THIS WEEKEND ALL four Irish provinces lost in the Heineken Cup including Leinster and Ulster who were playing at home.
In the case of Leinster it is clear that they are in a rebuilding phase, as are Munster.
Ulster on the other hand were meant to be establishing themselves at the top table. Based on Saturday’s performance they have a way to go. Connacht are acquitting themselves better and better but the future is uncertain as there is no apparent long-term plan for the province, in my view.
If we reflect on the state of Irish rugby through the Leinster performance I think we will find a pattern. Firstly the front five were not able to compete in the set pieces with Clermont. The scrum was under pressure and the line-out didn’t function.
Mike Ross had to be removed from the game because his penalty count was such that he would have been carded if he had one more infringement.
Our props are not good enough to consistently compete against the best. The manner in which Bent was summoned into the Irish squad says it all. This country was always able to produce props. In the professional era we have lost that ability. It starts with the ludicrous limitations placed on scrummaging at schools level. No other country does it.
Tip rugby
If the IRFU wants us to play tip rugby they should join that club. You can’t compete if you prohibit the system from producing the necessary talent to compete. The scrummaging platform is vital to being able to exist in a competitive game.
They are not happy to prohibit development at schools level but just to ensure our position as the worst scrummaging nation of all the top rugby playing countries, they refuse to provide the necessary specialist coaching at senior level.
The problems at scrum time are both a front row and second row problem. The Leinster second row don’t provide the necessary power to support the front row. Nathan Hines and then Brad Thorn fulfilled this role in previous Leinster teams. Leo Cullen has been a great asset but is now in his twilight years. Time is catching up and we don’t appear to have the necessary talent coming through to replace him and others or, do we have the talent but not the system to bring them through?
There are too many players in the system who are not getting enough game time to develop. Players only learn to play the game by playing. Leinster has been good at identifying talent but the question is are they giving them the opportunities to develop?
The big men really develop during that period from 20 to 24 when they need lots of game time to harden them up and learn the tricks of the trade. If they don’t get that chance, it doesn’t matter how much talent they have, you’ll never see it. You can’t put them in cotton wool, take them out at 25 and expect to have a player who is capable of competing.
Within that, you will have those who never come through and those who partially come through. We tend in this country to take the view that if they can’t be another O’Connell then we shouldn’t invest in them at all.
In terms of props and second rows we need to seriously invest in getting those in the Academy game time and exposure.
Rebuilding
Meanwhile Leinster need to approach the rest of this season on the basis of building for the future. They must attack their rebuilding with the same clarity which won them three Heineken Cups. Their brand is such now that they must not allow it to be compromised.
In terms of second row options there seems to be a view abroad that Devon Toner doesn’t have what it takes to become a permanent solution. I don’t know but I do know that you will never find out by giving him cameo appearances only. Leinster will not add to their squad now before next year. They might do well to play him regularly and see if he benefits from consistent involvement at the top.
The line-out strategy is difficult to understand. Why would you put him in the side and then keep him on the floor for opposition throws. Also unless he is being used as a decoy why put him at the back of the lineout. He will only improve through regular game time, and then he must be used for his strengths.
I mention Toner as an example. We tend in this country to identify talent and then want to take the devil out of them before releasing onto the big stage. Academy players need to be playing week-in, week-out.
Leinster need to focus on props, second rows and centres in order to strengthen their squad. They must maintain the standards they have set for themselves in the rebuilding phase.
Emmet O’Rafferty is a former second row forward for Leinster and chairman of Top Security which operates a security business in Ireland and South Africa.
What do you think?