LEINSTER AND THE ALSO-RANS
After tough seasons, chasing provinces must follow Blues’ template to narrow gap
AND then there was one… The last week of the domestic season and just a single room in the Irish rugby factory still has the light on.
Connacht signed off a few weeks ago, Munster and Ulster clocked out at the weekend and all three head into a summer of regret, reflection and reorganisation with a desperate need for rejuvenation.
Only Leinster are still at work and beating Scarlets to land the European Cup-Pro14 double in Lansdowne Road next weekend would not only crown a marvellous season, it would also emphasise the void between Leinster and the other provinces — tangibly and psychologically.
More money, more youngsters wanting to don Leinster jerseys, more self-belief in their own supremacy and, by extension, more doubt among their rivals.
In terms of key areas in playing and management approach, Leinster are setting the standards and it is up to other provinces to catch up.
STABILITY
LEINSTER: The loss of backs coach Girvan Dempsey to Bath is a blow but the partnership of Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster has cemented beautifully over two seasons, providing a management direction and surety the players trust implicitly. The biggest midterm issue could be Cullen and Lancaster being lined up for an Ireland call-up when Joe Schmidt moves on.
MUNSTER: Stability has been a big problem on the back of regular change (five head coaches in the last six years) with Rassie Erasmus’ mid-season exit a farcical soap opera. However, having fronted up in trying circumstances, Johann van Graan looks like he could do a decent job and now needs to bed in for the long haul. ULSTER: A major issue. Dan McFarland is the designated driver but wranglings with the Scottish union over his start date are an unwelcome headache after the messy Les Kiss and Jono Gibbes departures. It is essential the new man be in place this summer or another season will be lost from the off. CONNACHT: Like Ulster, Connacht are on shaky ground. In terms of a like-for-like replacement for Pat Lam, Kieran Keane was a disaster and Connacht have a tough task finding the right man to banish that hangover.
SKILLS
LEINSTER: Blessed with an overabundance of talented players, Leinster have managed to equip them with the skills to make their abilities count. The most
impressive aspect of their march to European glory was their ability to tailor their game to specific opponents, mixing between expansive and direct gameplans with equal return. There has been a notable upturn in ball-handling capability — not just the outrageous off-loading of James Lowe but also the sleight of hand shown by tight forwards like Tadhg Furlong and James Ryan.
CONNACHT: They may have had an undistinguished season under Keane, but the legacy of the Lam era is a squad extremely comfortable with ball in hand — as they showed when humiliating Leinster a few weeks ago. However, more intelligent use of possession and a stronger kicking game are definite areas for improvement.
MUNSTER: Last weekend’s loss to Leinster showcases Munster’s problems — no shortage of heart or attrition but a deficiency in skill levels to make them count. There were far too many wild and inaccurate passes for a team looking to return to the summit of the European game, while the forwards are still more inclined to die with the ball than keep it alive. The loss of Simon Zebo to Racing robs them of their primary source of stardust.
ULSTER: Jacob Stockdale is the best poacher in world rugby and John Cooney oozes footballing class but too many of the Ulster squad reside in the journeyman category when it comes to ability on the ball. A priority for the new regime.
OUT-HALF AUTHORITY
LEINSTER: Johnny Sexton is, arguably, the most dominant 10 in the game and Ross Byrne has been hugely impressive as back-up, displaying similar levels of calm control. Whatever happens with Joey Carbery, Leinster will have access to quality out-halves spreading assurance throughout the team.
MUNSTER: Five years after his retirement, the shadow of Ronan O’Gara still hangs over the province. With Tyler Bleyendaal a longterm injury, neither Ian Keatley nor JJ Hanrahan managed to convince as a dominant playmaker with too much responsibility then resting on Conor Murray at scrum-half.
ULSTER: The departure of Christian Lea’lifano forced Ulster to trust in Johnny McPhillips and the results were encouraging. However, McPhillips is still finding his way and Ulster need a game-dominating 10 to help him along.
CONNACHT: Jack Carty is a tidy player but not one who has been able to force his way into the national reckoning and Connacht’s attempts at fly-half recruitment have fallen short. Former Australian U20 out-half David Horwitz is the latest fingers crossed signing for next season.
CULTURE
LEINSTER: A source of ridicule in the not-too-distant past, there is a clear sense of identity in the province now, and not just in its south Dublin heartland. The emphasis on homegrown talent is a hugely significant, and successful, factor (not least for Ireland’s progress) and has energised a support base that has never been as vibrant.
CONNACHT: There is still a strong sense of culture in Connacht, fuelled by their ‘runt of the litter’ resolve, but it slipped when
Keane failed dismally to tap into it and the new man must not make the same mistake.
MUNSTER: The traditional power-source of player pride was much in evidence in the RDS last weekend but there are wider issues bubbling under. There is an overreliance on South African input and not enough effort being put into rugby heartlands outside Limerick — with disenchantment in Cork particularly prevalent. A more concerted and widespread marketing effort allied to a Leinster-like focus on self-generation from within would help rejuvenate an increasingly fickle support base.
ULSTER: The empty spaces in Ravenhill for their vital Champions Cup play-off with Ospreys on Sunday told its own story after a period when Ulster’s culture took a fearful battering under the microscope. Following their season horribilis, Ulster need to forge a new, positive identity and convince supporters that this is a side they can be proud of and believe in again. As with everything else, a look at the Leinster template would be a good place to start...