Union inflexibility and provincial self-interest are hindering player movement and the development of young Irish talent, writes Gerry Thornley

IF NOTHING else, the recent 67-7 defeat of Ireland A by their Scots counterparts appears to have set off alarm bells and may even have concentrated a few minds. No disrespect to the Scots, but whereas a defeat on such a scale to one of the Southern Hemisphere big three or even France or England could have been deemed acceptable, this certainly was not.

Despite the loss to England that preceded it, the defence had been pretty good after productive work in that department in the week building up to the game. The change in emphasis in preparation for the Scottish game meant defence was neglected, and when players began falling off tackles the system gradually broke down, not helped by yellow cards reducing Ireland to 13 men at one point.

While it was a distressingly poor performance for all involved, there had been mitigating circumstances. A raft of changes and Eddie O'Sullivan's selection led to an experimental policy designed, in some instances, to give players match practice as more obvious "second string" players such as Leo Cullen, Alan Quinlan, Keith Gleeson and Shane Jennings were overlooked. It's also true that O'Sullivan had no option but to select several players who had not been starting regularly for their provinces.

In the ensuing fall-out, O'Sullivan has pointed the finger at the provinces and the plethora of foreign, or non-qualified Irish players in their ranks, although the director of rugby, Eddie Wigglesworth, maintained the union were not especially concerned by their number and the all-powerful Players' Advisory Group were on top of this issue.

Blaming Johnny Foreigner looks like far too easy an answer. If indigenous players are not deemed good enough by their provincial coaches to nail down positions then, frankly, that's not Johnny Foreigner's fault. Places in provincial teams, be it for Magners League or Heineken Cup, and therefore by extension in Ireland A, should be earned, not handed down by dint of the colour of a passport.

If a raft of home-grown players are not getting sufficient provincial rugby then, ironically, it is in part the fault of the IRFU and especially the fault of the PAG, of which, in a further irony, both Eddies are members.

The PAG also consists of Ulster's Neilly Jackson, as chairman, Munster's Pa Whelan and Leinster's John Hussey.

Needless to say, there is no Connacht representation. Yet if Connacht were properly used as the development province they have been pigeon-holed as, many of the talented young players marooned in provincial academies and destined to play mostly club games and matches for their provincial A sides would instead be directed to them.

Roy Keane recently spoke of perhaps lending Anthony Stokes to a championship club, which is how Arsène Wenger ensures some of those young players on the fringes of his first-team squad are given valuable match practice. Yet such a notion seems anathema to the three big provinces and the PAG.

Take, as one of many possible examples, the talented centre Keith Earls. Still without any game time for Munster, yet selected on the bench against Scotland A, Earls is by first inclination and ability a centre now being employed mostly on the wing.

With Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi, Kieran Lewis and Barry Murphy blocking his way, wouldn't the former Irish under-21 star be far better employed as a centre with Connacht, who also look like they need a bit more cutting edge in midfield?

Munster could lend him out for one or, preferably, two seasons and as Connacht are playing the same opposition as the other provinces in the Magners League and strong but much underrated opposition in the European Challenge Cup, one could only deduce that the player, Connacht, Irish rugby and ultimately Munster would benefit. Indeed, arguably Murphy and/or Lewis would be better off at Connacht this season.

Other players could potentially fall into this category, such as the Munster loosehead Darragh Hurley - who started against Scotland A despite having made only one start and four appearances off the bench for Munster this season - Denis Hurley, Donnacha Ryan (fourth choice in Munster, where he has made five starts this season) and hooker Denis Fogarty.

The latter was one of the outstanding talents on the Ireland team that made the Under-21 World Cup final against New Zealand four years ago, yet in five seasons has made just 11 competitive starts for Munster.

Leinster have a raft of backs who might now be better off "on loan" to Connacht, namely Fionn Carr, Felix Jones, the highly talented centre Eoin O'Malley and outhalf Ian Keatley. And perhaps throw Devin Toner and Kevin McLoughlin into this category.

Of course, as long as Connacht are perceived as a threat to the other three provinces in terms of qualifying for the Heineken Cup, the IRFU and its PAG are to a degree operating at cross purposes.

And this is one of the problems this column and many within the provinces have with the PAG: that it is open to charges of being politically influenced. Its operations are also not nearly transparent enough. For example, one hears stories of players whose moves were blocked by the PAG, but "don't print that". Why not? Why shouldn't the PAG be more open about their decision-making process?

We've been down this road before as well though, for the failure to properly utilise the system dates back, at least, to when Matt Williams was Leinster coach and sought to bring Jeremy Staunton and Paddy Wallace from Munster and Ulster but was prevented from doing so. Neither player was encouraged to move, yet this left Williams with no choice but to scour for alternatives from Nathan Spooner to Christian Warner to Eddie Hekenui before eventually settling on Felipe Contepomi. Now we hear Leinster have a duty to play Johnny Sexton ahead of Contepomi? Nonsense, they're actually handling his development well, as they are Cian Healy's.

But all of this clearly suggests the ills of the Irish As in Perth were not the fault of Johnny Foreigner. The solution lies closer to home.

gthornley@irish-times.ie