RUGBY:We must develop a plan to operate through every level of the game that will allow us to exploit our natural style and compete physically with the bigger sides, writes LIAM TOLAND

ACCORDING TO American author Marilyn French, “Men stumble over pebbles, never over mountains”, so, before you stumble over anything big or small, you have to check out YouTube: “England Grand Slam Champions 2011 Fail – FIXED”. This one has some very giggly Irish counterparts threaded into it.

As stated last Monday, in less than 24 hours three generations of Irish and English players battled against each other last weekend. Actually a fourth generation, playing with the Ireland Club XV, had a great, 16-8 win over England Counties at Anglesea Road.

However, in Donnybrook that night I had genuinely forgotten how big and powerful the English players were. Stupidly, I’d assumed that as Legends (and old-timers) they would have settled down to some “normal” size since retiring.

Not so, as can be seen from the Stuart Mangan Memorial Trophy photos: see http://bit.ly/eeDtZ3.

Lorenzo Bruno Nero Dallaglio, for one, is enormous, and Jason Leonard, although a tad slower, is even bigger. Interestingly, as the fitness levels of these great Lions and internationals dipped (five minutes in) and all was left but memories and whatever skills were bestowed upon them, a pattern began to evolve at the end of the rainbow.

With the Irish Under-20s in mind, this pattern has a value. The Irish Legends, under the stewardship of Shane Byrne and Len Dineen, opted for a gentle warm-up followed by a nice sit-down stretch.

Minutes into the match the English reverted to type, powerful at the breakdown, running hard lines off the fringe, winning the collisions and at nearly every juncture box-kicking.

In the meantime, the neat Peter Clohessy and Mike Galwey were catching, popping and passing out of contact, and looking for offloads. As time wore on and fatigue really kicked in, the obvious skill levels became more pronounced. Although they lost (primarily due to some outrageous refereeing decisions), the Irish displayed far more flair than their counterparts.

Put simply, the Irish look for holes, the English make them. The first requires subtlety, the second a sledgehammer.

The following day in the Aviva Stadium Ireland were at their brilliant best, maximising their abilities while minimising England’s.

But the previous night, shorn of much of their backline, Mike Ruddock’s Under-20s were beaten 46-15. Truth be told, the Under-20s matched their Celtic counterparts well but were pulverised by the French and the English. Along with the half deck he was dealt, Ruddock has four provincial academies, where England have 14 club academies allied to a strong private school structure.

Fundamentally, whenever an Irish team can compete physically with France and England their flair and Irishness will give them a great chance of success. Unfortunately, if being honest, this parity will occur once in five starts. So how do we increase our odds?

The lessons, like those from our recession, should never be wasted. Ireland Under-20s have natural flair in their fingertips, but lag behind physically. This means we must embrace two aspects: our game plan and our physicality.

Once and for all an all-encompassing Irish game plan, from the Irish senior management down through the academies, is required. Given the seniors are still figuring theirs out, it is not an automatic transfer.

Allied to this, unfortunately our younger players must be given time to get bigger. Ireland successfully avoided so much contact in the Aviva while employing their natural game. England were compliant, which afforded Ireland more time at the breakdown and in the tackle. However, when the mood takes France and England, as was the case in Dubarry Park last Friday, they simply smash the Irish, making it hard to stop them playing “their” rugby when you can’t slow them down.

Over the Six Nations Championship Ireland conceded exactly the same number of points as England: 81. Interestingly, England outscored Ireland by 39 points. Considering that tries were scored against France and England, that indicates our ability to create against stiff opposition.

In essence, I’m exploring the need for us to finally create a plan throughout the country that will allow us to compete both physically and with our own natural style that will be embraced by all Irish sides, reducing the English and French power over us.

When is the best time to plant a tree? Thirty years ago. When is the next best time to plant a tree? Today.

Now, to a little homework. Leinster and Ulster’s Heineken Cup top-four English Premiership opposition face some stiff tests this weekend, with Bath entertaining Leicester on Saturday and Northampton welcoming Wasps on Sunday.

I’m not sure, however, how much can be learned from the bottom-feeding fight between Munster’s opposition Brive at home to Bourgoin tomorrow.

As for the provinces, much has changed over the weeks without the stars when the provinces played 18 games throughout the series, losing but four. In that time over 30 players were exposed to the Magners League who may not have had the chance otherwise.

Tonight Munster are in Cardiff, and I can’t help asking myself: who is this starting scrumhalf Conor Murray? A quick scan through the Munster website has him placed in the Academy. He’s big, 6ft 1in, hails from Patrickswell and plays with Garryowen. Is he any good? He must be if Peter Stringer finds himself once again on the bench, especially with many of the big guns back.

Talented Duncan Williams is also available, so it’s an interesting call from Tony McGahan. He is well worth a close watch tonight as he accelerates out of the Munster Academy into full-time stuff next season. With so much experience around him, his long and accurate pass, allied with a monstrous right boot (box-kicks), will be real assets.

God forbid, but he’s in the Mike Philips mould of scrumhalf. His response to that classic “If you were to be a character in a movie, who would you like to be” was interesting, “Ahhh . . . maybe Jackie Chan”.

I hope the continued step up enhances the skills he’s developed in the Academy. Not unlike Collie McNamee’s success in Leinster, Ian Sherwin can take a bow for adding another high-class talent to McGahan’s ranks.

It’s also interesting to see Keith Earls back on the wing, but great to have Felix Jones back.

P.S. Truth be told, I’m not entirely sure what Marilyn French was driving at with her pebbles and mountains above, but I like to think: get the little things right first . . .