Minding the future

Former Irish coach Warren Gatland is better placed than most to evaluate the Six Nations clash at Twickenham and the domestic furore over the future of club rugby. He spoke to Barry Coughlanin London yesterday.

FORMER Irish coach Warren Gatland yesterday unveiled his own blueprint for the future of Irish club rugby and insisted that top teams need a national division to help the game prosper here.

Gatland, happily ensconced at Wasps after a bitter departure from the Irish coach’s job two years ago, is emphatic that the IRFU is going down the wrong road with a proposed move back to provincial/national club rugby. He also believes the IRFU should make every effort to appease Irish assistant coach Declan Kidney and keep him in the national coaching system at whatever cost.

“The AIB League is incredibly important for the development of young Irish players coming through to interpro rugby”, he maintained. “I’m out of the scene, but I do have an interest and it seems to me that Irish provinces are now looking too much outside the country to find players.

“I started out in Ireland as a coach of a club and I recognised the importance of the All Ireland League. Things have changed because of the provincial influence, but surely clubs have to be part of the equation still.”

Gatland admitted that some Irish clubs contributed to their own downfall with financial outlays that could never be recouped. “There was a measure of panic, much as there was in other countries, when the game went professional. I think certain clubs would put their hands up and say they were wrong; that they went down a route they maybe should not have gone. That’s all about experience. Times have changed but the IRFU are still wrong to allow club rugby slip back to provincial level.

“I hear things about a national academy but, if that’s to be a runner, it should be done on a provincial basis, also clubs have a huge amount to offer Irish rugby.

“If I was back there, if I had any influence, I would be suggesting to the IRFU that they should maintain the strong tradition of club rugby, and perhaps look at a low level of semi-professionalism on that basis.

“You get guys coming through from schools, youths and club levels to provincial and international rugby. An academy is a great idea but maybe it should be done on a provincial rather than national basis. In many ways, they are better off than in England. It’s much easier to keep tabs on players in Ireland than it is in England. Many English youngsters slip through the net, simply because the net is so big. It’s easier to keep control of players in Ireland and that’s why it is so important to make sure the structure is right. There has to be a strong club structure on a national basis with ten or 12 teams participating. Perhaps revert to a provincial system for the second and third divisions and let the clubs slug it out amongst themselves for recognition.”

Gatland believes that Irish rugby has progressed beyond any reasonable expectations in recent years.

“Some great players have been produced, but there isn’t an endless supply of quality. It’s always going to be a hard battle because of the numbers playing the game and so it's really important to pick, choose and develop the guys with potential.

“Ireland has the provinces, a structure better than in other countries in the northern hemisphere, but the schools and clubs have to be given the recognition they deserve for all the effort put in over a huge number of years.“Players coming through from youths or schools rugby have to be given the necessary experience. They've got to get out there on the pitch and prove themselves. At Wasps, we have guys who spend most of their time in the gymnasium, but there is also an element of inter-change with the senior players. It's all about man-management and development. My experience of the All Ireland League has been all positive and I don't think that a return to provincial competition will do any good for Irish rugby in the overall sense.”

Gatland retains a keen interest in Irish rugby and empathises with the dilemma of Irish assistant coach, Declan Kidney.

Kidney's contract will not be renewed at the end of this season and, although offered a position relating to “elite players”, Gatland feels the former Munster supremo has every reason to feel hard-done by.

“I don’t think he will be lost to the game. I'm not sure that he would find himself suited to the English scene, but I do have the utmost of respect for him as a coach. He's not a back-room guy, he's very bright, a great man-manager and a top class person in terms of coaching.

“I’ve had a lot of discussions with him over the last few years and his record speaks for itself. I feel sorry for him, because he deserves more than what has happened in the last few weeks.”

On tomorrow’s RBS Six Nations clash at Twickenham, Gatland has, of course, a vested interest . . . or two.

“My heart is still with Ireland. It always will be, but the reality is they have a hard mountain to climb.”

Gatland proffered three reasons why Ireland will struggle: Lawrence Dallaglio, Josh Lewsey and Joe Worsley.

Dallaglio, he claims, has to be the best captain in the world, despite the fact that Martin Johnson led England to their World Cup victory. Lewsey is, according to Gatland, a defender’s nightmare and Worsley the same for attackers.

“There is a lot of hype about this game, about England coming back with the World Cup and there will be celebrations before the game. Ireland have got to get stuck into them early on and maybe a shock result is possible. Everything has to go right; if it does, Ireland could spring a huge surprise.”