RUGBY ANALYST:FOUR YEARS later we now know the 30 men tasked with winning the RWC 2011. Can it be won? Over the coming weeks in answering this question I hope to focus on the 'why not' as the best 15 Irish men are as equally qualified to tackle any team on the planet.
Look at the trophy cabinets of Munster, Leinster and Ireland. The style of play on show in the RDS in particular is modern, abrasive and equally elite in attack and defence. There, however, is something missing in this Irish team and has been missing for some time; over 12 months. It does puzzle me no end.
Someone suggested that Declan Kidney must have his famous clever cards up his sleeve but I’m more interested in what’s up Alan Gaffney’s sleeve and wonder will we witness it tomorrow. All the more since it is his native country Australia that provide our greatest hurdle in this four-year cycle.
Tomorrow Ireland start their final preparation pre-WC 2011 and I’m amazed at how many people are beginning to get the jitters. All the way over in San Francisco GAA stalwart Kevin O’Sullivan confided that it was far too much like 2007. His logic was based on massive questions over our best starting team and best style. I think we can all agree in the main on the starting team but the style Ireland have employed over the past 12 months, particularly in attack is disjointed. Add to this the injury/form questions associated with our best players such as Brian ODriscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Rob Kearney, Geordan Murphy, Tommy Bowe and Stephen Ferris.
To contrast that there is a definite style about their defence, highlighted by the hold up double/triple tackle starving the ball carrier of an offload and ultimately slowing down their attack and even eking out a scrum. Furthermore it’s quite obvious the role each individual player plays in the defensive line. That said it doesn’t guarantee individuals don’t switch off as Jonathan Sexton did for Cedric Heymans’ try last Saturday.
The starting team picks itself but contains many unknowns. How will Tommy Bowe react to high intensity matches, likewise the centre pairing? And what of the players left out? Over the months I’ve found myself becoming increasingly frustrated with Luke Fitzgerald, especially his over exuberance, over running the ball and dare I say over intellectualising the game. A possible calming would prove very beneficial to him.
That said, he lit up the Aviva last Saturday and was but for Seán OBrien and, latterly, Ferris the only player to expose weak shoulders and make serious inroads into quality defence.
That raises a point. Are the 30 players selected to get Ireland through the tough pool stages or are they selected to afford Ireland the best possible chance of beating Australia and potentially Wales (quarter-final) and England (semi-final)? After all there’s a week between each match!
Andrew Trimble deserves to travel but with Bowe starting tomorrow would Fitzgerald have a bigger high end impact if starting or launched from the bench? After all Fitzgerald is a Lion for a reason.
Add Paddy Wallace to the mix. He is obviously travelling as a back up to the back up to the starting outhalf. Although he has made several cameos at first centre he is neither a potential challenge to D’Arcy nor McFadden nor is he an impact off the bench. It must sit very awkwardly with Tomás O’Leary and Fitzgerald, both Lions, that Paddy Wallace, a highly unlikely starter, takes a seat on the plane.
A similar argument could be levelled at Tony Buckley. I have enormous respect for him and as a result over the seasons have questioned his consistency (effort). To that end I would happily get down on my knees to beg an all out performance from him. He has one very obvious weakness; the scrum. Hence what is Buckley’s role? I can’t help but recall John Hayes’ very last scrum for Munster against Leinster in Thomond Park to win the Magners League. As the tournament progresses and the quality increases the odds of Buckley arriving into the fray increase.
When that scrum in Thomond Park returns I ask who would you want running onto the pitch, Hayes or Buckley or even Jamie Hagan? Alternatively is there an Irish-based player worth that shot? Of course I’ve a soft spot for Buckley!
Assuming that the best 15 take the pitch having negotiated injuries and potential form and the bench is loaded with impact then it is style that will win out. What is this style and what can we expect from tomorrow’s match? Last Saturday there was far too much shovelling of the ball and precious little fixing of the French defenders.
O’Brien used his extraordinary bulk/athleticism to bludgeon into the French. It’s been some time since the Irish have used quality possession consistently well. I expect the line-out to continue its improvement from last Saturday and that the scrum will in the main provide a solid platform.
Ireland struggle to punch through defences, a problem that will receive a massive boost from David Wallace and Ferris starting but in particular from Murphy at fullback. Apart from his occasional blips in defence, Murphy is a quality catalyst at the back and should, confidence pending, ignite the 14 players in front of him. Whatever about England tomorrow we simply can’t face the Wallabies without an attacking fullback, but one who has confidence in his support runners. Over to you Gaffney. Ireland’s style, exposing athletic wingers like Keith Earls to triple team defence is not clever but Earls at centre will have his hands full in defence tomorrow. Opportunity of development in midfield lost, with two light dancers in midfield.
If you question our 30-man squad and indeed our style, please watch the Tri-Nations match between Australia and New Zealand tomorrow morning. In doing so look at the individual rows and the style employed by either side, especially Australia.
I firmly believe this Irish side can compete favourably in the sub units so to me it’s all about style. Watch Wallaby outhalf Quade Cooper pull the strings, but more importantly watch how his team-mates feed off him, very Leinster like.
And to England; the more seasons that pass the more they become an ‘English Club’ team with players arriving in from all quarters of the world. At least our team is a true representative of our island. Come on Ireland the result is important but please light up the Aviva tomorrow.
liamtoland@yahoo.com
