rightly changed in recent times for reasons of safety. Why not make these simple adjustments in order to ensure even greater safety and reduce the likelihood of collapse?

• Stop the clock, from the time of the offence, until the ball enters the scrum. This will prevent time-wasting and give spectators value for money.
• Change the sequence of instructions to: BIND ,SET, PAUSE, ACTION.
• At the ACTION stage the ball should be put in STRAIGHT.

These changes would ensure that skill, technique and strength would determine the outcome of scrums rather than some underhanded ploy that few can identify. There would be no point in attempting to waste time. Furthermore it would restore the art of hooking and see a return to a lighter more skilful player instead of an additional behemoth in the front row. Above all else, it would make the game safer and refereeing more accurate.

There has long been debate surrounding Rugby Law 365 regarding substitutions.

Replacements for injury came first in the interests of player health, before tactical replacements were introduced in 1996. In 1966,during the England v France game, loose forward David Perry heroically played on and exacerbated his knee injury to such an extent that he would never play again. In the same year Welsh captain, Alun Pask suffered an early shoulder injury against the All Blacks. The British Lions played the majority of the game with 14 men and suffered inevitable defeat.

The substitution law has been the subject of much debate and has occasionally been abused such as the infamous "Bloodgate affair" that sullied the reputation of Harlequins in 2009. In the World Cup Final of 2019, South Africa used it to their advantage by substituting the whole front row after 43 minutes. In the second minute the England tighthead prop, Kyle Sinckler, had been forced to retire with injury. Although, they battled hard, when a whole new front row emerged, the domination was complete!

Furthermore, the introduction of up to eight fresh, powerful players onto the field must heighten the possibility of injury to those involved throughout. Surely, we must now return to the use of a total of three substitutions from a possible eight, with the addition of medically verified substitutions in key positions in the front row.

Finally, I would like to see some adjustments to the kicking laws, perhaps along Rugby League lines, in order to encourage running rather than" box- kicking" as a fall back situation.

With regard to kicking, it has usually been the case that women learned from the men's game. Indeed, during the early years there was very little kicking because the skills had not been honed during youth and kicks lacked distance for physiological reasons.

However, this helped the popularity of the game as women were forced to run from all over the field. Thurrock backs coach, the indomitable Sally Tuson, played in the back three for England and ran everything! Her pace and power enabled her to score some magnificent long range tries.

Although fly-half Emily Scott has become a fine kicker, she has been the scorer of many memorable solo tries for Thurrock, Harlequins and during her long career with England and GB. In their pomp Thurrock Ladies, led by the effervescent Mercedes Foy treated us to the most spectacular rugby with players like Kat Emerson, India Harvey and Kay Wilson expressing pace and freedom.

"Ambition should be made of sterner stuff."- Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare.

Attacking ambition should be rewarded and perhaps there should be differentiated tries, but that is one for the future. What we really need is the emergence of coaches like Pat Lam and more characters like Barry John or Danny Cipriani!

When considering polls of the world's best players, Justin Tipuric usually features. A superb all-rounder, he fetches and carries, is a line-out option, breakdown specialist and impeccable ball handler. He has the pace and skill to play in the backs. Maro Itoje comes into the same category as a complete player. Watch out for a return to form for Taulupe Faletau, a wonderful, natural talent!

It is a pleasure to watch the terrier – like Faf de Klerk whose omnipresence is as infectious as his sheer love of the game. He just seems to dominate proceedings and was the key to his country's World Cup success.

If Pieter-Steph du Toit was the player of the tournament in 2019 then Cheslin Kolbe was the most exciting. TheJack Grealish of rugby, he brings an aura of expectation every time he gets the ball. He is the standard we must all aspire to reach, the Shane Williams of his generation.

Seeing the emergence of former Sale winger Paolo Odogwu reminds me of a shorter Jonah Lomu! Praise indeed, but like the great man he joyously decimates defences. He is a "smiling assassin" and plays for fun. I don't know whether he can kick, because he always runs, another Lomu trait. He is pure" box office" and when he collects the ball, fireworks are guaranteed!

The Ospreys had been going through a desolate period, especially with the long -term absence of one of Wales's most creative tens, Gareth Anscombe. Then suddenly a fresh faced Matt Protheroe got a chance in the back three. This blonde youngster is a brave tackler, belying his stature and has provided a ray of sunshine with his free running and risk -taking.

The Swansea-based team have also unearthed the next Welsh hooker in Ifan Phillips. This ubiquitous Osprey is frequently found in the outside channels and relishes the close-quarters encounters. He loves scoring tries and once scored five in a youth cup final.

The other good news for Wales is the scintillating form of Cardiff half- backs, Tomos Williams and Jarrod Evans. If the selectors really want to beef-up their attacking options, they need look no further than New Zealand-born Willis Halaholo. Residency rather than "Granny gate" prevailing!

England have a plethora of crowd pleasers coming through at 10. Marcus Smith, he of the Campese "Goose-step" continues his development, while Mike Umaga's son, Jacob is following in the footsteps of his uncle, All Black legend,Tana.

Joe Simmonds, at Exeter, has power, pace and the complete game. Surely it is only a matter of time before these three challenge the Farrell/Ford duopoly? The bright Harry Randall, noted for his quick-thinking alacrity looks a likely successor to Danny Care, if England win the tug of war over the youngster's nationality.

This emphasis on youth is essential, since they are intrepid and rely on reaction and reflexes, unhindered by fear. That is not to say that players like Jonny May, Finn Russell, Jordan Larmour and Garry Ringrose will lose their appeal but watch out for the hunger of Luke Cowan Dickie and the energy of Richard Capstick!

At community level, more than ever before, it is essential to build the future dynasty.

With all clubs in the most frightening financial situations, developing local players and ensuring their loyalty is the only way to secure a healthy and successful future.

The advent of Orsett Heath Academy and the construction of Rugby Academies is at the top of the agenda for Director of Rugby, Martin Jones and Youth Chairman, Ken Laybourn.

Encouraging freedom of spirit and avoiding stultifying structures is paramount to the approach and is already paying dividends. Before lockdown, there were large numbers of youngsters at training and most are longing to return.

The Oakfield club has already unearthed half a dozen prodigious fly-halves including Dan Stone, who has "pace to burn" as well as a burgeoning all-round game. Charlie Chitty is a cheeky, effervescent throw-back to the Benny Jones era, while the conveyor belt goes back to the brilliant potential of Archie Holding, Luke Mitchell and George Driscoll.

Owen Taylor exudes class and pedigree, with Callum Pluck and Daulton Carter vying for wing positions.

Haydn Anderson, Elonas Butrimas, Sam Jennings and Kole Awosika add to the front row options where young Jack Cowman is looking outstanding. Anthony Catchpole, aka Will Witty, is evergreen, while Welsh Exile, Blake Burns, is likely to surpass his father's number of first team appearances.

We are keeping in touch with student prodigies such as Mason Nunn who will be competing with his brother one day soon! Add to this the relative youth of the superb fledglings Dan Ulph, Caolan Watts-Adams, Niall Clifford, Ben Northfield, James Milsom, Tom Saunders, Ed Stevens, Callum Peterkin and the barnstorming Henry Bird, then this will be a real spur to veteran first teamers like Jake Bedding, skipper Charlie Russo, Dritan Loka, Alex Jones, Tom Worsfold, Joss Nunn (whose solo try against Beckenham was my highlight of the season), Ben Stanley, Ben Timson and all those other stalwarts I have accidentally omitted .(apologies to all)

In 1983, the British and Irish Lions took on 18 matches on their tour to New Zealand. Lew Hughes was present for them all! The early tours lasted for three to six months. Indeed for some, the first tour was interminable as players stayed for the subsequent cricket tour.

As rugby evolved, the tours were shortened, yet to play for the Lions is still the pinnacle of anyone's career (unless you were a member of England's World Cup squad in 2003).

Owing to politics, player release and a host of other factors, the number of tour games has been drastically reduced and, for some the brand has been compromised, while for others it is seen as a decaying shadow of its former self.

Notwithstanding the "rotting carcass" analogy, for rugby's sake there can be some "sweetness" arising from the strength of the legacy. As youngsters we were lucky enough to watch three British Lions, Pask, Lewis and Morgan play for our team every week (four if you count the guest appearance of arguably the greatest of all, Willie John McBride).

We know what a positive impact that made on our town and a lifelong legacy. So imagine the benefits of watching the Lions in this country for the thousands of people who will never be able to afford an overseas tour.

With this year's trip to South Africa likely to be postponed owing to Covid 19, why not bring South Africa to Europe! All Unions are in desperate need of financial resources and a ten match tour could provide salvation for all.

By July, the vaccinations should have been rolled out to all players and a fair number of supporters. Isolation bubbles could be formed and revenue from a restricted live audience could supplement massive television receipts.

I would suggest games against all Six Nations' Teams, starting with Italy and leaving England and France until the end of their protracted seasons. These matches would be followed by three tests against the Lions (whose own warm-up games could be against Argentina). The final game could be against the Barbarians, thus helping the financial issues of another great Rugby institution.

Whilst, I appreciate this does not satisfy the wanderlust of intrepid tourists, nor the benefits to the host nation it is, nevertheless, a mouth-watering alternative and far more palatable than cancellation.

Carpe Diem, meaning "pluck the day" is a Latin phrase, first used by the poet, Horatio. It expresses the view that we should enjoy life while we can and it is easy to see its attraction in current circumstances.

Originally, Horace used the phrase "Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." - Seize the day and put very little trust in tomorrow. My preference is to seize the opportunity when it arises.

We must make the most of the opportunities as they occur, when this awful period comes to an end. The world is full of heroes, especially the NHS and those amazing scientists and fund-raisers.

It is not good enough to provide a diet of unimaginative, unromantic, impersonal highly structured drivel. The portents are good, there is a will to succeed at every level. Let us hope that when we utilise Janus at the dawn of 2022, we will be able to look back and triumphantly employ that most famous of Latin phrases, from Julius Caesar: "Veni, vidi, vice" - "I came, I saw, I conquered."