JORDI LIGHTS THE WAY BUT WILL JOEY FOLLOW HIS LEAD?
Leinsterflanker is doing right thing to get most out of his careerand a move to another province could benefit others too
P9
ON Tuesday last, word leaked of a Jordi Murphy move north being imminent. In the 24 hours that followed, it was indeed confirmed and the nuts and bolts put in place.
Naturally, being a current international at a prime stage in his still-developing career, the move has attracted much comment. The bulk of it positive I might add and it shouldn’t be any other way. The Barcelona-born, Blackrock College-educated backrow forward has made the decision to up sticks and move two hours up the road for the sake of maximising his playing career.
Yes, he could have stayed put and competed with about eight others for a place in the Leinster back-row as it is currently constituted. In human terms, he could have continued to put bread on the table and no matter what the station in life I think that’s a pretty good place to be.
Point being that it wasn’t in desperation that he made this decision – instead he was motivated by personal ambition to be as good a rugby player as he can possibly be. It’s a no-brainer. Nobody but nobody can accuse this very talented player of turning his back on the province in which he was brought up.
Not for a minute would we attempt to draw a parallel with the parish ethic so central to Gaelic games but in terms of representing the province he loves it is similar for Murphy.
He is in essence a proud Dub and an equally proud Leinster man but he is also by choice and by good fortune a professional sportsman who must maximise his limited time at the top of what can be a very fickle trade. CONFRONTED Making the decision to leave his home province wasn’t easy but again it had to be done. He is not by any means the first – think Oliver Jager, Andrew Conway, Conor Oliver, Gavin Thornbury, just some who come to mind off that Williamstown Field of Dreams.
Whether we like it or not the future of the sport as a business is driven from the top down. Of course what happens on the ground from grassroots up is the central plank but the ultimate aim is to have our shop-window side (Team Ireland) as consistently successful as it can be at the highest level.
To that end, it is the responsibility of the IRFU, and specifically David Nucifora in his role as performance director, to ensure that the best of emerging talent from whatever corner of the island gets the best chance to prosper.
The nature of Murphy’s redeployment should become more and more the norm and not the exception it so clearly is given the amount of publicity surrounding this move.
And as an aside, isn’t it wonderful that despite entrenched political positions on the border issue from generations past, rugby, the all-island game, continues to shine a light at the end of every tunnel of darkness? Let’s be clear what we need is freedom of movement every way between all four provinces for the betterment of Irish rugby and our international team into the future.
In terms of the M1 road north, right now we have Alan O’Connor, Greg Jones, Nick Timoney, John Cooney as well as Marty Moore (via Wasps) and Murphy set to wear the red hand. How good is that for individual career development, for provincial development, for the betterment of the national elite and yes for crossborder development too. Long may it continue to be so.
But back to specifics and no doubt the stirring of a hornets’ nest for Leinster fans. Joey Carbery is for me the most exciting talent to emerge on the rugby scene since Luke Fitzgerald and Keith Earls came through their final years at Blackrock and St Munchin’s respectively.
Jordan Larmour has displayed the same potential through his underage time at St Andrew’s and is a banker for full international selection sooner rather that later. The problem is where to play Carbery at Leinster because right now the Belfield pool of talent is overflowing with as many again – currently in the underage system – fighting to impress Peter Smyth, Trevor Hogan and make that Academy cut.
Press me to tell you Carbery’s best position as of now and I struggle. My gut instinct tells me out-half but of course I can see the logic behind what Girvan Dempsey and Stuart Lancaster have been doing at Leinster in using this gifted young player in the last line.
But with Larmour coming through like the proverbial train, Rob Kearney well on the way back to full throttle, not to mention James Lowe (although irrespective of his clear and obvious talent here is a high-profile signing I don’t quite get), as well as Isa Nacewa, all are top-quality full-backs. At out-half, Johnny Sexton is irreplaceable while Ross Byrne has come through incredibly well almost as a clone to the consistency and playing style of the master in whose shadow he’s working.
In that scenario, what chance Carbery consistently wearing either ten or 15?
Yes, of course Leo Cullen along with Dempsey and Lancaster will attempt to manage him sensitively but were I Carbery – particularly while laid low through injury – I would be having a radical rethink, much like fellow ‘Rock protégé Murphy, as to where I go from here.
Right now the other three provinces have very real issues at No 10. Munster, to be fair, are looking for the right fit between Ian Keatley, Tyler Bleyendaal and JJ Hanrahan, while Connacht are betwixt and between and Ulster are losing out in the pivotal position because of the circumstances surrounding Paddy Jackson.
Yet for all that and despite this unfortunate injury, it is highly questionable if Carbery would leapfrog Byrne as shadow ten for Leinster behind Sexton.
The Murphy move is a dilemma set to confront many more players now and in the future. Nucifora and the IRFU (rest assured with Joe Schmidt included) need to be even more proactive still in terms of inter-provincial fluidity but ultimately it is for the individual to determine if and when the time is right.
To move is a bold and brave call. To move abroad is bolder and braver still. And let me add that while I would question the need to sign Lowe at this point in time I do believe the signing of marquee players of that calibre from overseas can have much to offer in bringing an added dimension that not just confined to match day.
Nacewa, Rocky Elsom, Brad Thorn and Felipe Contepomi are just some of those who have brought that all-embracing extra factor to Leinster.
All that said, the decision is for the player to make. Back in the day a player in Limerick for example took his ‘life in his hands’ when moving from one Treaty City tribe (club) to another. Inter-provincial rivalry has supplanted that but the game now is a different animal entirely with the bottomline challenge that of spreading precious resources most prudently.
The challenge of keeping top players home will always be there and in that key respect it is difficult to counter the Nucifora/ Schmidt stance on international eligibility when opting to play abroad.
Murphy’s move is unequivocally a testament to common sense and I doubt there is a Leinster supporter anywhere who wishes him anything but the best. THIS YEAR Munster Rugby, in conjunction with St Munchin’s College and Crescent College Comprehensive has initiated a schools Christmas Charity Cup match. PBC and CBC have paved the way on Leeside and now Munchin’s and Crescent will come head to head in a similar cross-city schools fixture on Shannonside.
The venue will be the newly developed Market’s Field in Garryowen under lights on Friday next, December 15 (kick-off 6.30pm). with proceeds going to Milford Hospital amongst other nominated charities in the city.
The victorious team will have the honour of lifting the Conneely/ Herbert Cup in honour of great schools rugby stalwarts Sean Conneely of St Munchin’s and Dudley Herbert of Crescent sadly no longer with us. Tickets can be purchased through either school priced at €4 for students and €9 for adults.