RUGBY:Players like Paul O'Connell, Stephen Ferris, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble and Rob Kearney would benefit from a few weeks Down Under, writes LIAM TOLAND
FIRST THINGS first: for those uncomfortable with celebrations, check out the caterpillar celebrations from Super Rugby Reds’ Digby Ioane on YouTube.
With the announcement of a batch of galacticos (All Black Luke McAlister, Wallaby Luke Burgess and Springbok prop Gurthro Steenkamp) arriving into Toulouse over the coming months, the thought crossed my mind, and I’m sure that of many others: how can we benefit? Although these multi-cappers are coming at a high price, I’ve mentioned before the value of the loan market in Premiership soccer where players not quite meeting the standard are dropped down a peg, given matches, maintain fitness and enhance confidence for steeper hurdles that lie ahead. Connacht have long been a suitable location. But with Toulouse in the market maybe we can stir farther afield.
The numbers of key Irish rugby world cup starters warming the physio benches around the provinces is growing. Time is swiftly evaporating and players like Paul O’Connell, Stephen Ferris, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble and Rob Kearney need rehabilitation, followed by fitness, then match fitness and finally match practice at top-flight level. With weeks remaining in the season they will not get it in Ireland, so where will they get it?
Nottingham Rugby Football Club, lying fifth in the English Championship (second division) is one such place. Sixty-one-time capped Ali Williams seemed to think so. After nearly two years on the sidelines and a career threatened by an Achilles’ injury, to Williams it was a no brainer.
“Because I have been out of the game so long with injury, I had to get some rugby in before I came back to the top level,” said Williams, adding, “It all depended on the timing and when I would be ready to play and it just so happened that January was the time and through Wayne, Nottingham came up.”
In Williams case, the second division level was key as he’d been away so long. But to our boys there’s huge evidence to suggest a reverse trip to South Africa, Australia or New Zealand would be of huge benefit. The All Blacks continued to honour (pay) Williams’ contract, so it was a nice burden for Nottingham to bear!
Who wouldn’t want O’Connell and Ferris in their pack? The ultimate loan offer. I wonder have the IRFU opened negotiations with other unions, franchises, clubs to house their key personnel in an effort to have them ready by RWC 2011.
Meanwhile, over the weeks my focus has been on Leinster in the Heineken Cup and Munster in the “rebuilding” challenges that lie ahead. As Connacht arrive into Ravenhill, I wonder what of Ulster? Ulster have done extraordinarily well over the past weeks to reach the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup and hunt for the Magners. Their competitiveness has come on leaps and bounds, as has their skill level and general play. They do continue to infuriate when the pressure arrives. This is to be expected in their evolvement as a team, but not within the team and certainly not when Irish players lose out.
Giant Springbok Pedrie Wannenburg is a classic case in point. He is 30, has 20 caps and a glittering Super Rugby career behind him, but he, at number eight, is a massive reason for Ulster struggling under pressure. In both stadium:mk and the RDS Ulster played magnificent rugby, as good as any team. However, as soon as the pressure arrived they creaked and Wannenburg, instead of leading, struggled.
The key difference between Leinster and Ulster was Leinster’s ability to go through the phases, under pressure, make correct decisions and execute accordingly. Ulster made far too many errors and lacked brutal control to balance Ian Humphreys and co.
After Northampton and Leinster on the road, Ulster entertain Connacht at home tonight. It is crucial they continue the confident play, and with Ian Humphreys at 10 this is assured. But more crucial is their ability to enforce their game under pressure against Connacht. I would much prefer Northampton’s Roger Wilson and Neil Best back in Ulster, but in the meantime I think Chris Henry should move to number eight with Willie Faloon welcomed back on the flank.
This brings me to the Reds versus the Bulls from last Saturday’s Super Rugby tie. Like Ulster, the Reds made lots of mistakes, especially with the wet ball. I think back to Munster’s mighty victory over Australia in the wet of Thomond Park. Although not a popular idea, Australia were by far the more technically proficient on show. They just didn’t want to be there. We can learn much from how they approached the technical aspects. Less so the team/commitment aspects.
At outhalf Quade Cooper was simply sensational. Clearly there are vast (physical) differences between him and Humphreys, but there are huge similarities that should be acknowledged and then encouraged. Cooper specialises on the interplay with backs and forwards and floating passes. His offloads are ridiculously good, not to mention his back doors and around the corners. Humphreys continually mimics these plays and they work.
With RWC in sight for Ireland, the Reds laid a marker on how to tackle the toughies. The Bulls are real bullies. So how did the Reds compete? Cooper was key as he generated so much for his pack, which struggled for parity. The Reds can be very individual, especially with their wingers heading off Luke Fitzgerald-style. But their back play is violent in its set-up and employment of decoy runners (similar to Ulster’s). They often send up two decoy runners. They also use a pivot off 10 regardless of shirt number.
Luke Morahan (19), is simply beautiful at fullback. Not quite as balanced as Isa Nacewa but almost French in his lines and pace. The combination of Cooper and Morahan and lots of athletes in between gave the Reds a real chance against the Bulls by running an astronomical 564 metres with the ball in hand.
However, for Ulster the biggest lesson is how the Reds adapted against serious opposition (the Bulls) to poor first-phase play. The stats don’t highlight it, but their lineout was no platform and they had some shockers in the hands. They managed this through Will Genia at scrumhalf timing his pop pass brilliantly. But to achieve it he needed deep options along with the flat receiver. Cooper also kept his athletes running hard.
The final lesson from an Irish point of view (Declan Kidney), the Reds bench was most crucial in soaking up the Bulls physical play while keeping enormous pace on the ball. The Reds were still powering at the end, scoring four of their six tries in the second half.
No doubt O’Connell and co would love a gentle run-out in Super Rugby.
