World ranking now a key concern

AS THE great Starry Crowley, a much loved rugby figure and proprietor of the Western Star pub in Cork was prone to say on occasions: “It’s the end of an arena.”

A season that started so badly, with the collapse of any meaningful challenge at the World Cup, trundled to its inevitable conclusion with Ireland’s first defeat to England in five seasons.

Eddie O’Sullivan’s seven-year reign at the helm of the national side has now run its course. With just five wins from the 13 internationals since last year’s Six Nations championship, time has run out for a coach who has contributed so much to the Irish cause. The fact that those victories were against Italy (twice by a single score), minnows Namibia and Georgia at the World Cup and Scotland in the current campaign, means O’Sullivan is without a credible scalp for some time.

It is my understanding that the decision to replace O’Sullivan was agreed in principal by the IRFU after the defeat to Wales, given that their minimum expectation from this tournament was three home victories.

All the speculation and uncertainty surrounding O’Sullivan’s position since the World Cup has filtered through to the players and has had a draining effect on all concerned. Nobody is entitled to question the pride and commitment these players have in wearing the green jersey but inevitably their confidence has been sorely affected. While injuries have deprived the side of some of its most potent performers at key times, the pressure from outside forces has impacted on the field.

The biggest worry for the IRFU now is that the seeding for the 2011 World Cup will be based on IRB rankings next December. Currently Ireland are in their lowest position of 8th since this system was introduced. With very difficult tests on the horizon against New Zealand (twice), Australia and Argentina, there is a possibility they could fall to ninth which would signal a very difficult draw for the third tournament in a row.

If it is a prerequisite for any team away from home to start well, Ireland could not have dreamed for a better launchpad last Saturday. Ten points up after seven minutes it looked as if St Patrick’s Day had arrived two days early. Nobody in the 80,000 crowd could have anticipated that Ireland would fail to register a single point over the remaining 73 minutes. The score in that period was 33-0.

After such a promising start, Ireland will rue the manner in which they lost their way. They made far too many errors, were prone to lapses in their defensive organisation and also experienced renewed problems out of touch.

In addition, every time they achieved field position in England’s 22, apart from that opening salvo, they either conceded a penalty or turned over possession. Having suffered a collective bout of nervous indecision early on, England’s confidence grew from Ireland’s failings and their pack began to dominate possession.

On a day when Ronan O’Gara was honoured with the captaincy of his country for the first time, it was somewhat ironic that his principal rival as one the game’s outstanding out-halves over the years, Jonny Wilkinson, was relegated to the replacements bench.

While Wilkinson played a significant part in England’s dominance in the final quarter, it was the prodigious talent that replaced him who really offers England hope for the future. If Danny Cipriani showed impressive composure in the caldron of Thomond Park for Wasps against Munster, he displayed even greater mental fortitude on his Twickenham debut.

Omitted for disciplinary reasons against Scotland, he was thrust into the key decision-making role with the pressure of orchestrating an English victory. For a 20-year-old, he was quite remarkable. He has incredible pace for an out-half and is sure to terrorise defences for years to come.

That said, the introduction of Wilkinson at inside centre offered England even more options and looks a viable alternative for them to maximise the talent of two outstanding players.

At the final whistle, Eddie O’Sullivan shook hands with his management team with the air of a man on borrowed time. For a coach who has contributed so much to Irish rugby over the past few years one hopes that his departure will be handled with the dignity and sensitivity that he deserves.

How ironic that on a day when O’Sullivan ran out of time that Warren Gatland should lead Wales to an unexpected but thoroughly deserved Grand Slam and championship success. The transformation in that Welsh squad in the six short months since the World Cup has been extraordinary.

Overall they combined the most potent attack in the tournament with the meanest defence with the concession of only two tries — a testimony to the influence of new defence coach Shaun Edwards. Their set piece, an achilles heel for so long, has also shown a remarkable improvement, the hallmark of Gatland’s influence.

On the basis that France have treated this championship with disdain in terms of fielding a weakened side in the opening four games, Wales were fully deserving of their success. Overall they played the best rugby in what was a championship that lacked quality and had few games that will linger long in the memory.