Manoeuvring into position

IF Serge Blanco wanted ammunition for his assertion that there’s too much international rugby at present, the announcement of the respective touring squads from Ireland, Wales and England over the past two days plays right into his hand.

Irish supremo Eddie O’Sullivan has chosen to leave his entire first team at home with a view to preparing for the World Cup in September. Welsh coach Gareth Jenkins has adopted a similar approach with 18 front line players excluded from his squad to tour Australia.

Brian Ashton’s hopes of building on the measured improvement of England’s Six Nations campaign has been disrupted with up to 30 capped players unavailable — including those involved with Wasps, Leicester and Bath in the finals of the two European competitions on the week prior to their opening test against South Africa.

IRB tour schedules are formulated and agreed a number of years in advance. It is somewhat of an embarrassment to the governing body that Ireland, Wales and England are set to face opponents they will meet in the pool stages of the World Cup. It is understandable therefore that the respective coaches should engage in a bout of shadow boxing before the real contest takes place.

Blanco will no doubt argue that all these tours represent a serious dilution of the international game, a view that is difficult to argue with when the make up of the squads is analysed. France face a two test series against New Zealand and will not select any players involved in the semi-final stages of their domestic championship. Caps will therefore be handed out to players in England and France who are third choice selections in many cases.

Given that Argentina will also field a weakened squad because of the commitments of many of their players in the French championship, it’s difficult to argue with O’Sullivan’s philosophy. With the entire starting fifteen that played against England in Ireland’s best performance of the Six Nations now rested, the onus is on the fringe players to rise to the challenge with the carrot of cementing a place in the World Cup squad in August. By bringing 30 players, O’Sullivan has replicated the split of 17 forwards and 13 backs that is likely to comprise his strongest squad for France.

In recent times the Irish management have enjoyed a consistency of selection that has ensured a core of experienced players now occupy the key positions on the field. However it is recognised, even by O’Sullivan, that this strength could well become a weakness in the event of injuries to the likes of John Hayes, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Gordon D’Arcy, Paul O’Connell or Brian O’Driscoll. In that context this tour will have particular relevance for the players selected at tight head, half back and midfield.

While Niall O’Donovan hinted last week that at least ten World Cup slots remain to be filled, in reality it is far less. That however is based on the assumption that those who occupied the reserve bench for Ireland this season prove capable of satisfying the demands of international rugby. Due to the limited game time afforded to the likes of Paddy Wallace, Isaac Boss, Simon Best, Bryan Young and Eoin Reddan, the jury is still out on their credentials at this level. Right now they seem certain to make the trip to France. It is in everyone’s interest that they don’t play themselves out of World Cup contention in Argentina.

The selection of this tour squad will have more significance for Ireland in the longer term and represents the greatest investment in new young talent since current stalwart’s Shane Horgan, Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer, Simon Easterby and John Hayes all got their first caps against Scotland in 2000.

It will be a cause of some concern to O’Sullivan that the performances of the Irish provinces in the Magners League have taken a serious dip since their respective exits from the Heineken Cup. Most disappointing of all was the display of Ulster last Friday night when Glasgow beat them at home. Of most concern was their scrummaging performance given that new captain Simon Best and Bryan Young will be favoured to start the opening Puma test in Santa Fe. With the search for a long-term successor for John Hayes in full flow it is no surprise that two other tight heads in Peter Bracken and Tony Buckley have been included in the tour squad.

The return of Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings and Gavin Duffy to provincial rugby in Ireland has also been rewarded by a place in the party. Unfortunately the involvement of Cullen, Jennings, Bracken, Reddan and Geordan Murphy in the Heineken Cup final suggests none of them will be available for the opening test.

Despite the absence of David Wallace, Denis Leamy and Easterby, O’Sullivan has an embarrassment of reserve riches in the back row. While Stephen Ferris, Jamie Heaslip and Jennings have youth on their side the experience provided by Keith Gleeson, Alan Quinlan and Neil Best will ensure the presence of a hardcore competitive environment on the training field that is vital on a trip of this nature.

The most interesting selection is that of rugby league convert Brian Carney. Despite his limited game time he has displayed sufficient quality to suggest that he will add greatly to the back three options available to O’Sullivan. He is destined to make a serious impact over the coming months. How refreshing also to see the name of Clonakilty rugby club represented on a senior Irish panel.

lIt was with great sadness that I learned of the death of former Irish coach Jimmy Davidson. As a coach, Jimmy was ahead of his time and was tailor-made for the professional era. Unfortunately he never had the opportunity of operating in that system.

An early advocate of the benefits of provincial rugby, many disagreed with his vision particularly when the AIL was in full flow in the early 1990’s. He must therefore have had a wry smile with the growth of the Heineken Cup and the impact it had in, of all places, Munster. He was a gentleman and will be sadly missed. Sincere condolences to his wife Norma and his family.