RUGBY:The coach can keep faith with last week's expansive game or instead resort to a tailor-made plan to foil the Argentinians, writes LIAM TOLAND
SITTING HERE in the depths of winter and soaking up the wonderful economic news of the week, I couldn’t help but recall the words of my former cadet school officer, Tony Cudmore. We had returned from a particularly hard five days – fighting the Wicklonians in the Aughavannagh area of the Wicklow mountains – wet, hungry, very tired and looking for some well-earned R R. Captain Cudmore had other things on his mind as he announced things would be getting much tougher before they got any easier. Sound familiar?
After international Tests against the Springboks, Samoa and finally the All Blacks one would expect a little R R but, alas, like our economy, times for this Irish team will be getting much tougher before they get easier. Not totally down to the Pumas’ arrival into Dublin and the certain slugfest that’ll follow on Sunday, but because of the decision the Pumas force upon Declan Kidney.
Does he continue on the wonderful road from last week, running simple hard lines involving backs and forwards using the full width of Aviva, teak-tough defence, back three beginning counterattacks or does he try to outfox the Pumas by kicking the corners and mauling the ball to death.
The first will ensure further evolvement but with it a potential loss. Admittedly the French had a very strange-looking team out last weekend but they elected for grunt over grace and simply outkicked the Pumas. What would you do?
Hong Kong’s miracle match between Australia and New Zealand is a moot point for future games because England and, in particular, Argentina play a different game. The south of France was a dour affair full of kicking to touch, to the posts and drop goals. The Pumas’ set piece is unique, especially their front row at scrum time, and their arrival means another huge test for Cian Healy and Seán Cronin. It’ll be very interesting to see the effect on Cronin’s energy levels of the battle.
Argentina’s front row prides itself firstly on the scrummage and then the maul and then the carry. With that in mind, a common-held theme remains that the Puma is a slug. This is partly true of their success in RWC 2007. But it does terrible injustice to their unbelievable achievements in France, beating the French twice in one tournament, an achievement Ireland struggle with once every two years.
It is hardly their fault that this fixture brings the slug out in them and, for that matter, Ireland.
Where I was desperate to see secondrow Brad Thorn last week, I can’t wait to see so many Pumas on Sunday especially front row Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma, Martin Scelzo and secondrow Patricio Albacete. But backrow Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe has been a very special player over the years and is worthy of your attention. In the Sportsground last year for Toulon versus Connacht, Lobbe was the key difference. Their front five possess the best five-metre channel players in the business. They are Toulouse without the fire- power. This style is still beyond us so in many aspects we can learn more from the Pumas than we could (or need to) from the All Blacks.
I see their greatest threat not coming from the lineout and not necessarily from the scrum although it will do damage. It is in the five- metre radius from the ball-carrier that they excel. Look at how old boys Roncero and Ledesma run angles and offload in contact. Add in Contepomi’s gainline offence and they can make serious inroads. My hope for the contest is that Contepomi does himself justice, performs and ignites the fixture beyond the slugfest it has become over the years.
For such an immense servant to Irish rugby, he deserves it. He is carrying the burden of too many days in the trenches fighting for every square inch but he is so comfortable on the gain line. I first witnessed him in the colours of Bristol and like then he played every minute possible inches from contact. Jonny Sexton can learn this aspect of the game from him.
As a fourth Test match in a row, the Pumas also represent the toughest mental test at the end of three very physical tests. I was in the south of France for RWC and witnessed the tribal performances which were immense. Although aging, their front five, when at their best, manage the type of front-foot rugby that world rugby can learn from.
To counter the Pumas will require more mental than physical strength. There are changes to the starting 15 which will stunt the advance from last week. But then Seán Cronin will be starting. He remains the best front five carrier and needs constant games at international level to find his way in the set piece but it will also afford his team-mates the opportunity to settle into his style around the ball.
Devin Toner should also start or indeed a total recall for Leo Cullen. Mick O’Driscoll had his best game for Ireland last week and, at 32, is continually improving but personally I’d go with youth and Seán O’Brien.
I’m sure you’ve spotted a common theme over the weeks and Kidney’s greatest statement of intent for this Autumn Series is Sunday’s fullback and his subsequent number 15 when all are available. Rugby has the potential to become a very exciting game but only if Kidney finds the balance at 15. Ica Nacewa is still my first-choice 15 in Ireland and with the new ambitious refereeing Geordan Murphy is hovering close.
So where can we find a hybrid of the two? Kearney can do it but needs to embrace the advances. Luke Fitzgerald could too. Youngsters Andrew Conway from Leinster or Jamie Smith from Ulster may have it. Keith Earls, although nervous last week, has the attack to ignite the day.
Sunday could involve focusing on getting the result and not the performance. With it we should be patient as long as Kidney gets back on track for the Six Nations.
P.S. The highlight of our trip into Aughavannagh was Lugnaquillia which at 925m is Wicklow’s highest mountain. Small by anyone’s standards but made a tad tougher by carrying enough weight to shame a donkey, including a pick axe and of course donned in army-issued gas mask.
