Ireland begin U21 WC bid with Springboks clash

The 2003 IRB U21 World Cup kicks off in London today, with South Africa keen to retain their title as champions.

The Springboks defeated their Australian counterparts 24 -21 in the final held at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, the scene of the South African senior side’s historic 1995 World Cup victory.

Prior to the 2002 event the SANZAR unions had organised an annual invitational tournament for U21 sides which was looked upon as an unofficial world championship.

The IRB recognised a good thing when they saw it, expanded the tournament to 12 sides, gave it official World Cup status and have exported it to the northern hemisphere for the first time.

In accordance with the increased levels of prestige attached to the tournament and belatedly recognising it as a vital step in the development of young rugby stars, the IRFU has for the first time appointed a full-time national under 21 coach.

In the past the role has been fulfilled on a part-time basis, but the IRFU saw that, given the evolution of the professional game, the U21 grade provides a platform for the rugby education of those hoping to move to the paid ranks.

It offers players the chance to learn about the pressures of being part of a team representing its country on foreign soil and also exposes them, perhaps for the first time, to the different styles of rugby of the southern hemisphere teams.

Michael Bradley, 40 Irish caps, 15 as captain, one time Cork Constitution first team coach and recently appointed Connacht head coach, was the man the IRFU chose to attempt to translate the annual success at schools international level to something tangible at the U21 stage.

The process began last August with the U21 Interprovincial series. After those matches a squad of 40 was selected, a number of foreign-based players were also added and teams were selected to play two friendly matches against the French at Marcoussis, the French National Rugby Centre.

Following on from there eligible members of the IRFU academy were added to the squad and training weekends were held throughout December and then every second week in the lead-up to their version of the Six Nations.

John Lyne the Lansdowne loose-head, who was a member of the extended Leinster Heineken Cup squad, was chosen to lead the side in the opening fixture in Scotland.

When Lyne was injured in that match, which Ireland won 13-5, he was replaced as captain by UCC and ex-St Munchin’s schoolboy Stephen Keogh who will lead the squad in the World Cup.

The Six Nations was extremely profitable for the Irish team. On top of that opening weekend victory over the Scots in Dundee there were home wins over the big two of England and France, those successes when added to a 30-19 win in Viadana against Italy meant that a single point defeat to Wales at Ebbw Vale was all that came between Ireland and an U21 grand slam.

To be eligible at this level players must be 20 years of age or younger on January 1 this year. This arrangement suits the southern hemisphere sides for whom that date would mark the end of one season and the start of another.

For the home nations however January is in the middle of the season and as a result half of each group of players who have grown up together become ineligible at this level.

Ideally this team would be along the lines of the all-conquering Irish schoolboy squad Bobby Byrne took around Australia in 2000 but in fact only five of that squad make the trip to England whereas the vast majority of the opponents they met on that tour will be lining out in the green and gold this time round.

The other major disadvantage that the Irish side faces is the lack of top quality, high-level experience in the squad.

Over the last number of years only Leo Cullen, Gavin Duffy, Gordon D’Arcy, Jeremy Staunton and to an extent Neil McMillan have had any worthwhile interprovincial playing time under their belts going into this tournament.

That list stretches back about five years whereas in every single New Zealand, Australia or South African squad there will be at least six or seven players who have played some role in the Super 12 competition.

This is explained in part by the fact that Irish players are notoriously slow in their physical development but also in the reluctance of many coaches at AIL level to give young players their head.

New Zealand start as tournament favourites. Despite losing wing Joe Rokocoko, centre Ma'a Nonu and No 10 Daniel Carter to the All Blacks, coach Bryce Woodward was still able to select nine of the squad that played in South Africa last year.

Followers of the Super 12 will recognise the name of Blues centre Sam Tuitupou, playing at this level for the third time. Other players returning from last year are Auckland utility back Ben Atiga, Hurricanes prop Tim Fairbrother, Otago flanker Tom Harding (brother of 2002 All Black flanker Sam), Manawatu winger Lafemi Mafi, Wellington lock Kane Thompson and Wellington flanker Thomas Waldrom.

Last year the South Africans were victorious with two Super 12 players within their ranks. This year they return with six. In all, seven players return from the side that won last year's World Cup on home soil and they are once again managed by Naas Botha one of the all time great Springbok outhalves. They face Ireland in the first match of the tournament.

The Australians have three players flying in to join the squad once they have finished their commitments with the Australian ‘A’ side.

Ireland must hope to catch the South Africans cold first up and should be confident of following that up with a victory over Scotland.

The third match sees Bradley’s men face the Argentineans who are traditionally strong at this level and it is this match that will determine the success or failure of the tournament from an Irish perspective.

No matter how they fare in the first round robin stage all teams play on until the final day. Last year Ireland lost out to France in a 5th/6th playoff match and a repeat performance would certainly be the least of their expectations.

Reaching the semi-finals and rattling the cage of one of the big Tri-Nations teams would represent a fine finish to a thus far successful season.