Wednesday, October 29, 2008
WITH all the hype surrounding Munster’s game against New Zealand, it was interesting to watch their Magners League clash with Ulster on Saturday.
With the likelihood that at least eight of the Heineken Cup side will be unavailable due to the requirements of the national squad, Friday’s defeat will put into perspective the task that Munster face in a few weeks time at Thomond Park.
On a positive note, in addition to those who played in Ulster, Tony McGahan will be able to add the likes of Doug Howlett, Rua Tipoki and possibly even new signing Nick Williams to his starting team. Their presence is a must to ensure Munster can provide the type of challenge tradition demands. It will also help that the side will have more time to prepare as a unit, with news that McGahan has organised a fixture with Harlequins to provide game action for those outside the national squad.
The necessity to make 10 changes to the team that defeated Sale proved a bridge too far against Ulster and asked too much of the new line up.
In the ideal scenario, one would love to see Munster’s strongest XV take on their New Zealand counterparts. Now that would be some spectacle. In addition to the game at Ravenhill, New Zealand’s NPC final last Saturday between Canterbury and Wellington also gave an insight into what we might expect from the visitor’s second string.
It was no surprise to see regular Wellington try scorers Cory Jane and Hosea Gear, both uncapped, selected for an All Blacks squad for the first time for the tour. Indeed Gear, a brother of Rico and a target of Munster’s two seasons ago, is named in the side that faces Australia in Hong Kong on Saturday.
In addition to his Tri-Nations squad, Graham Henry has also been able to recall long-term injury victims Jason Eaton and Joe Rokocoko. They face the most demanding of test schedules next month, with five internationals against Australia, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England on consecutive Saturdays in addition to the midweek clash in Thomond Park.
Munster’s performance in Ravenhill lacked the physical commitment and defensive organisation one associates with this team. While it is difficult to be at the peak of ones power every week, one would have thought that with places up for grabs against the All Blacks, there was a sufficient carrot at stake to help focus the mind. Playing against New Zealand offers the ultimate challenge for any rugby player. I have no doubt it will illicit the necessary response from those handed the red jerseys on November 18.
Declan Kidney’s national squad announcement delivered little in terms of his potential starting team but at least killed the speculation with regard to a change in captaincy. Once Brian O’Driscoll declared a strong interest in retaining the role, coupled with his return to form, it was always likely that the responsibility would stay with the Leinster man.
Over the next few weeks, O’Driscoll will captain Ireland for the 50th time, an incredible achievement to match his status as Ireland’s best player of the professional era. One hopes the burden and responsibilities that accompany the role will not diminish his newfound enthusiasm for the game.
Brian has already hinted that being freed of the day-to-day skippering responsibility within the Leinster camp has offered him more space than he appreciated. As captain he is the conduit between the players and management in relation to any issues affecting his teammates. He also stated he does not miss the responsibilities that the Leinster captaincy carries in respect of dealing with the media and the matchday management of referees. These are all issues that he now resumes within the context of the national squad. No doubt he has the capacity to deal with it; I hope he just enjoys the task and that it won’t impinge on his recent excellent form. Perhaps O’Driscoll is taking a broader view on captaining Ireland this season as he has unfinished business in terms of leading a Lions squad. The chance of emulating Martin Johnson’s feat as the only man to captain two Lions tours is one that clearly excites him. If that desire focuses him to such a degree that the Irish team derives the benefits, then everybody benefits. The prospect of seeing O’Driscoll back to his best on the international stage over the next few weeks is but one of the many subplots that makes Kidney’s first campaign at the helm compelling viewing in November.
The other announcement last week to catch the eye was the confirmation of the Lions backroom staff for the tour to South Africa next summer. While it was an open secret that the triumvirate of Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards and Rob Howley were set to join Ian McGeechan on the coaching ticket, one can never be sure until all contractual obligations are ironed out that everyone could come on board.
McGeechan has already shown the benefit of all his Lions experience by ensuring his management team will take very little time to gel as a unit and will be focused from day one on the complex task of producing a test team within a limited timeframe. The fact that this coaching team is already very comfortable working together is a major asset.
McGeechan is set to reverse the complex structure that Clive Woodward introduced with little reward on the last tour to New Zealand.
Marrying the desire to give every player a crack at making the test side, along with trying to get at least one full run out for that team prior to the crucial opening test, is one that always creates a problem for the Lions and one that will occupy the mind of McGeechan over the coming months. That said, he already has much to ponder with the dramatic turn in fortunes for Wasps. There is only so much one man can do.
The announcement of the management team also offers a timely reminder that the fight for places on the plane to South Africa begins in earnest with the forthcoming autumn internationals.
A Lions tour always creates an additional buzz around any season. Already the amateur selection committees throughout Britain and Ireland have begun the process of naming their squad.
The opinions of those who matter will also start to take shape very soon.
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