Little will be learned in Argentina
The tour schedule has been unkind to Ireland again as this is one of those years when the Irish management would benefit more from an assignment against one of the southern hemisphere’s big three in South Africa, New Zealand or Australia. As Six Nations champions, with no side contesting a European final and Leinster our sole representative in the Pro12 decider, such an outing would have provided the perfect series for Joe Schmidt to really test the mettle of his squad 16 months out from the World Cup.
The last time Ireland had such a tour, that rollercoaster three-test series against the All Blacks in 2012, they were on their last legs at the end of a long season that had already incorporated a trip to New Zealand for the 2011 World Cup. As luck would have it, Ireland’s next examination at that level comes in the summer after the 2015 World Cup, when they are scheduled to tour South Africa. Once again, the timing couldn’t be worse.
So while England and Wales and our World Cup pool opponents France are set to learn a lot about themselves in the coming weeks, with a demanding series in New Zealand, South Africa and Australia respectively, Schmidt and company face a trip into the unknown against an under-strength Argentinian side.
Given that Argentina will be shorn an entire team of overseas-based players that are being held in reserve for the Rugby Championship, anything less than a series win for Ireland will not only be a shock but a disappointment.
Of the 31 players selected by new Argentinian coach Daniel Hourcade for the June test window against Ireland and Scotland, 25 ply their trade with a variety of amateur club teams scattered around the country.
With a home-based regional side contesting a restructured Super 18 tournament from 2016 onwards, the Argentine Rugby Union, with strong financial support from the IRB, are doing all in their power to attract their overseas-based players home. The majority of the squad to face Ireland have been in camp for some time playing under the Las Pampas banner in the IRB’s second tier competition, the Pacific Rugby Cup, which they won. The pace and intensity they will face against Ireland will be appreciably higher than that, however.
The foundations of England’s success at the 2003 World Cup was based on winning tests against the southern hemisphere’s best in the summers preceding that tournament when they found the wherewithal to win tight contests down under, even without some of their key players.
With no tours on the summer schedule next season — Ireland undertake four World Cup warm-up games against Wales (twice), Scotland and England in August prior to their opening game against Canada at the Millennium Stadium on September 19, 2015 — Wales, England and France have been offered a more meaningful and relevant challenge in determining their progress in the build up to the tournament.
In terms of reshaping his midfield for the post-Brian O’Driscoll era and making contingencies for the fact that Gordon D’Arcy may not be up to the demands of the international game in 16 months time, assessing the merits of Luke Marshall, Fergus McFadden and Darren Cave would be easier against stronger opposition. The fact that Schmidt’s prime candidate Robbie Henshaw has been forced to withdraw with a hand ligament injury is a big blow as it deprives the coach of an opportunity to gauge the progress made by the Connacht star over the course of the season. An even bigger blow is the decision of impressive forwards coach John Plumtree to step down from his position after less than a year. Finding a quality replacement for him could prove as taxing as finding O’Driscoll’s successor.
While both England and Wales travel with under-strength squads for a variety of reasons, both will return with players enjoying enhanced reputations. Given that they will have performed against the top two sides in the world at present, be assured that Warren Gatland and Stuart Lancaster, even if they fail to win a test, will have learned about their charges.
England also have a midweek game against the Crusaders which will help to keep the entire squad involved on their four-game trip. Ireland have only two outings, which means some players will see no game time with others restricted to a possible cameo appearance off the bench. Not ideal.
Ireland should fare better than all of our Six Nations counterparts in terms of results but the real question is who will derive more benefit in the longer term. It could be a case of short-term pain feeding into long-term gain, especially for Lancaster and England.
Within hours of each other last Saturday night, two of the most influential figures the game has ever seen bid farewell to a sport they have graced with dignity, humility and pride, fittingly with one last bit of silverware to add to already impressive trophy cabinets.
While O’Driscoll will be disappointed to have been forced off with a recurrence of a long-standing calf problem after only eight minutes in the Pro12 final, he seemed at ease with his lot, very comfortable with the fact that his time has come.
What marked him out as special for me? It has to be his selfless commitment to the team ethic despite the superstardom that followed him from the moment of that magic hat-trick of tries against France 14 years ago.
That is a long time to carry that mantle. There were periods in the mid-noughties when he struggled to handle it but in the midst of Celtic Tiger Ireland, who could blame him?
On the contrary. He redefined himself on and off the pitch with a meticulous attention to his fitness regime and a refinement to the way he played. With midfields worldwide populated with gargantuan bruisers, O’Driscoll relied on a fleetness of mind and foot to create countless opportunities for those around him. He became the ultimate mix of X Factor and team player all rolled into one.
What a week it has been for Jonny Wilkinson, who starred alongside O’Driscoll way back on the Lions tour of Australia 13 years ago. Wilkinson had to endure more than most with injury robbing him of his formative years on the international stage but has been reborn with his move to Toulon a few years ago. To finish his career lifting the Heineken Cup and the cherished Bouclier de Brennus on successive weekends seemed ultimately fitting. Both will be sorely missed but their influence is sure to permeate through the sport for a long, long time to come.
A word too for Stephen Ferris, who finally gave into the inevitable when announcing his retirement yesterday, aged just 28. He has barely played over the last two seasons and his loss to Ulster and Ireland is seismic.
Given the longevity enjoyed by O’Driscoll and Wilkinson, the Ulster powerhouse is entitled to feel a little cheated. Supporters of Irish rugby will certainly feel that way.
