Ireland struggling with skills required for new age rugby

WITH every international team of note performing on European soil over the past few weeks, Ireland has been afforded the opportunity of assessing its current standing on the world stage.

Unfortunately, by way of comparison, we look staid.

Despite fielding third-choice selections in some positions, New Zealand still secured their much-coveted grand slam against Scotland on Saturday. That victory confirmed their ranking as the number one side on the planet.

With the Tri-Nations and Lions series already secured, that will hardly come as a surprise.

Despite a committed and wholehearted display from Scotland in the second half, the only game where the All Blacks were really threatened on this tour was in their four-point victory over England in Twickenham.

With France unbeaten in recent weeks, victories over South Africa and Australia see them ranked in second place. It is no coincidence that they, like New Zealand, are also capable of producing a second choice side that would challenge most international opposition.

In recent seasons, Bernard Laporte has used the Six Nations to blood a number of new players. That strategy is now bearing fruit. Everything he does is based on emulating the feat of the national soccer team in winning the World Cup on home turf. They currently pose the greatest threat to Graham Henry’s men.

At the 2003 World Cup, the French back row of Serge Betson, Imanol Harinordoquy and Olvier Magne was heralded as the best in world rugby. Yet the autumn series has seen the emergence of Toulouse flyer Yannick Nyanga, Julien Bonniare and Remy Martin as another outstanding breakaway unit. Nyanga and hooker Demitri Szarzewski are both only 23 and represent the future of French forward play.

Prompted by the Lions tour, Eddie O’Sullivan appreciates more than most that a seismic change has taken place in the manner in which the major rugby nations are approaching the game. Against Australia in Cardiff last weekend, Wales showed that they are further down the road than us in terms of playing the ball in hand, and a continuity game. Our recent outings confirmed that Ireland is struggling to cope with the skills required to play new age rugby.

Leadership on the field has also become a major issue in the professional era.

I believe there are specific reasons for this. In the amateur days, many players were used to making decisions and assuming responsibilities in their daily working lives. In the modern era, this is not the case. Much of the players’ routine is mapped out for them in how they should eat, train, rest, dress and perform.

In the circumstances, natural leaders like Brian O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell and Anthony Foley, whose qualities are sometimes taken for granted, are only missed when they are not around. That has certainly been the case over the past few weeks. The disappointing thing is that other senior players, with a truckload of caps, have failed to step forward and assume responsibility.

Wales performed heroically on Saturday without seven Lions. The manner in which they stuck to the principles of playing out of the tackle and attacking from deep was rewarded in the best manner possible when Shane Williams scored the winning try.

The manner in which that try was executed seems alien to Ireland at present. For some reason many of Ireland’s squad seem bereft of confidence. Players seem anxious when forced to pass the ball more than three metres.

With the majority of the squad now back on provincial duty, it is vital that they return to winning ways over the coming weeks. By the time Ireland reassembles for the opening game of the Six Nations, there is a distinct possibility that we may have no representative in the quarter-final of the Heineken Cup. That would be a disaster. The confidence gained with competing favourably against Europe’s best at provincial level has been the springboard for quality performances on the international stage over the past few seasons.

On Saturday evening at Musgrave Park, Munster and Ulster clash in a fascinating Celtic League tie. A number of Ulster’s quality young players have been rewarded with international caps over the past few months. Many vying for Six Nations selection will come into direct opposition in this game.

It will be interesting to see how Ulster hopefuls Simon, Rory and Neil Best fare against Gerry Flannery, David Wallace and John Hayes up front. At half back Munster’s established duo of Ronan O’Gara and Peter Stringer will surely relish the opportunity of taking on Kieran Campbell and David Humphreys.

The more opportunity given to other scrumhalves, the better Peter Stringer looks. Only then is the speed of his service appreciated. That was the principle reason he was selected for Ireland in the first place.

The most positive aspect of the autumn series was the performance of the younger players, most notably Denis Leamy and Andrew Trimble. The most galling issue here is the fact that they are contesting areas in the back row and midfield where Ireland are particularly well served. While Tommy Bowe has also done well in recent weeks, I suspect that his talents may be more suited to full back.

With back to back games against the Newport Gwent Dragons awaiting Munster and the fact that final Celtic League placing will dictate their seeding in Europe next year, this game assumes a massive importance.

For international players the demands are relentless. Last week international commitments, this week Celtic League, next week Heineken Cup. However, the intense rivalry that has existed between Munster and Ulster, stretching well into the amateur era, should prove sufficient to offer another mouth-watering clash.