IRELAND’S loss to Wales last week in the Six Nations opener brought and end to this season’s hopes of a Grand Slam, Triple Crown and maybe even a Championship. As Ireland face France this coming Saturday night in Paris, will defeat there end more than just hopes of a title?
Ireland’s team will be announced shortly after this piece goes to print, so we have to imagine that Kidney, being Kidney, will make only one change to his side. That being, of course, the reintroduction of Keith Earls to the number 13 jersey.
Should there be more changes? After all, Ireland nearly had the game against Wales won. The rash answer is to make wholesale changes. Some players who played last weekend are not up to the international standard. Others are short on form. Others are coaches favourites and seemingly cannot be dropped. The question this hack is asking this week is this. Why are Ireland not making more changes. Especially during the game.
Last weekend’s game against Wales was crying out for a back row to get physical at the breakdown. Ireland’s defensive system last weekend was equivalent to a training run. Ireland allowed Wales have the ball too easily and as a consequence of this, too quickly.
Why were Ryan and O’Mahony not brought on sooner? Why was Sexton left on so long after his kicking at goal and from play began to get sloppy? (I must insert there that I do agree with Sexton starting, but why have O’Gara on the bench and only use him for four minutes?)
The problem seems to lie with the coaches. This is where the headline for this piece ties in. If Ireland were to lose on Saturday night in Paris, questions must then be asked. There is no doubting Kidney’s ability as a coach and man manager, but his refusal to mix things up in the squad or to make use of his bench is fast becoming Ireland’s Achilles heel.
When players, in any squad, in any sport begin to feel comfortable in their jersey, the horse has bolted. This, “I’m okay, I cannot be dropped” mentality of certain players is going to be Ireland’s downfall. Where possible, a coach, at this level, should be picking on form and eagerness. This sadly is not the case for Ireland.
Win or lose in France, Irish Rugby, as a whole, needs to look at it’s own structures and beliefs. For too long six foot tall kids have been shoved into the second row and broad players have been made into props.
Wales’ backline last week would have been lost to our national academies, some never to have been seen again. There is great work being done by some, but until the open minded free flowing, skill based game of Wales, France and New Zealand etc is adopted in this country, can we every truly compete.
We will probably see this weekend in St Denis.
(Stats on right from espnrugby.com)
