A SEASON LIKE NO OTHER
THIS 12-MONTH CAMPAIGN WAS GRUELLING, ON AND OFF THE PITCH, BUT HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER
THE last shrill of Mathieu Raynal’s whistle in Cape Town Stadium was the final act in the longest, strangest and most challenging of seasons. The rugby campaign in the northern hemisphere is finally done.
And the hope is that this Lions series is the final stanza in a chapter of the game which was beset with issues, on and off the field.
It brings an end to the longest season in living memory, one which began all the way back in August of last year when Munster and Leinster faced off in an inter-pro clash at the Aviva Stadium. Robbie Henshaw, Jack Conan, Conor Murray and Damian de Allende were all on duty in Dublin that evening. Little did any of them know they would still be going 50 weeks later, in a Lions series decider. Fittingly, both games took place behind closed doors in the midst of the pandemic. A season bookended by Covid-19.
Credit must be given to the IRFU for keeping the whole show on the road. The union has incurred severe financial losses due to the loss of matchday revenue. There were 3,000 fans let in the gates to watch the Japan game last month and 6,000 the following weekend for the meeting with USA. The hope is that HQ will be full to the brim by the time the All Blacks arrive into town in November. Same goes for Thomond Park, the RDS, Kingspan Stadium and the Sportsground. Stadiums around the country have been eerily quiet for too long. If the recent Lions series proved one thing, a bad game is made immeasurably worse when it’s all playing out in front of empty seats.
As a side note, news of the Energia All-Ireland League’s imminent return has been welcome news as well.
The rugby calendar will be packed over the next 12 months but you could do worse than to pay a visit to your local club for an AIL match. Maybe even leave a few quid behind the clubhouse bar in the process. Like every other business post-pandemic, they could do with it. The clubs are well used to doing it tough, but this has been an especially grim time for the grassroots across the country.
It was a tough season on the pitch as well. Once again, Leinster dominated domestic proceedings. An occurrence which does not suit anyone. The fact that Leo Cullen’s squad cruised to a fourth consecutive PRO14 title was an indictment of whole competition structure. It certainly hasn’t helped their cause in Europe clearly. For the third season in a row, Leinster were found wanting in a big European knockout game. Saracens did the damage in 2019 and 2020. La Rochelle — with a certain Corkman at the helm — stepped in to do a demolition job this time around. Sleepwalking through the PRO14 has done Leinster few favours. The hope is that the new, improved and expanded PRO16 (or the United Rugby Championship, to give it its full title) will raise the bar. The jury remains out on that front. The performances of the South African franchises against the Lions in the lead-up to the Test series wouldn’t inspire a lot of confidence. The memory of the Bulls — the supposed South African powerhouse — being played off the pitch by Treviso in the Rainbow Cup final is still vivid as well. Then there’s the whole pandemic issue with the South African teams, and whether they will get travel clearance to even join this new tournament in the months ahead? Nothing is every straightforward with it comes to this league. Well, except for Leinster winning it every year.
The Heineken Champions Cup should be as competitive as ever though. This season’s final was an all-French affair between Toulouse and La Rochelle and there is a feeling that both are here to stay as European heavyweights. Ditto Racing 92 who have lofty ambitions, with the budget to match. Leinster have plenty of unfinished business with this competition.
Then there’s Munster. This is year five of the Johann van Graan regime and it’s surely now or never for the South African head coach. There are no more excuses. The backroom team is settled, there is a new generation of young talent like Gavin Coombes and Gavin Casey. De Allende, RG Snyman and Joey Carbery should all finally be available. The Thomond Park faithful will be back in the stands, and they are expecting big things.
Hope springs eternal in Ulster and Connacht as well. There are no question marks over their coaches. Dan McFarland and Andy Friend have turned their respective operations around impressively in recent years. Both setups sill look a bit underpowered to launch a sustained European bid. However, both camps will be eyeing up a league title. Particularly Ulster, with their galaxy of exciting young backs. Mike Lowry, Robert Baloucoune and James Hume have already announced themselves in recent years. Now, get ready for Nathan Doak, the young scrum-half who was sensational for the Ireland U20s in the recent Six Nations championship.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell won’t be far away from the action. Perhaps he will feel that the national team has turned a corner after the demolition of England in March, unquestionably Ireland’s best display under this watch. It’s worth remembering that almost all of Farrell’s tenure has occurred in the midst of this pandemic. It doesn’t get any easier now though.
The All Blacks are on the horizon before 2022 looms into view, and what a year it is shaping up to be. Trips to Paris and London in the Six Nations and then the small matter of a three-Test summer tour of New Zealand. The Springboks are due for a visit the following November as well.
It has the makings of another marathon campaign.
It has the makings of a thrilling season as well.
And fresh cause for optimism. Bring it on.