RUGBY:IF NOTHING else, there will assuredly be a widespread view that this was a brave selection by Declan Kidney, and one based primarily on form. There are exceptions to the latter, but with the likes of Jerry Flannery, Stephen Ferris, David Wallace and Tommy Bowe yet to start a game, and others only having returned last week, the Irish coach was always going to have to make some allowances for pedigree as well as form.
As ever with these things, the most eye-catching selections are those who have been left out, primarily Tomás O’Leary and Luke Fitzgerald, the first an original Lions pick who looked like the nailed-on first-choice scrumhalf up until a year or so ago, the other a Lions Test starter who is thus missing out on the World Cup for a second time.
However, while it’s impossible not to feel sorry for them, neither have offered compelling cases for their inclusion, and neither have been short of opportunities to rediscover the best of themselves. It always appeared as if Kidney, and one ventures defensive coach Les Kiss, had earmarked O’Leary as the man best equipped to counter the sniping, running and playmaking game of Australia’s scrumhalf Will Genia – arguably their most influential player who assumes more of the tactical kicking than his creative halfback partner Quade Cooper.
And at his vintage best of 2009, it would have been a no-brainer. Alas, O’Leary has been bedevilled by misfortune with injuries ever since, more often than not in training, and was even obliged to watch Conor Murray from the stands in Munster’s successful League-title run-in. Indeed, there are still some whispers about that his back is still at him. In any event, he didn’t hit the ground running in Murrayfield and after a promising first 20 minutes last Saturday, when he was nipping at the heels of an Irish pack which then lost its way a little, errors crept into his game and his passing became untidy. Still, it was a surprise to learn that he had missed the cut and this appears to have been in response to the events of Saturday.
In time, Murray (who slotted into his debut around the hour mark in Bordeaux as if to the manor born) has all the component parts to be Ireland’s scrumhalf for many years. With his strength and all-round game, he could even emulate his rise at Munster in the coming weeks. The likelihood, though, is that Kidney and co will have a choice akin to Joe Schmidt last season, when the Leinster coach generally opted for Eoin Reddan when taking the game to the opposition at home, and Isaac Boss when obliged to defend more on the road.
Ireland are going to have to score tries as well as prevent the opposition from doing so, and selecting Reddan would be a similar statement of intent, especially against Australia. But if nothing else, Murray will provide a youthful freshness around the camp, which is always good for a squad’s dynamic, all the more so in such an experienced panel. For although there are 15 players appearing in their first World Cup, there are also 15 in their 30s, and Murray is the youngest at 22.
The omission of Fitzgerald must be devastating for the player himself after being such a regular component of the team. An ill-timed knee injury interrupted what had looked a promising return from a longer-term injury last season and he was perhaps pitched in too soon with province and then country, especially at fullback.
An anxiousness crept into his play as he tried too hard and his decision-making showed this tension in his game. He stopped playing off instinct. There were signs of a return to game-breaking, try-scoring form at the tail-end of last season and even last Saturday he was arguably Ireland’s most dangerous back when twice backing himself and making breaks to within inches of the French line. This will be another test of his mental strength, and he still has an X-factor to his game, but Fergus McFadden’s form has been more solid.
The third late volte-face on selection would have been at fullback due to Felix Jones’ cruel misfortune and the irony of this would not have been lost on Geordan Murphy, but despite defensive shortcomings at times, Ireland are probably better served with Murphy’s strike-running and experience.
Donnacha Ryan was always favoured to fill the utility back five slot in the pack, and with three specialist hookers and scrumhalves Kidney was going to have to leave himself lightly loaded in one area.
Ultimately though, one or two fringe calls in the 30-man squad are probably not going to determine Ireland’s World Cup campaign. That said, one key difference from four years ago is that Ireland will make better use of their squad. Or if they don’t it will be a worrying sign of history repeating itself.
