The cracks are starting to show
Invariably that team has been Munster, at times augmented by Leinster in the quarter and semi-finals.
For all kinds of reasons, this season is one that will test the resources for Irish rugby to the full. On the evidence of the first half of the season, that concern is justified.
The autumn internationals provided fresh evidence that the national side is in transition. With difficult fixtures away to France and England in the Six Nations, Ireland’s performances on home soil in the New Year against Italy, Scotland and Wales will dictate our standing on the world stage.
The cumulative demands made on our players over the past few seasons are now also impacting at provincial level. Some weeks ago, I highlighted the possibility that no Irish side would progress beyond the pool stages of this year’s Heineken Cup.
Based on the standings of the six groups, with two-thirds of this phase competed, no Irish team would currently qualify. At this stage last year, not only were Leinster unbeaten but they were also the number one ranked side in the qualification phase. Munster were also very much in control in their pool.
This time around, Ulster (with only nine points) are out of the reckoning. Munster and Leinster are both chasing the two best runners up slots. However both Perpignan and Stade Francais, with 14 points each, outrank Munster and Leinster with 13 and 12 points respectively.
Despite Anthony Foley’s brave assertion that the position of pool leaders is far from over, I believe Sale will cement that when they face the Dragons in Manchester next month.
Against Castres last weekend, Sale had three tries with just one minute remaining . Yet their hunger for a bonus point was such that they launched a counter attack from deep in their own 22 that resulted in an outstanding score by Robert Todd under the Castres posts. That ruthlessness is beyond Munster at present.
For Declan Kidney’s side to have any chance of topping their pool they would have to secure two bonus points away to Castres and home to Sale in Thomond Park. To do that would require a minimum of eight tries - their total for four pool games so far.
In the head-to-heads against the Dragons, five different forwards - Horan, Leamy, Flannery, O’Driscoll and Foley - scored Munster’s five tries. They are currently lacking the try scoring potency behind the scrum possessed by the likes of Toulouse, Sale, Stade Francais and others in this tournament.
The fact that Castres are out of the running for qualification will not permit any crumbs of comfort for Munster either. As Bourgoin showed last weekend against Leinster, the French just don’t accept defeat at home. Against Sale last weekend, Castres left several front liners including forwards Kees Meeuws, Carl Hoft and Paul Volley at home. However, Munster and Castres have clashed on numerous occasions in this tournament over the last 10 years. As a result, there is no love lost between the two and Castres will go all out for victory.
Knowing Munster’s appetite for the fight, I have every confidence that they will raise their game to a sufficient degree to beat the French, even away from home. They will then depend on Thomond Park and all the factors surrounding that to beat Sale and qualify as best runners up.
Of late, some of Munster’s key players have looked tired. As a result, the decision-making process on the field has been questionable. Against Ulster in the Celtic League the failure to opt for a kick to secure a draw, in the context of a long league campaign, was a really poor decision.
Against the Dragons other key decisions were also questionable. Leading 17-3 at Rodney Parade, Munster kicked for goal in a period of the game when they were dominant instead of going for the jugular with a lineout drive. Conversely in Thomond Park and holding a tenuous 17-8 lead, with the Dragons in the ascendancy, Munster failed to take the three-point penalty option in order to kill of the Welsh challenge. It could have cost them dearly.
In some respects, the demands now placed on the national squad players are impacting negatively on the competitiveness of provincial squads in Europe. The IRFU is now squandering the competitive advantage we hold over our closest rivals. In the quest to bring players back home from Britain some years ago, the structure of the season in Ireland was used as a positive bargaining tool. However, the demands now placed on national squad players are negating that advantage.
Immediately after last Saturday’s game, Munster’s national squad members headed for Dublin and then Lanzarote for four days of warm-weather training. They will not arrive home until Friday. Then over the Christmas period, the four provinces face each other on December 27 and 31. On New Year’s Day, the national squad reassemble once more for a week’s collective training.
Contrast that with the set-up in France where all players are on a compulsory eight-day break. Trevor Brennan recently stated that he and his Toulouse colleague, Welsh captain Gareth Thomas, are looking forward to a well-earned skiing holiday with their families.
Those in authority in Irish rugby should recognise that at times, less is more. In order to extract the best from our players at provincial and national level over the vital period between January and March, our players would be better served with a compulsory break at this time of year.
History has shown that the success of the provinces in Europe has a direct impact on the performance of the national side. That fact seems to be lost at present. It is time for everyone to pull together to ensure that both elements of the professional game in this country maximise the opportunity for success.
For those of us with less demanding agendas over the Christmas, enjoy the break and best wishes for the New Year.
