Constant gardener is sowing new seeds
Schmidt’s green fingers tending to Ireland’s future
GARDENING is one of those activities that either consumes you or alienates you. It’s like the gym. Some people are obsessed by the need to lift weights and use wall-to-wall mirrors to chart their muscle expansion, others can’t handle the pofaced narcissism, the brutal dance music and the fact that lifting heavy weights ... you know, like ... really hurts.
Gardening is less arduous but just as divisive. There are those who will happily potter about for hours to sculpt the ultimate lawn while some of us aren’t even allowed to cut the grass because of a history of severing that long wire coming out the back of the electric mower thingy.
The Irish rugby garden needs careful tending and (if you will permit further spraying of metaphor fertiliser) recent events have shown, the perfect man is wielding the hoe and planting seeds that will flower down the line.
The appointment of a new boss man in Ulster, the selection process under way to replace Kieran Keane in Connacht and the plans to provide Joey Carbery with more frontline game-time at 10 are all under the influencing gaze of Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt and that should be universally welcomed.
For years, there has been a degree of conflict between the provinces and their IRFU bosses that has, at various stages, damaged the national team.
But now, there is a genuine sense of synergy under the expert guidance of Schmidt and elite performance director David Nucifora, with everyone pulling together towards the ultimate goal of next year’s World Cup.
Before everyone starts singing ‘Kumbaya’, it should be noted this this is a hugely complicated process, with planning one thing and execution quite another — nonetheless, the signs are extremely encouraging.
Let’s start with Ulster and the appointment of Dan McFarland to take over as head coach next season. The key statement this week came from Shane Logan, the under-fire Ulster CEO who seems to have belatedly realised the importance of falling into line with his Dublin overseers.
‘We have worked closely with the IRFU and are very pleased with the outcome,’ said Logan on McFarland’s appointment.
Telling words, and wise ones, from Logan and Ulster’s point of view.
McFarland may not be the marquee name some Ulster fans were hoping for and represents something of a gamble in his first lead role, but he has the approval of Schmidt and that is the most important thing.
Because the Ireland coach knows McFarland ‘gets’ the Irish system from his long service with Connacht.
No danger of bulldog defiance of the type that did for former Leinster coach Matt O’Connor, McFarland understands and accepts what is required in terms of player management and succession to ensure Ulster do their bit for Ireland. Furthermore, with Ireland and Ulster still scalded by the Paddy Jackson-Stuart Olding episode, McFarland is just the type of nononsense individual to foster a strong, positive environment which will allow those wounds to heal. On to the removal of Kieran Keane. That may have been an internal affair, the gruff Kiwi failing to win over the Connacht dressing room or boardroom, but his replacement will need to get IRFU approval — just as Ulster’s did. Connacht may have less input into the national squad than their provincial rivals but Schmidt’s cause is better served with a confident progressive province out west and, like McFarland, the new man will need to grasp his wider remit as well as the narrow focus of better results next season.
Nigel Carolan may well be that man. Already in situ on the coaching ticket, he knows Connacht, knows what worked under Pat Lam (and what didn’t under Keane) and knows Schmidt from his time with the Ireland Under 20s. Whoever gets the gig, we know it will be Schmidt-approved — not some rogue operator prepared to swim against the national tide — and that can only be a good thing.
And so to Carbery and his purported move to Ravenhill.
As we said last week, Schmidt would not be pushing that objective if he did not have a proper plan and the subsequent announcement of McFarland was clearly part of that plan.
As the pictures of Schmidt and Carbery meeting over coffee evidenced, there is a lot of time and thought going into this and, while the talented youngster has yet to commit, the indications are that he might be convinced to go north on a temporary basis.
A loan deal for Carbery is the ideal solution — a highly intelligent, well thought-out process that would have something in it for all interested parties.
Ulster would get the benefit of a top quality out-half with the promising Johnny McPhillips continuing to develop when Carbery is away on Ireland duty.
Schmidt would gain value from the designated back-up to Johnny Sexton getting regular, frontline exposure in the position Ireland need him to play.
Carbery would further his national ambitions by showing his willingness to follow Schmidt’s direction and garnering more essential experience for Japan.
And Leinster would still have their chosen out-half understudy, Ross Byrne, and be appeased by the knowledge that Carbery (the player they have nurtured from his mid-teens) would be returning to his home province to prepare for life after Sexton.
Indeed, a Carbery loan arrangement would represent exactly the type of meticulous planning Schmidt is renowned for during his success-laden career.
He is Ireland’s constant gardener and this week could lead to further evidence of his green fingers having the magic touch.