First Europe, then the world

ONE MAN with more reason than most to enjoy his Christmas dinner last Monday was IRFU treasurer John Lyons.

While many with only a passing interest in rugby will look back on 2006 with satisfaction, those charged with running the game in this country are entitled to reflect positively on the fruits of their labour.

Munster’s achievement in securing the Heineken Cup, Ulster’s success in the Celtic League and Ireland’s second Triple Crown in as many seasons not only generated immense pride and satisfaction but also enabled the IRFU to announce a surplus for the 2005/06 season for the first time since the professional era began.

In professional rugby, tournament success and the financial rewards that follow contribute greatly to the balance sheet of the governing body.

On the field, things couldn’t be better. Twelve months ago, Eddie O’Sullivan made tactical adjustments to Ireland’s game plan that was equivalent to a golfer undertaking a fundamental change in his swing. The principal difference is that Ireland now kicks less and passes more, particularly out of the tackle area. After taking one step backward in November 2005, this year, Ireland took two steps forward.

The success of Ireland’s continuity and offload game was seen to best effect in the atrocious conditions that prevailed in the opening half against Australia. The style change was good enough to win golf’s equivalent of a tour event this autumn. In 2007, this team will hunt a major.

The Five/Six Nations Championship has eluded Ireland since 1985, while Jackie Kyle, Paddy Reid and others are still dining out on the strength of our only Grand Slam success all of 58 years ago. This year’s Six Nations, in terms of structure and timing, is wonderfully poised. As a preparation ground for the World Cup next September, it couldn’t be better.

Right now, the structure of rugby in this country is the envy of rugby unions throughout the globe. What England and France wouldn’t do now to turn the clock back to 1995 and centrally contract their players. This is the single greatest difference between the three countries at present. The IRFU, in effect, has ownership of the players and, to their credit, have managed their position of strength to the benefit of the players.

In terms of game time, physical preparation, medical back-up and rest periods, they are well ahead of their rivals. Only New Zealand and to a lesser extent Australia can compare in any way. While South Africa in theory has central contracts, the political turmoil that extends all the way to match day squad selection of the international side has created havoc within the country’s game.

The greatest endorsements for the current system were the recent decisions by Brian O’Driscoll and Ronan O’Gara to effectively commit themselves for the rest of their professional careers to this country. Those decisions will certainly influence others in the national squad who may be contemplating a change of scenery.

In effect, the only players now heading overseas are the support provincial players who have been unable to break into the starting XV on Heineken Cup days. Under the circumstances it is difficult to blame the likes of Jeremy Staunton, Frank Murphy, Eoin Reddan and others for seeking pastures new. The only serious losses in recent years, particularly to Leinster, have been that of Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings to Leicester and Bob Casey to London Irish.

While it is great to look back with tremendous satisfaction at what has been achieved in 2006, it is even more exciting to contemplate what lies around the corner. In the short term, 2007 offers the prospect of the national team playing to a capacity audience against France and England in Croke Park. It is fitting — and one hopes a compliment to our GAA brethren — that Ireland now has a team that befits the quality of the stadium.

The GAA community showed tremendous goodwill in opening its doors to a rival sport. One hopes the team will make them proud of that decision as images of the magnificent arena are beamed around the world. It will be a tremendous source of pride to our many exiles regardless of their sporting preference.

If the Croke Park factor promises to be the highlight of the spring, then the Rugby World Cup represents the ultimate challenge and opportunity for this squad. Eddie O’Sullivan is in the enviable position of knowing the vast majority of the 30 players he will bring to Bordeaux next September. The only decisions that remain are whether young hopefuls Luke Fitzgerald and Stephen Ferris will have done enough over the next few months to warrant inclusion in the squad.

When it comes to picking the starting XV, the coach could now name the side he wants to play France and Argentina in the two key pool games. Indeed, such is the structure and organisation within Irish rugby at present that team announcements have become rather boring.

EVEN the succession planning is at such an advanced stage that one could say with reasonable certainty what the 2011 World Cup squad will look like. As a result of the excellent work being done within the provincial academies, young players like Ferris, Fitzgerald, Andrew Trimble and Darragh Hurley are more than capable of stepping up to the mark when the opportunity presents itself at either provincial or national level. Such is the quality of information available to the national management that the strengths and weaknesses of all the up-and-coming players are known and subject to continuous assessment.

Of the current Irish back line, it is incredible to think the centre partnership of O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy will still be in situ for the trip to New Zealand in 2011. At this stage the remainder of the back five look set to be drawn from Trimble, Fitzgerald, Tommy Bowe, Rob Kearney and the highly promising Denis Hurley and Keith Earls. Others are sure to emerge over the course of the next few seasons.

Given that David Humphreys is still plying his trade at 36, O’Gara, injury permitting, should still be pulling the strings particularly as he is now contracted for the next four years. In fact one of the major challenges facing Irish rugby is to ensure the emergence of new names in addition to Paddy Wallace and Jeremy Staunton to back up the Munster out-half.

His current half-back partner Peter Stringer is a model professional and a fitness fanatic and will still be on the scene along with current rival Isaac Boss and works-in-progress Thomas O’Leary, Cillian Willis and Duncan Williams.

Up front, it is incredible that current incumbents Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Denis Leamy and Jerry Flannery will only be approaching the peak of their powers come 2011. Even at this early stage, the quality of the back row promises to be immense with Leamy to be flanked by a selection from Ferris, Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings and Neil Best.

The only area of concern appears to be the dearth of tight head props. Simon Best’s credentials as successor to John Hayes will be well and truly established at that stage. At loose head, Marcus Horan could still be available and if so will be pressurised closer to home by the potentially excellent Darragh Hurley and Ulster’s Brian Young.

When one considers that mixture of youth and experience, there is no reason why Ireland cannot sustain their consistent position as a top five team in the IRB world rankings. The expert injury management currently favoured by the IRFU should ensure we continue to maximise the comparatively limited pool of players available.

The soaring reputation of all the Irish provincial sides will also ensure the game in this country attracts overseas players of the highest quality with the strict caveat that they do not stifle homegrown talent. More importantly those players must add value to the next generation as the likes of John Langford and Jim Williams did for Donncha O’Callaghan and Denis Leamy.

Of course, the system isn’t perfect and the greatest victim of the professional game has been the clubs. Sadly, the quality of the AIL is diminishing at a rapid pace and unless the clubs depart from a stance of self-preservation, nothing will change.

There was a time in Irish rugby when the onset of a new year was welcomed primarily as an opportunity to wipe the slate clean after a disappointing year and set about rebuilding once more. On this occasion, we welcome with relish the prospects of 2007 for altogether different reasons.