A chara, - I am glad that debate has at last been joined on the all-important question of Ireland's goal-kicker in international rugby matches. No rugby team has won anything without a successful goal-kicker, whether South Africa in the last World Cup (Joel Stransky), Shannon in the All-Ireland League, especially in the semi-final and final against St Mary's and Garryowen in 1998 (Andrew Thompson), and Ulster in the European Cup (Simon Mason). It is doubtful whether the victories of Shannon and Ulster could have been achieved with anything less than the success ratios of 100 per cent that were produced by their respective goalkickers. In Ireland's last five successive defeats in the Five Nations Championship (all of them by narrow margins) there have in each of them been shortcomings in goal-kicking, and certainly nothing like a 100 per cent return. This failure has been highlighted and made worse by the dominance of Ireland's forwards in these matches, for it is the forward domination that has set up the goal-kicking opportunities. Indeed, in the match against Wales at Lansdowne Road last year there was such a failure in decision-making on the field that simple penalty opportunities were spurned in the vain hope of securing five or seven points instead of three.
The argument for goal-kicking is, however, a radical argument, not a mere preference. Ireland (indeed any team) needs not a goalkicker, but the best goal-kicker, the man who can win matches when a penalty kick is the difference between victory and defeat, as it was for both sides on February 6th at Lansdowne Road. When such a situation arises again (and sooner or later it will) we need to know that the responsibility falls on the best goal-kicker in Ireland, whoever that may be. And I would select that player without hesitation. If it is Elwood or Humphreys, well and good. If not, not so good. The Irish Times might do us a favour by drawing up a list of Irish goal-kickers in order of excellence. The first three in my list would be: 1, Simon Mason (Ballymena). 2, Andrew Thompson (Shannon). 3, Niall Woods (London Irish).
I am surprised at the lack of recognition of Andrew Thompson, and I can only suppose it is because he plays for an unfashionable club. Like everyone else I stand subject to correction. But against Ireland at Wembley on February 20th Wales will put out Neil Jenkins. I need hardly remind readers of The Irish Times about him. He kicked the Lions to victory in South Africa (aided by that drop-kicking specialist Jeremy Guscott). And he also kicked immaculately at Lansdowne Road last year. Let us hope that he has an off-day at Wembley. - Is mise, Gerald Morgan,
FTCD, Arts Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2.