FOLLOWING last weekend’s 60-0 defeat to New Zealand, the pressure is mounting on both Ireland coach Declan Kidney and the IRFU. The defeat, a record one for Irish rugby, came at the end of a three test tour to New Zealand. It is not ideal for any team to finish their World Cup season with a trio of tests against the World Champions, however the ‘Hamilton Hammering’ will long be a millstone around the necks of the players and coaches who were involved.
As it stands, Ireland are currently 7th in the World and thus do not have to qualify for the next World Cup in England. However, the slide in form of the Irish rugby team cannot go unnoticed.
According to my maths and I am open to correction, Kidney’s record as Ireland coach since winning the Grand Slam has been 25-19-2. That’s 25 wins over 19 losses. This does not exactly inspire confidence when you consider some of those 25 wins have been against Canada, Fiji, Samoa, Scotland and Italy.
The pressure on Kidney has slowing been mounting for months now. Wales, France and England have all won Six Nations since Ireland won the Slam in 2009. England won their championship with Martin Johnson. He has been sacked since. With Ireland unable to win five games in a row in a six nations is does not bode well then that World Cups need a team to win four pool games as well as three knock out ones.
For anyone thinking, can Ireland win a World Cup? The answer is yes. This is where the pressure on Kidney is growing even more. Ireland’s provincial teams are performing very well. Leinster and Munster now have five Heineken Cups. How come this form has not been transferred over to the Irish team?
Well, that is where the spotlight switches to the IRFU. The three ‘stronger’ provinces are now full of Ireland internationals. Connacht on the other hand are light on same. The IRFU are currently trying to implement a Non-Irish Qualified player quota in Irish rugby, when there could be an argument made for a total ban on non Irish players.
Following Ireland’s 60 defeat to New Zealand the issue has once more been raised about Ireland’s strength and depth. Paddy Wallace was flown from a Portugal beach to inside centre only days ahead of the final test. Why is this? Because he is contracted to the IRFU and they want a bang for their buck. This is not Paddy’s fault. This is the administrators fault. The lack of a 12 option for Ireland is based on Munster having had a foreign 12, Leinster had D’Arcy ahead of Mc Fadden and the next best are further behind them in the Leinster Academy.
As a sports reporter and full time cynic, looking at the Irish team, there is something not quiet right. No offense to Paddy Wallace, but no coach in their right mind would bring in a player, into such a pivotal position, off of a beach. There must have been some influence from above. If this is the case, then Kidney, the IRFU and the fans are in serious trouble.
If you think I am way off. See New Zealand for example. Their out half can be any of the following. Carter, (Crusaders), Cruden (Chiefs) or Barrett (Hurriances). All these players are playing week in, week out for thier clubs. If you look at Ireland, it would be Sexton (Leinster), O’Gara (Munster) and Keatley (Munster) or Madigan (Leinster). Again, short on full time, up to speed players.
New Zealand beat Ireland for several reasons but one was because the New Zealand players are used to playing week in, week out. Three tests to them is nothing. Three tests to Ireland is a nightmare as the squad is too shallow. Who is to blame there? Kidney or IRFU, in my humble opinion, both, in equal measure.
