Wrong names in blame game

WHEN a team plays as dismally as Ireland in Rome, the critics set their sights on the usual victims.

It was no different this time. They honed in on Tomás O’Leary at scrum-half, Cian Healy and Mike Ross in the front-row and the disjointed nature of the back-row.

Certainly there were shortcomings in these areas but, I felt, far more established members of the side didn’t measure up on Saturday.

Take the centre partnership of Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy who failed miserably to perform their basic duties. On the two occasions he had opportunities to release those outside him, O’Driscoll threw passes that would leave a junior schools player red-faced. D’Arcy couldn’t seem to hold on to the ball even though it was a beautiful sunny afternoon in the Stadio Flaminio; a dry ball and firm underfoot conditions just made for the open, expansive game Ireland were anxious to play.

It could be argued O’Driscoll scored his side’s only try but even then he was assisted in the build-up by some shady obstruction by a team mate and as he admitted himself, if he couldn’t have made the touchdown with only the two Italian props to dart between, it would have been a sorry state of affairs.

O’Dricoll and D’Arcy will again form the Irish midfield against France on Sunday next. And that’s only as it should be. They have been wonderful servants over the years and their recent form for Leinster has been excellent. Nevertheless, they really must do a whole lot better when the French come visiting, otherwise their claims on the 12 and 13 jerseys could well be scrutinised a little more closely.

It’s not as if Ireland are short of talent in this area, especially when Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney are restored to fitness. Remember Paddy Wallace is still around and Fergus McFadden — who suffered most because of his captain’s two shocking passing errors — and Keith Earls, who figured on the wing this time, have played most of their rugby in the centre.

Excuses will be made for the O’Driscoll-D’Arcy axis on the basis that the forwards failed to deliver the kind of possession they have become accustomed to when playing with Leinster.

That said, there is little doubt that Declan Kidney must look closely at the scrummaging deficiencies and it is here that I would make the first of very few changes. Cian Healy is a hugely promising loose head with years and years in the Irish side ahead of him but he is still well short of world class. As expected, the formidable Martin Castrogiovanni took him to the cleaners — with the inestimable help of Romain Poite, a referee all teams in this country should avoid like the plague!

Castro will doubtless be smacking his lips at the prospect of again coming up against Healy in the forthcoming Leinster-Leicester Heineken Cup quarter-final.

Healy will learn from Saturday’s experience but it is now timely to give Tom Court a chance from the start. Mike Ross and Rory Best will complete the front-row with Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan right behind. O’Connell should be getting close to his best after the long lay-off and O’Callaghan made a nonsense of those who suggested he was no longer up to the task. He was excellent from start to finish in Rome.

Sean O’Brien went into the game with accolades ringing in his ears after many fine displays for Leinster. They were not reproduced on Saturday, far from it, and it is clear that the Tullowman, for all his ball carrying qualities and undisputed honesty and commitment, is far from the finished article.

For one thing, he must learn to link with his support — and quickly — if he is to make the desired impression. Calls for the inclusion of Shane Jennings with David Wallace moving to six instead of Denis Leamy are expected to be resisted by Kidney. Jennings may be a specialist open side flanker — but is he good enough to compete with the likes of Thierry Dusautoir and co? I doubt it.

The one other big call to be made is at scrum-half where Tomas O’Leary’s myriad of attributes tend to be overlooked because he isn’t quick enough getting his pass away. Kidney has outstanding options in Peter Stringer, a master of this particular skill, and Eoin Reddan, who has been brilliant for Leinster this season and whose pass for Ronan O’Gara’s crucial drop goal was sheer perfection.

All that said, I was more than a little surprised to see Stringer training with the Munster squad at UL yesterday morning. He has not been called up to the national camp by Kidney so that as of now, he will be performing in the red jersey in the Magners League in Treviso’s Stadio Luigi Zaffanella stadium on Sunday next rather than in the green at Lansdowne Road.

The way Kidney has handled the Stringer situation is difficult to understand but it now looks like the 9 jersey against France is a two horse race between O’Leary and Reddan.

O’Gara instead of Jonny Sexton at out-half? Although Rog saved so many Irish blushes against Italy, that call is unlikely to be made just yet. You suspect, though, that it won’t be far away.