Madam, - I presume Eddie O' Sullivan will be recruited by Fianna
Fáil. He has displayed the perfect credentials by refusing to
accept any responsibility for a disastrous Rugby World Cup
campaign. - Yours, etc,
NIALL HAYDEN,
Carrick Road,
Dundalk,
Co Louth.
Madam, - I was among the thousands of Irish rugby supporters who travelled to the matches in Paris with great hope and expectation. Like the others, I returned extremely disappointed at the performance, or lack of it, of the Irish team.
The consensus of the many supporters I spoke to confirmed my own view: that it was ill advised and commercially naive for the IRFU to extend the coach a four-year contract without any performance-related obligations.
On my return I was shocked to view the televised interview with Mr Phillip Browne, chief executive of the IRFU, in which this arrogant gentleman rushed to the defence of Mr Eddie O'Sullivan and confirmed his absolute faith in him, despite the many calls for his resignation and demands for his services to be dispensed with. Not a sign of mea culpa from the IRFU boss! This is the man who believes that Irish debacle at the World Cup was a mere "blip".
The excellent piece by Gerry Thornley in Tuesday's edition best expresses, I believe, the views of the vast majority of rugby supporters. However, I suspect that Messrs Browne and O'Sullivan are unlikely to do the honourable thing and resign, as suggested in the piece.
The only slight consolation in this whole affair is that I
suspect that forever in the views of Irish rugby supporters and
commentators, Mr Browne will be known henceforth as "Blip" Browne,
the man who could not tell the difference between a blip and a
debacle. - Yours, etc,
KEVIN KELLY,
Fitzwilliam Square,
Dublin 2.
Madam, - Tuesday's second Editorial describes Ireland's exit from the Rugby World Cup as "shameful". Why? Was any player involved in a drugs or doping scandal? Did any player storm out of the team hotel and return home? Was any player shown a red card for conduct on the pitch? Did members of the team go to Paris bars and night clubs on the eve of matches?
If the answer to any of the above is "yes", then, perhaps, our
team's performances against France and Argentina were shameful. If
not, they were merely disappointing and the tabloid language should
be kept for those events in Irish life that can truly be described
as shameful. - Yours, etc,
NEIL HOLMAN,
Pembroke Road,
Dublin 4.
Madam, - So Philip Browne believes we had a "blip" in the World Cup. Is the man totally disingenuous? Or does he really take us all for fools? I hate to correct my blazered friend, but this was no blip - it was a disaster.
The French experienced a blip when they lost their match with Argentina. But they moved swiftly - both on and off the field - to make sure that this was a one-off. Our management of Ireland's situation was in stark contrast.
So no more Bs, Mr Browne. What is expected now is a
comprehensive and forensic analysis of just what went wrong,
leading to a structured plan for the future. And not behind the
closed doors of Lansdowne Road. - Yours, etc,
TOM BYRNE,
Kensington, Rochestown,
Cork.
Madam, - Please, please, let's not let this rest! Eddie O' Sullivan has dined out on Ireland's "golden era" for far too long. Our supporters have indigestion.
Perhaps the marvellous maître d', Mr Thornley, might show
them the way! Hats off to his splendid analysis. - Yours, etc,
GARRETT PHILLIPS,
Taylor's Hill,
Galway.
Madam, - Wondering what all the fuss was about, I opened Tuesday's Sports supplement and read Gerry Thornley's article on Ireland's defeat at the hands of Argentina.
My brief foray into the world of sports tells me this: Mr
Thornley (and his colleagues) can write with great skill, insight,
and passion about things that are very, very unimportant. - Yours,
etc,
RORY O'TOOLE,
Arconagh, Naas,
Co Kildare.
Madam, - Do I detect a dread note of management theory in the tone of IRFU chief executive Philip Browne? It seems that, as many of us will know these days from our employers, the creation of a strategic plan becomes an end in itself: what is actually achieved is secondary. And the astounding reference to the World Cup as a "blip" is reminiscent of the CEO of a retailing chain excusing a minor drop in profits!
Naturally professional sport must be run in a businesslike way.
This is, however, as the disappointed hordes attest, not just
another day at the office. - Yours, etc,
IAN WILSON,
Warren Road,
Donaghadee,
Co Down.
Madame, - I am amazed at the negativity in letters concerning the Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan. It seems nearly everyone is calling for him to resign or be sacked, yet I have not heard of a suggested replacement.
In my opinion the Ireland coach must come from Ireland, but I do not believe there are currently any coaches here that want the job and have the necessary experience.
I think Eddie O'Sullivan should be given at least a year to get
the team back to the level of last autumn's test matches and if he
succeeds he should be kept on to fulfil his new contract. In the
meantime a new coach should be groomed for his position, whether
the change is in 2008 or 2011. - Yours, etc,
GEORGE H. BALL,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.