I have been watching, half-amused, half-irritated, at the manouevrings of the good and great of Irish rugby journalism over the past few months, as another thoroughly undistinguished 6 Nations campaign is immediately followed up by another top-notch league and cup campaign by Leinster, the source of the core of the Irish team (with decent supporting role performances by Ulster and even Munster, despite their drop-off at the end of the season).
How does one explain away the fact that the Irish (particularly Leinster) players go from confidently swaggering around the upper reaches of European elite rugby, to plodding uncertainly for the international side? Without necessarily entering into an actual critique of Declan Kidney & Co, let’s exmaine the common ‘explanations’ proffered by Hugh, Gerry et al.
1: Club Success Doesn’t Automatically Mean International Success! D’uh!
We’ve all seen this commonly recited, often in the context of a sympathetic piece about Declan Kidney’s ‘predicament’ – the poor guy, give him a break, it’s not that easy for Pete’s sake!
The problem with this is that it is an observation – not an explanation. Success at elite club level doesn’t automatically lead to success at international level – that is an accurate observation of the experience of Irish rugby over the last 3 years. The real question is this: is consistent and ongoing success at elite level for one or more domestic club sides, all other things being equal, a benefit for the international team? Does anyone fancy making the counter-argument to that proposition?
Of course, club success does not automatically translate into international success – that requires good international coaches, to integrate the players from different teams, come up with appropriate gameplans and systems, and to pick the right players. (Now I have said that I will leave aside for the moment an actual critique – but imagine if you will a long and meaningful pause at the end of that last sentence).
2. Yes But Joe Schmidt Gets To Train With His Players Every Day! Come On!!
This again is an accurate observation. It is also an utter red herring. The point here is that all international coaches are in the same position – not just the Irish coach.
Where the Irish coach’s position does differ to the coach of many an other international side, is that: (a) the IRFU, more than perhaps any other union due to central contracting, has the ability to interfere throughout the season, influencing game-time and selections, among other things, for the international players; (b) linked to the first ‘explanation’, the Irish coach is in the enviable position of having, generally speaking, superbly conditioned, excellently coached winners served up to him.
In other words, the starting position for the Irish coach is actually favourable to that of his peers, with regular squad meetings, generous release requirements, and successful players sent up from successful clubs, where they have not been over-played. (Again, imagine the long and meaningful pause).
3. International Rugby Is A Huge Step-up From Club Rugby! Keep Up!!
I must say I love this particular gem – ostensibly it seems self-evident, and maybe there’s something to it? Well not quite.
The point here is that, even if this is true – and I say ‘if’ because while I think there is a gap in intensity between club and international rugby, I think it is diminishing all the time, and will continue to do so as the elite club game evolves – once again this step-up is faced by all international players, not just Irish ones. So for example, when Ireland play Wales, for all that the Irish players may be experiencing a marked increase in intensity , the same is presumably true for the Welsh players.
And further, to hark back to ‘explanation’ 1, surely the step-up to international levels of intensity will be less for players who are used to beating the best sides in Europe home and away, and winning Heineken Cups in front of huge crowds, as compared to players for unsuccessful sides? (Long and meaningful etc).
4. Ireland Just Doesn’t Have The Player Numbers! For Goodness’ Sake!!
This cop-out is one of my pet hates. Firstly, if player numbers determined international success, then not only Ireland, but New Zealand, Wales and Australia should all just pack it in, and leave international rugby to France, South Africa and England.
Secondly, Ireland doesn’t have uniquely few players. In fact in terms of elite player numbers and configuration of the domestic game, Ireland is very close to Australia, and has access to more elite players than, among others, Wales, Scotland, Argentina and Italy.
I certainly think that widening the elite player base is an important strategic consideration for the IRFU – but as things stand, four professional clubs with academies and sub-academy structures puts Ireland on a perfectly sound footing.
Stay Tuned For Occam’s Razor…
Corrections, comments or questions?