Hayes can still make impact at World Cup, insists Smal

IT MAY well be that he is limited to a watching brief this weekend as Ireland go in search of the southern hemisphere win they so crave, but John Hayes has been backed to prove the doubters wrong and go all the way to next year’s World Cup.

Ireland’s most capped player will be 37 by the time the finals roll around in New Zealand next September but national team forwards coach Gert Smal remains confident time will not fully catch up with the Munster tight head in the meantime.

“The challenge is up to him,” said Smal yesterday. “I don’t want to say that certain guys are assured of a place in the World Cup. They must fight for it and the more they fight for it, the better they will play and the better the competition then it’s all for the better for Irish rugby, even within the system.

“But where we are at the minute with props, you can’t discard anyone. We know where the top four or five props are and we have to get the best out of them before the World Cup. I don’t think there are any youngsters now in the country who will make a difference and force their way into the World Cup. The guys we have at the moment, we’re going to see how much game time we can get for them and technically and tactically up-skill them as best we can.”

In the wake of his stellar showing against the All Blacks, it is likely that Declan Kidney will retain Tony Buckley against the Wallabies in Brisbane this Saturday but Hayes will certainly wait in reserve. The fact that he’s still so heavily relied upon, as much as it’s a testament to his longevity, is also an indictment of the way front rowers are developed in Ireland.

With Munster having signed another two overseas prop for next season and Leinster one, Smal admitted yesterday the current system is stymieing the emergence of young propping talent.

“I think we definitely have to do something about it for the future,” he argued.

“I don’t think we can do too much about it for now. We also have to understand the provincial dilemmas that the provinces face. They also need depth. Some of their top players like John Hayes and Tony Buckley and the guys that play with us are going to be out of the competition at some stages so they need strength there as well.

“But for future purposes I think there needs to be a proper identification programme and maybe a scouting system where we can look for rough diamonds and look for a proper academy for the front row or the tight five because it goes hand in hand – the tight five,” continued Smal.

“What one would like to see is a proper progression plan in place – identify players so that you can have a five or 10-year programme in place.

“That’s a commitment that the provincial coaches are going to have to make together with Declan. Especially next year – it’s a crucial year for us. In the meantime, get a proper tight five academy in place.

“I haven’t discussed it with anyone yet, but it’s crucial.”

Smal said that Jerry Flannery’s status remains unclear, with the South African giving Ireland’s first-choice hooker a 50-50 chance of being named in the starting side tomorrow.

“It’s all going well. Over the next two days we’ll see how he progresses and there’s an option to use him. We’ll decide Tuesday or Wednesday.”

Smal said that the Kidney is unlikely to opt for Ulster’s Dan Tuohy as a makeshift blindside, meaning a starting back row trio of Niall Ronan, Shane Jennings and David Wallace is likely, with Niall Henry on the bench.

“No, we won’t go there. We’ll use the loose forwards that we’ve got here, that kind of combination.

“So we’ll look at the five guys that are left – Niall Ronan, Shane Jennings, Chris Henry, David Wallace and Rhys Ruddock.”