POSITIVE SPIN
Doubts remain about Ireland’s head coach but Andy Farrell has serious talent to work with and CAN turn things around with the right calls...
BACK in 2000, at the pre-match lunch before Munster’s famous win over Saracens at Thomond Park, the late Moss Keane told a story that has stuck in the mind. It was January 1974, and Keane had just played for UCC against Shannon at The Mardyke in Cork, both teams repairing to legendary student watering hole ‘The Western Star’ afterwards for a session that lasted long into the night.
At some point, well into proceedings, there was a phone call to the pub from an Irish selector, who informed the proprietor, Dermot ‘Starry’ Crowley, that there was a late withdrawal from the Ireland squad to face France the following weekend, and Keane was needed urgently in Dublin for training the next day.
Keane, by his own admission, had been ‘hoovering porter’ all night and, as frantic word of his first international call-up spread around the pub, the giant second row was nowhere to be found.
Shannon’s Brendan Foley, Keane’s good friend and second-row partner with Munster, was made aware of the situation and, in desperation, bellowed out: ‘Mossy! Mossy! You’ve just been called up by Ireland, for f*** sake, don’t drink any more pints!’
Nothing. Then Foley became aware of movement from the hill of coats flung in the corner...Keane’s head popped out. ‘I caaannn’t,’ said Mossy weakly. We have passed the midway point of Ireland’s difficult Six Nations championship but, while we could talk again about why this regime fills us with doubt headtruly ing towards the World Cup in 2023, like Keane all those years ago, we can’t. Enough is enough.
We will deal with the doubts briefly, for the record, and then focus on the positives because Andy Farrell, like Stephen Kenny with the Ireland football team, deserves the chance to turn things around and banish reservations.
Let’s get the negatives out of the way first, Stephen Donnelly-style, by answering our own questions…
Did we think Farrell was the right appointment to lead Ireland to a first World Cup semi-final? No.
Based on relevant pedigree, he was a questionable choice.
Was there a better alternative? Yes. Replicating the Leo CullenStuart Lancaster Leinster success story was the logical way to go.
Does the presence of imports Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Billy Burns et al, ahead of better Irish options, make us want to go and strangle the local urban fox? Reynard better lie low.
Can Farrell salvage the situation in time? Possibly. It is not too late... if he makes the right calls. And so, to the positives. The biggest plus-factor in Farrell’s corner is that the players are there.
The talent levels in Irish rugby at present are at an unprecedented high and, when injury issues surrounding the likes of Joey Carbery, Dan Leavy, Adam Byrne and Caelan Doris clear, they will rise even further.
There has been an air of almost desperate optimism on the back of last weekend’s facile win over a awful Italian outfit but the one unqualified lift from Rome was how well Craig Casey and Ryan Baird took to the international stage.
This was just the type of injection of youthful vigour we have been calling for since Ireland sloped home from the World Cup in Japan 16 months ago, but better late than never.
And now, on the back of that return on investment, there is a compelling argument to repeat it by fast-tracking the likes of Gavin Coombes, Robert Balacoune, Dan Sheehan and a clutch of others.
Suddenly, it is possible to see the makings of a serious, World Cupworthy squad and, though he may be stumbling towards his best team, Farrell deserves credit for the calls he has, however belatedly, got right.
Ronan Kelleher should be nailed on at hooker now, Will Connors is going well at No7, as is Hugo Keenan at full-back and Tadhg Beirne at blindside flanker.
Baird is clearly the best option next to James Ryan in the second row and, while some would see that as harsh on Iain Henderson (as well as challenging the unspoken prerogative to have an Ulster presence in the side), he’s been too inconsistent over the years and the Leinster youngster’s standout talent has to be promoted – just as Ryan’s was when he was coming through at the same age.
Similarly, Casey is the real deal at scrum-half. The Shannon man has the buzzy pass of his childhood hero Peter Stringer with the zippy breaking ability of any number of Welsh scrum-halves such as a Rhys Webb or Gareth Cooper.
Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw are quality, experienced operators in midfield, with age still on their side, and while the Lowe experiment needs to be shelved, there are plenty of back-three options, not least the forgotten Andrew Conway.
Which brings us to the tricky, interminable issue of out-half. Johnny Sexton’s class does not need reiterating and he continues to serve his national team with distinction but his 35 years and one-year deal signed midweek make him, by definition, a short
-term solution.
If Carbery returns to fitness and form and Ireland finally place some trust in Ross Byrne, there will be no fears at 10, with Ben Healy, Harry Byrne and Jack Crowley (game time has to be found for him) pushing behind. The unfortunate Billy Burns should never have been in the mix at this level and needs to be gently moved to one side.
Across the park, there are options everywhere you look and still room for experience when it gets to the gruelling challenge of a World Cup campaign. The England side that succeeded in 2003 had gnarled nous at its core and the likes of Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray could fulfil the same role in 2023.
The other noteworthy positive is Paul O’Connell – Ireland’s set-piece is once again dependable to the point of being taken for granted while the work around the ruck is improving in tandem. There is real ability and variety available to Farrell and his management team and backing it is the best way to alter what has been, up to this point, over one year in, an unconvincing narrative.
So, let’s talk turkey.
What needs to happen for Farrell to dispel doubt and properly bed in for a confident run at 2023?
Well, beating Scotland won’t cut it, not on its own.
The Scots, bless them, are not a worthy yardstick for measuring progress. Capable of brilliance on their day, they are equally liable to implode. They talked the talk at the 2019 World Cup before facing Ireland, and again last December, but flamed out both times and to get to where he purports to go, victory over Scotland next weekend is a non-negotiable for Farrell.
Which brings us to England in the final game.
They are wobbling at present but that is temporary – defeating England would be the elite victory Farrell has not achieved since taking over (and he has been fortunate not to face the southern hemisphere heavyweights in that time).
Even though it would still represent a middling championship overall, three wins on the bounce would be a clarion call for the Farrell regime, immediately dousing those bubbling doubts.
And, to stay on the positive theme, with the players available to Farrell, it is eminently doable.
The alternative – one, or two, more losses – would constitute the worst return since the 2013 Six Nations that did for Declan Kidney. But we won’t go there. We can’t…
‘TO GET IRELAND BACK ON TRACK, VICTORY OVER SCOTLAND IS A NON-NEGOTIABLE’