Christmas has come early
It represents a rich culture and heritage, the hopes and sporting ambitions of a nation. The New Zealand rugby union recognise this fact also. Tell me another jersey in modern sport that has never been defaced by a sponsor’s logo across the chest. Over the next week Irish fans, and Munster fans in particular, have the chance to see the finest exponents of the game up close and personal not once, but twice. For the true followers of the game, Christmas has arrived a month early this year.
On this tour, New Zealand travel as slightly damaged goods on the back of their failure to win last year’s World Cup. Graham Henry planned meticulously for that global tournament from two years out but on an incredible night in Cardiff, of all places, the Kiwis came a cropper against a French side almost liberated away from the pressure of performing on home soil.
When it mattered most, New Zealand were found wanting. What Henry has accomplished since then represents the finest achievement of his coaching career, and says everything about the character and resilience of the players and management.
To win this season’s Tri Nations with only six of the 22 who featured in that quarter-final was remarkable. To rebuild a team in the full glare of a hostile public having lost the services of Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Jerry Collins, Anton Oliver, Byron Kelleher, Luke McAlister, Doug Howlett and Aaron Mauger, to mention but a few, and emerge once again at the summit of southern hemisphere rugby is some feat.
Of course, the New Zealand public want more. Nothing less than another Grand Slam will suffice. There is no margin for error. In that respect Saturday’s test against Ireland at the midpoint of their tour is crucial.
Henry knows that Ireland have come very close to achieving that elusive first win against the All Blacks in recent times. He’s planned accordingly. Recalling all his key personnel in announcing eleven changes yesterday reflects a decision taken weeks ago. He has picked his strongest available side for what he sees as the tour’s pivotal game.
Ireland have a number of aces going in to this game. The regularity with which the sides now meet has taken away some of the mystique that used to surround the All Blacks. The fact that our players train and play on a weekly basis with the likes of Doug Howlett, Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi, Isa Nacewa and Paul Steinmetz has also given the players a better insight into the mindset of the New Zealand player. They are no different to the rest of us.
In addition, Ireland have a real plus within their new coaching setup in the presence of forwards coach Gert Smal. He has been at the helm many times in recent seasons when his South African pack dominated New Zealand up front and produced some memorable victories.
His experience gleaned from those encounters with the old enemy will be of particular benefit to the Irish forwards this week. He will also be better placed to influence change, having spent a prolonged period of time with the players over the last few weeks.
Despite all the changes that New Zealand have undergone over the last twelve months, they will still prove as difficult as ever to beat on Saturday. Against Scotland they proved once again just how clinical they are at exploiting opposition mistakes and producing crucial tries out of nothing.
Contrary to perception, they also kick more ball than most other top sides in the world and their game management remains second to none. Don’t be fooled; they do run, but only on their terms and when it suits.
That said, Dan Carter and Richie McCaw are crucial to them, and I cannot recall a New Zealand side being more dependant on the presence of two players. Many international sides have gone out with the intention of stopping those two playing but have found the theory easier than the practice. In my opinion, McCaw is the most effective and influential player in the game at present. He is like a magnet to the ball.
In fairness to Declan Kidney, the team he announced yesterday is not just geared to negate New Zealand’s strengths but to impose Ireland’s game on the visitors. Nowhere is this more in evidence than in the selection of Tomás O’Leary at scrum-half for his first start in an Irish jersey. How fitting that it should be in Croke Park of all places where he seemed destined from an early age to showcase his talents with the Cork hurlers.
While Eoin Reddan had a very effective game last Saturday, particularly in taking pressure off Ronan O’Gara with his kicking game, O’Leary is selected primarily because of his pace and the opportunities that the additional space around the scrum offers as a result of the ELVs. It will also give McCaw something else to concentrate on.
The reintroduction of Girvan Dempsey at full back, along with Rob Kearney and Tommy Bowe on the wings, is geared to cope with the kicking game that Carter will surely bring. It was always likely that Keith Earls would start this one on the bench. Shane Horgan is unlucky to miss out.
Up front, the decision to start Alan Quinlan will please his many admirers and is geared to match the disruptive qualities that McCaw, Rodney So’oialo and Jerome Kaino bring at the breakdown. It is a long time since Quinny started a test of this magnitude and his impact along with David Wallace and Jamie Heaslip, who were always destined to start this one, will be central to the outcome of the game.
I thought at the time that it was significant that Stephen Ferris had game time in the second row against Canada and his inclusion on the bench along with Shane Jennings reflects the growing trend to have two back rowers in reserve. This is because the battle to slow opposition ball — or even better still secure turnovers at the breakdown — has become the key element in the game. Two pairs of fresh legs to augment this vital area in the last half hour could prove the difference.
Of course, the inherent flaw in this strategy is that if you lose your primary ball winner early in the game — in this case, Paul O’Connell — the lineout could be fatally compromised.
Kidney has been both smart and brave in his selections to date and I am sure that my old pal Graham Henry won’t be the only one who has trouble trying to second-guess him over the weeks and months ahead.
ON BEHALF of rugby people everywhere, I’d like to express my sincere sympathy to the parents, fiancée, family, friends and team mates at Garryowen of Shane Geoghegan on his callous murder.
People like Shane represent the heart and soul of rugby clubs the length and breath of the country and to be cut down at such a young age in such circumstances represents all that is wrong with modern society. The thoughts and prayers of the rugby community at large are with you today.
