When are we going to conquer the Antipodes?
The answer is invariably the same – no one. Only by widening the net to include our European neighbours France do we start to entertain some positive vibes. Last weekend, the various tour squads representing England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France were presented with their bags of free kit to launch another end-of-season excursion. Unfortunately, for some of the players, that will be the highlight of their experience.
It is a terrible indictment of rugby on this side of the world that since Jonny Wilkinson dropped ‘that’ goal to win the World Cup for England against Australia seven years ago, the home countries have failed to register a single victory down under in 25 subsequent tests. Sadly the Lions haven’t fared much better, winning just one of their six tests played since England’s triumph and even that, it could be argued, was against the Springbok reserve side in the third test in Johannesburg last July, with the series already in the bag.
There has been much talk of fatigue, injuries and the mental state of the players embarking on these tours, but the fact is that they are part and parcel of the job spec and you simply have to get on with the job. Nobody complained last November when Ireland hung on to beat an injury-ravaged and exhausted South African side who turned up in Croke Park drained from their efforts in winning the Lions series and the Tri-Nations, not to mention the Super 14, incidentally won by the Blue Bulls. Australia were also on their last legs when Ireland forced a draw at the death against a young and inexperienced Wallaby side.
The shoe is on the other foot now as Declan Kidney faces into a very demanding three week period with a seriously depleted squad. The only difference on this occasion is that the host nations, New Zealand and Australia, aren’t much better. Yesterday Graham Henry announced a side shorn of key performers in Andrew Hore, Ali Williams, Ma’a Nonu, Isaia Toeava, Mils Muliana, Tom Donnelly and Sitiveni Sivivatu. Traditionally strength in depth has been the hallmark of New Zealand rugby but with 65 top drawer talents plying their trade in Europe and Japan at present, the reserve cupboard is looking a little bit threadbare.
Australia will be well served behind the scrum with a whole host of talented backs emerging with familiar regularity on the eve of a World Cup year, but they have problems up front. Four of the front five that performed so well in Dublin last autumn – the entire front row of Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore and Ben Alexander along with second row, James Horwill – are all crocked and will not feature against Ireland. Neither will their outstanding find of last season, scrum half Will Genia.
All this serves to prove is that the game is suffering at present. Any coach expecting the luxury of playing his first choice side any time in the immediate future is deluding himself. The by-product of the obsession with bulking up is that rugby is now a collision sport where the impact in the contact area and the damage done is in direct proportion to the increase in bench-pressing ability of players over the last decade. At this rate the World Cup will be won by the country with the last man standing.
The fact that Ireland’s trip doubles as a dry run for next year’ RWC, with the squad staying in the same hotels, using the same training facilities and playing in the same venue is a positive as long as the experience doesn’t scar the memory bank. The last thing you want is a feeling of negativity when you check into the hotel in 15 months’ time.
DESPITE the fact that we have never beaten them, Ireland’s best chance of registering a win on this tour is this Saturday against the All Blacks. Win that and the Maoris will be waiting to exact revenge six days later. Either way they will feel a massive sense of responsibility in not letting their culture down in this, their centenary year. One only has to think back to what Rua Tipoki brought to Munster to envisage what passion a collective Maori squad will bring to the table.
That game will be harder than Saturday’s international given the All Blacks have been traditionally vulnerable in their opening test of the season. Think back to how well France competed against them last summer, winning their opening test while narrowly losing the second.
With three new caps on board, this is a largely inexperienced New Zealand side with a further three uncapped players waiting to be introduced off the bench. Their lineout looks particularly vulnerable and it is an unproven combination.
The one positive for Henry is that his two key performers, captain Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter, are on board. History has shown when that duo is absent, the All Blacks struggle badly. Given their current difficulties there will be a huge sigh of relief that they are fit and available.
By their standards it has been a poor Super 14 season for the New Zealand sides with just one side, the Crusaders – no coincidence that McCaw and Carter play for them – reaching the semi-finals, where they were well beaten by eventual winners the Bulls.
For those looking for positive omens, the last time Connacht provided the hooker and the blind-side wing forward to a touring side playing down under, Ireland won the two tests against Australia in 1979, with Ciaran Fitzgerald and John O’Driscoll on board. Sean Cronin and John Muldoon, who is rewarded for an excellent season, now have the chance to recreate history.
For Ireland to have a chance, they must impose themselves up front and seek to frustrate an inexperienced looking backline with its blitz defence.
While it is a major help that a northern hemisphere referee in Wayne Barnes is in charge, it will be crucial that Ireland react to whatever interpretation – i.e. one with a northern or southern hemisphere slant – he brings to the tackle area and the breakdown.
Either way, it will be a very difficult ask to break a sequence of 22 games going back to 1905 where the best that Ireland have produced is a draw in Dublin in 1973.
Kidney is a past master at turning adversity into opportunity but on this occasion he will be tested to the full.
