We have reached that time of year when it is customary to look back on the last 12 months and look forward to what is to come in the New Year. We can reflect on some notable achievements, some disappointments and add in some controversy. We can look forward with eager anticipation to coming events but also with some anxiety about asking too much of players and too much of the public as the representative schedule continues to expand.
The plague of foot-and-mouth disease in Britain called a halt to Ireland's momentum in the Six Nations Championship after a home win against France and an away win against Italy in Rome.
The foot-and-mouth outbreak also caused major disruption to the matches at A and other levels. In Galway, the schools beat France for the first time and in the FIRA/IRB Under 19 World Cup a surprising defeat 10-9 to Uruguay proved costly.
Yet again Munster went on the march in the Heineken Cup. The inefficiency of touch judge Steve Lander cost Munster a place in the final for what would have been a second successive year. For the first time the AIB All-Ireland League title went to Ulster when Dungannon gave a great display in the final against Cork Constitution. UCD became the first university team to achieve first division status in the AIL and Co Carlow, who will contest the final of the Leinster Senior Cup this weekend, won promotion to the top division, a singular achievement for a club only five years in the league.
Six Irish players were chosen for the Lions tour to Australia and two more travelled out as replacements for a tour under the management of Donal Lenihan. When the Lions won the first Test, hopes were high for a series win. That was not to be as mistakes early in the second half of the second Test saw a lead turned into a deficit and then the Australians clinched the series in the third Test. Some great rugby on the field was accompanied by some unacceptable activity off of it. That centred on the tour "diaries" of England's Austin Healey and Matt Dawson. Their contributions told us much about their flawed attitude and disloyalty, whatever the problems that may have beset the Lions.
Keith Wood enhanced his reputation on that tour and was subsequently named World Player Of the Year, a great accolade for a great player. Brian O'Driscoll, too, produced his particular brand of magic on occasions.
Peace broke out between the top English clubs and their parent union - how fragile or enduring only time will tell. The loss by Ireland to Scotland in Edinburgh was an acute disappointment and a poor display from an Ireland team that embraced some flawed selections. Ireland got their by now customary win in Cardiff at the new Millennium Stadium by 36-6 and then came that superb win over England in Dublin, as for the third successive season England fell at the final hurdle in quest of a Triple Crown and Grand Slam.
The Samoans came and, as anticipated, were beaten and then came the All Blacks, who produced a tour de force in the second half that turned a deficit into a victory margin in what was a fine match played in a great atmosphere.
There followed the controversial departure of Ireland coach Warren Gatland and that brought accusation, supposition and recrimination from those who so vehemently disagreed with the decision. Eddie O'Sullivan is now in charge with a support coaching team of Declan Kidney and Niall O'Donovan, with Brian O'Brien as manager. They face a great challenge but look equipped to deal with it.
The inaugural Celtic League was a great triumph for the Irish provinces as all four qualified for the quarter-finals and Ulster, Munster and Leinster for the semi-finals and then as Leinster and Munster won their way to the final, it brought a huge crowd to Lansdowne Road and Leinster came from behind to win the title.
The Heineken European Cup holds out very exciting prospects as Munster and Leinster both have 100 per cent records with two pool matches to be played. Leinster are through to the quarter-finals but face away matches to Newcastle and Toulouse as they seek a home draw. That, too, is the quest facing Munster, who play Harlequins at Thomond Park and then travel to Castres. Nor is the Ulster side out of contention as they stand level on points with Stade de France.
At international level Ireland will open their challenge for the Six Nations Championship with a home match against Wales on February 3rd. They will also play Italy and Scotland at Lansdowne Road and travel to Paris and Twickenham. Then comes a two-Test tour to New Zealand, a probable warm-up match against Italy prior to two World Cup qualifying matches and visits are scheduled in November from Australia, Argentina and Fiji. That is 13 matches in a 10-month period. It took Ireland's most capped player Mike Gibson three seasons to win 13 caps.
There has to be some anxiety around the number of representative national and provincial matches on the schedule and additionally from Ireland's perspective, worries about the role of the clubs. One of Ireland's International Board representatives, Syd Millar, has expressed his reservations: "The number of representative matches taking place is a matter of concern, even anxiety, to some of us on the International Board. There are several factors, including the medical welfare of the players and that must be protected. Furthermore, the novelty value of matches against Southern Hemisphere countries is gone. There is a real danger of overexposure, as far as the public is concerned, and of asking too much of players."
It is hard to offer an argument against those sentiments and it is an important issue for the administrators to address.
This year saw the passing of three men who contributed so much to the game, Ewart Bell, Ken Reid and Harry McKibbin. Now as we look forward, there is much to whet the appetite in the days ahead and concrete reason to harbour hopes that Ireland will have a productive season and maybe, too, an Irish province can reach the summit in Europe.
