The Irish Mail on Sunday

From chaos to calm:

How provinces shape up

- By Hugh Farrelly

IN the IRFU’s four-year strategic plan (2013-2017), one of the ‘High Level Objectives’ was to have ‘high quality succession planning for all key leadership positions in Irish rugby’ including the need for ‘provinces to have transparen­cy in decision-making’.

High objectives, indeed, but as that planning document expires and we embark on the 2017/18 season, it would be impossible to argue those noble aspiration­s have been met.

Munster are a mess – unsure who is driving the ship in the short, medium or long term, Connacht have returned to fingers-crossed territory after a brief and wonderful surge, Ulster are moving the deck chairs yet again in a bid to arrest their generation-long sink into mediocrity and only Leinster carry any degree of genuine stability.

The role of IRFU high performanc­e director featured heavily in the plan and David Nucifora has undoubtedl­y been a success since coming on board in 2014 but, with Pat Lam and Rassie Erasmus leaving uncertaint­y in their wake after mid-contract runners on their respective provinces, escape clauses are now a major issue.

The national side is in good shape but unless the provinces can establish true and sustained stability, that situation will not last. And as the provinces head into a new campaign the landscape is pockmarked with doubt.

MUNSTER

REMARKABLY, people still defend Erasmus, despite his cack-handed approach to the draining ‘will he stay or will he go?’ saga that polluted his first season with the province.

Respect is merited for the way he handled the sad passing of Anthony Foley, lifted Munster from also-rans to European heavyweigh­ts once again and rejuvenate­d the support base.

Nor can anyone quibble with the South African’s desire to take on the director of rugby role with his own country but he lost a lot of the aforementi­oned respect when he declared emphatical­ly in April that he would be staying only to confirm in June that he was in fact taking the Springbok gig.

When IRFU CEO Philip Browne announced last month that Erasmus’s was using a nine-month release clause and had informed the union of his intention to leave as far back as March, the unsavoury plot thickened again.

Last week, Erasmus tried to dampen down the controvers­y but once again failed to achieve any semblance of clarity, calling out Browne for getting it wrong in the process – a hard sell, given the IRFU boss’s long record of straight-talking.

So, now Munster have a man in charge who is scheduled to go in December but may leave sooner, or later, if required... chaos.

Sooner would be the best option for everyone concerned.

Erasmus has said he will be less hands-on and allow assistants Felix Jones and Jerry Flannery more responsibi­lity – the sensible move as any player would struggle to handle praise, criticism or instructio­n from a man they know is leaving.

There has been a lot of positive vibes surroundin­g the coaching ability of Jones (Joe Schmidt is a big fan) and that represents the one positive out of the whole sorry affair.

If Jones grasps this opportunit­y, he may well negate the need to turn to another southern hemisphere coach looking to give Europe a try.

CONNACHT

UNLIKE Erasmus, Pat Lam at least adhered to the ‘transparen­cy’ objectives in the IRFU’s plan – going public with his intentions to move to Bristol with half the season to run.

Predictabl­y, Connacht were unable to give him a successful send-off but gratitude in the province for what Lam achieved on the way to the 2016 Pro12 title will be everlastin­g.

The new man, Kieran Keane (above), is very much in Lam’s image, adhering to the same principles of ball-inhand rugby from his time with the Chiefs, after previously raising the fortunes of Tasman – the unglamorou­s New Zealand province carrying more than a passing resemblanc­e to his new home.

But, as Lam discovered, the transforma­tion process takes time and there is a real sense of Connacht starting all over again this season.

ULSTER

LES KISS is held in extremely high regard in Irish rugby after his superb work as defence coach with the national side but the Australian has struggled as head man with Ulster.

Given the resources at their disposal, on and off the field, Ulster’s failure to land a trophy since the 2006 Celtic League is scandalous. A stubbornly loyal fanbase and local media have kept the heat off during the drought years, but last season’s abject failure to make a mark in the Pro12 or in Europe has created a sense of patience finally wearing out up north.

There is the usual new campaign optimism emanating from Ravenhill but, for once, there is genuine weight behind it given the acquisitio­n of Jono Gibbes (above) as forwards coach.

Gibbes has a proven record of adding steel and attitude to the forwards he oversees and his presence is the greatest reason for believing Ulster might finally do something meaningful. Flop again, however, and you can expect more deck chairs to move.

LEINSTER

COMPARED to their provincial rivals, Leinster enter the new campaign imbued with coaching calm and confidence. After a rocky start as main man, Leo Cullen (right) now exudes a quiet authority, secure enough to allow Stuart Lancaster wield the primary coaching influence while creating an environmen­t that allows the former England boss flourish. With assistants Girvan Dempsey and John Fogarty growing into their roles and a talent production line that has the rest of Europe gazing on in envy, Leinster are in a position to do something special this season. One high level objective that could well be realised.

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EXIT: Rassie Erasmus
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