Cullen shows Irish rugby the way by putting faith in ‘parish power’
LEINSTER’S FAITH IN THEIR OWN TALENT IS FUELLING CREATION OF A DYNASTY
MUNSTER have been getting a kicking this week and, as a result, not enough attention has been paid to Leinster’s extraordinary success story.
Or maybe, not that extraordinary, rather the manifestation of sensible planning, astute guidance and an innate understanding of what is needed to fuel provincial success in the professional era.
And that understanding is rooted in the amateur past, when provincial rugby was truly representative in showcasing the best talent from the area. Because, for all the changes wrought on rugby by professionalism and for all the movement towards a franchise system with money as the primary driver, there is still tremendous power in the parish mentality.
As Ireland showed in their Six Nations destruction of England recently, Irish rugby teams are still at their most potent when there is large emotional investment attached to all the tactical and scientific preparation now required. The concept of playing for ‘your’ people may sound cheesy but it retains enormous potency, as Leinster are proving.
It used to be the defining principle in Munster teams, the foundation of their exceptional run of achievement in the 2000s, when a parochial chip on the shoulder induced a raw intensity that elevated all involved. Those days seem aeons away from where Munster are at present.
There is widespread anger in the southern province at the steady erosion of what once drove Munster success and the signing of yet another South African this week lit the touch paper.
Meanwhile, Leinster continue to place their faith almost exclusively in their homegrown players and after it landed a fourth straight Pro14 title last weekend, that policy is now fuelling their quest for a fifth European title.
The team to face Toulon in the last-16 knockout tie at the RDS this evening features 14 players whose rugby roots lie in the province, with another seven on the bench. That imbues Leinster with the type of representative urgency and feral desire that Munster’s flotsam-jetsam squad were unable to match last weekend.
Indeed, the only questionable starting selection tonight is the one implant — James Lowe.
The Kiwi’s defensive failings were brutally exposed during the Six Nations and, while Lowe is afforded more protection at this level, his inclusion is not merited over the claims of Dave Kearney, who has been superb for his province all season and would have been a better bet on the Ireland left wing than either Lowe or Ulster’s Jacob Stockdale.
But Lowe’s presence is not enough to detract from the positive, local narrative and the beauty of Leinster’s approach is, not only does it drive their march towards becoming a true European rugby dynasty, it also makes complete commercial sense.
While Munster try to buy success and mask their own development inadequacies with expensive outside acquisitions, Leinster trust in their own assembly line at
Cullen ‘gets it’ in a way that Van Graan does not
a fraction of the cost, with the added marketing advantage of engaging swathes of supporters delighted to get behind a team they truly feel is their own.
It helps to have a head man in Leo Cullen who is steeped in the rugby roots of the province, a Leinster icon on the back of lifting the European Cup three times as captain having also experienced the dark days before.
He may benefit from significant outside expertise in the likes of Stuart Lancaster, Felipe Contepomi and Robin McBryde but Cullen is the mastermind, the leader who drives the culture and brings it all together. He ‘gets it’ in a way that his Munster counterpart, Johann van Graan, does not – as evidenced by the demoralising decision to sign Springbok Jason Jenkins this week.
After their latest procession to Pro14 glory, Cullen and his crew are now intent on conquering Europe again, starting with the clash against Toulon this evening — a side who have long been characterised by the mercenary, franchise-driven approach so alien to their opponents.
The French are a serious proposition, at least on paper, particularly in the forwards. Their enormous pack contains world-class ability in the shape of Eben Etzebeth in the second row and France captain Charles Ollivon on the flank while there is elite quality also across the front row and at scrum-half, where Baptiste Serin a player Leinster must guard closely.
But Leinster are hardly lacking the quality stakes. Jack Conan and Rhys Ruddock suffered for the 51 Ireland caps handed out to South Africa cast-off CJ Stander and are playing like men possessed since his announcement that he was calling time on his Ireland project.
Both Ruddock and Conan would not look out of place on the Lions tour.
It also feels like there is a huge game coming from Jordan Larmour, who equally suffered for the misguided trust Ireland placed in Lowe and seems primed to remind everyone, not least Ireland coach Andy Farrell, of his vast talents.
Likewise, the excellent Luke McGrath at scrum-half who, like John Cooney at Ulster, has been criminally underused by the
national selectors. And then there is Ryan Baird, another potential Lions bolter. Going up against the revered Etzebeth and France regular Romain Taofifenua will invigorate the young second row.
Baird has all the skills required of the modern-day forward but, similar to injured colleague James Ryan, there is an encouraging ‘old-school’ aura resident there also. A mention too for the enduring excellence of Devin Toner who, fresh from making a mockery of the decision to bring Jean Kleyn to the World Cup in 2019, is ready to add to his cult hero status in the province.
Put it all together and Leinster represent a compelling and uplifting validation of the best in Irish rugby — to the point where you wonder what Ireland could achieve had they access to the same management.
The power of this parish could go a long way.