Journalist and rugby fan Conor Ward offers his thoughts on the Six Nations tournament ahead. Considering all the injuries, things aren’t looking too bad for Ireland… as long as we can get the set pieces right.
Well, it’s Six Nations time again, and thank God for it! Personally, I’m always glad and relieved when it kicks off, as it means January is gone for one thing, and it provides a nice focal point for this time of year, taking up prime retail in my television viewing schedule and providing ample source of conversation when other topics run dry.
And this year it promises to be an entertaining spectacle, probably with more close competitive games than usual. No team looks to be notably superior to the rest, on paper at least.
It’s natural to be optimistic and upbeat about our chances before it all gets underway, though that has certainly been tempered this year by the spate of unfortunate injuries which have frustratingly limited Declan Kidney’s options before a ball’s been kicked in anger.
I imagine his feelings are roughly similar to my own during a recent foray into the local casino – you wonder if you’ll ever catch a break.
At least the opening fixture is not the most arduous of the five, and although you never expect an easy afternoon’s work in Rome, Ireland won quite comfortably on the last two visits. The biggest challenge for our lads this Saturday is to achieve parity (at a minimum) in the physical stakes up front, facing a pack which is always robust and which possesses an appetite of destruction (as a big Guns N’ Roses fan I couldn’t resist that little analogy!). If they can manage that, their superior skill and running game out wide should do the business in the end.
Creaking
Considering all the injuries, the team that lines out does not seem to have too many glaring weaknesses, ostensibly at least. The big pressure is to get the set piece functioning properly, with the creaking scrum as ever being a major cause for concern.
The upside of the injury crisis, if you can call it that (after all it hasn’t led to riots on the streets and the IMF’s services are not required), is of course the opportunity afforded to emerging talent. Kidney’s hand has been forced in the selection of Mike Ross at tight-head prop, but with the struggles of the scrum combined with Ross’s good form for Leinster, it’s just as well that he’s now taken up lodgings in that XXL number 3 jersey.
Likewise in the case of Fergus McFadden, who is given the nod on the wing due to injuries, but had been putting his hand up for some time in any case. With so many regular starters hogging the treatment tables and icepacks, and Luke Fitzgerald reverting to full-back, it is a makeshift back three but still a tasty and promising combination to complement our world class centre pairing.
Given their slump, it is surprising to see six Munster players in the side… Nonetheless, Paul O’Connell’s return is a boost.
Maybe the strength in depth that Kidney keeps talking about is starting to ring true, especially in the back row area. Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris have been two of our outstanding performers for a long time, but if ever we were equipped to cope with their loss, it is now. The case for Sean O’Brien’s inclusion is compelling anyway, with his recent Leinster performances evoking memories of the first time I watched Arnie’s awesome all-action display in Terminator 2 – mighty stuff indeed.
Given their slump, it is surprising to see six Munster players in the side. Based on their respective form this season, one would have thought an Irish selection would be an exercise in getting as many Leinster players as physically possible onto the pitch.
Nonetheless, Paul O’Connell’s return is a boost, Denis Leamy is well able to step into the back row, and it’s also encouraging to see Keith Earls get the chance out wide with his international career yet to really take flight. With all things considered, it still far from the ideal scenario, but I’d expect us to come out on top by 10 or 15.
A youthful English side showing glimpses of flair – for the first in God knows how many years – is worrying, however, and I see them being right in the shake-up come the end of the tournament. Given their vast playing and coaching resources, it was always too much to expect them to stay mired in mediocrity for any longer, much as we had hoped for that.
Who knows what to expect from the French, but with the abundance of talent always at their disposal, and their capacity to cut loose on any given day, I would just about favour them to come out on top overall.
They are bound to experiment with various combinations and fresh faces given the year that’s in it, and French club rugby has been remarkably bereft of its customary panache this season, but I personally won’t be signing up to the “Let’s write off the French” facebook page – if indeed there is one.
They end up winning the competition as often as not and Irish victories over them, home or away, are much rarer than blue moons. If I were a betting man, which I am, then I’d go with them despite the fact they have trips to Dublin and London.
The World Cup of course will be the elephant in the room throughout, at least any room that doesn’t have two work colleagues present in it who “took things onto the physical plane” at the office Christmas party and haven’t broached the subject since. But back on planet rugby, all the coaches – and indeed the supporters – will be sizing things up and seeing how they are fixed for the autumn. The good news for us is that Kidney and Co won’t get too far ahead of themselves and will be going full tilt for optimum results, which gives us a chance.
However, rather like the Caesar salad I’ve just had, for all the positives, it just may not be quite enough.
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