As we approach the end of the season we can reflect on a term that has been marked by some notable achievements, its share of disappointments and yet again one not short of drama and controversy.
Changed times indeed when we are going into the second week of May and the provincial senior cups still have quite a way to go before reaching their final stages. Not so long ago special permission had to be obtained if a branch wanted to extend the season even by a week beyond April 30th. It was not easily obtained.
Ulster's win in the European Cup was a superb achievement and undoubtedly the highlight of the season. Unfortunately it was not matched by the performances of the national team at senior level. The objective of qualifying for the World Cup was attained, but wins over Georgia and Romania did not send the pulses racing in anticipation. South Africa saw off the Irish challenge, while the French were there to be beaten, errors and a lack of discipline again costing Ireland. The win over Wales at Wembley was Ireland's best performance of the season, but England then exposed Ireland's frailties and limitations, the Scots doing it even more ruthlessly in what was a very poor away performance. It came as something of a relief when Ireland defeated Italy. That broke a losing sequence of three matches against what was a weakened and ageing Italian team.
The lack of attacking ability in the Ireland back line is an ongoing problem. Full back and scrum-half are other areas that caused concern. Conor O'Shea did not produce for Ireland the form he revealed for London Irish, while Conor McGuinness did not have a good championship. He has been ruled out of the tour to Australia because of a foot injury and may well benefit from a rest. Nor was the Ireland tight five as powerful and influential as had been anticipated. The balance of the backrow was another problem.
Let us hope then that the tour to Australia will prove beneficial, that it will hasten the development of the young players in the squad and help to solve some of the problems.
I am very pleased to see Brian O'Driscoll, Jeremy Staunton and Robert Casey in the squad. Here are three young players with great potential. They should benefit appreciably from the tour, even if they play just one match or part of. The return to form of Brian O'Meara and David Corkery is also welcome. I am disappointed, however, that Shane Horgan is not in the party. Matt Mostyn and Mike Mullins are extremely fortunate to be given such an opportunity on the evidence of one representative appearance within the Irish context against a truly dreadful Italian A side. Obviously they have impressed the management with their performances at club level. The imminence of the World Cup adds a significant dimension to the tour. Dion O'Cuinneagain takes over the captaincy from Paddy Johns, who served Ireland so well, but who may not be able to win a regular test place.
Once again the Ireland under-21 side was the most successful Ireland team this season, losing just one match and that by a slim margin to Wales. The under-19 team defended the IRBFIRA World title well, despite being depleted and losing narrowly to eventual winners New Zealand. A top four finish was, however, beneficial for next season's event. The schools beat England and Wales, but Scotland's withdrawal cost Ireland another Triple Crown.
Nothing has been more heartening than the continuing return of players from England. Predictably, it has been cut and run by many of the club owners in England. They are departing leaving clubs in a shambles and others to clear up the mess they created.
Yet again the structure of the AIB league is an ongoing source of debate. I am not going to go into specifics, suffice to say it needs to be changed and, as outlined here a few weeks ago, the number of clubs in the first division should be reduced to nine, preferably with a home and away series annually. We have had an object lesson of how not to go about changing the league by the unedifying activities of clubs in England.
THE controversy about drugs was another unfortunate element, and here some telling lessons were handed out to players and indeed the IRFU. It has raised its head again recently with the news that an Ulster player has failed a drugs test. Let us hope that in this instance there is a medical explanation.
At club level, the victory by Cork Constitution in the first division was a great achievement after they had had a poor start to their league campaign. Buccaneers generally had a tremendous campaign in their first season in Division One. It is good to see both Dungannon back in the top division and DLSP joining it for the first time. UCD and NIFC, two clubs who have contributed so much to Irish rugby, gained promotion to Division Two, while Midleton did extremely well to win Division Four. Barnhall and Thomond now join the league and will be worthy additions, but it is sad to see Collegians and CIYMS depart from the senior scene.
The Irish Academy is a very welcome development, as is the Clubs of Ireland scheme. One crucial area of development for the game is the attention being paid to bringing youngsters into the sport who do not attend rugby playing schools. Considerable strides have been made in this area with the start of the youths under-18 interprovincials well over a decade ago and, more recently, the under-18 internationals.
Spread throughout the country, excluding schools, there are well over 50 competitions at club level for under-age players. And some of those have been going for a very long time. But the senior clubs in Leinster have not done nearly enough to encourage youngsters from the non-rugby playing schools. DLSP is an honourable exception.
In conclusion, I had a letter from a reader in Limerick on the subject of players who played for Ireland who did not attend rugby playing schools. He states that he can name at least a dozen in the post-war era alone. The number is infinitely greater than that. Confining the situation to a modern era, and going no further back than the 1970's, the following come to mind: Richard Wallace, John Sexton, Darragh O'Mahony, Justin Fitzpatrick, Mick Galwey, David Tweed, Henry Hurley, Kevin Maggs, Charlie Murtagh, Trevor Brennan, Brian Spillane, Neville Furlong, Ronnie Carey, Paddy Agnew, Bill Brown, Pat O'Hara, Gerry McLoughlin, Willie Duncan, Moss Keane, Phil O'Callaghan, Terry Moore, Brendan Foley, Ollie Waldron, and Jim Tydings. Let us hope that many more promising players will continue to come through from non-rugby playing schools.
