Bevan Rapson: Signature moves maketh the man

Thomas Waldrom. Photo / Glenn Taylor

Thomas "the Tank Engine" Waldrom isn't even part of the England Rugby World Cup team yet, but already the men in white seem more likeable.

The former Crusaders and Wellington man flew back to his homeland this week as emergency cover for Martin Johnson's squad, which already includes New Zealanders Shontayne Hape and Dylan Hartley.

It's not as if a few local names on a team sheet are going to turn us into England fans, just that the England players might find it hard to carry off their habitual air of seething belligerence when one of their teammates is nicknamed after a choo-choo train from a children's book and TV series.

How could they come on all "everybody hates us and we don't care" if Waldrom scored a try and did one of his signature "toot-toot" gestures to celebrate?

Waldrom has always been a popular figure here, someone whose physique doesn't seem particularly gym-sculpted but who gives it everything.

After scorching on to an offload and outpacing opposition backs to the tryline, his "toot-toot" is the icing on the cake.

The tournament lost another great try celebrator when Digby Ioane got injured - the Wallabies wing won't be doing any of his awesome break-dance moves on a broken thumb - but let's hope one or two other players will express themselves creatively after touching down.

All Black loosie Adam Thompson has form, sometimes producing a "You Can't See Me" face wave in the style of American wrestler John Cena. Maybe back-up hooker Cory Flynn will get the chance to perform his "chicken dance", a favourite with Canterbury fans.

The red-and-blacks seem to have specialised in this area - something to do with scoring so many tries, perhaps - with one of their former greats, Scott "Razor" Robertson, reprising his customary shaving gesture after scoring in a Classic All Blacks encounter in Queenstown last Sunday.

The Crusaders have also had the brilliant Norm Berryman's "Raise the roof!" action and Ron Cribb's mimed downing of a refreshing beverage after scoring in a final.

In Highlander country Romi Ropati used to celebrate with a karate kick and Brendon "Chainsaw" Laney with a tree-cutting motion. All Black and Highlander Jeff Wilson wasn't averse to a triumphant sliding finger-waggle.

One-test All Black and Chief Lelia Masaga is well known for his dance moves while YouTube has footage of Piri Weepu showing slightly less natural rhythm after dotting down for the Hurricanes.

England already have Chris Ashton, who likes to get his celebrations in early with the kind of swallow dive he performed against Georgia last Sunday, but if Waldrom gets his opportunity can you imagine what a simple "toot-toot" would do for the side's popularity among local fans? Against anyone other than the All Blacks, that is.