As we enter a new year it is an appropriate time to look forward, but it is equally important to reflect, especially in the current climate relative to the Ireland team. Looking back does not offer much in the way of comfort for the Ireland team, but if we are to learn from what has gone by, reflection is a necessity.
Ireland played eight matches in 1997, won two and lost six. Losing to France, England and New Zealand could hardly be put in the realm of surprise. All three are infinitely better than Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The loss to Scotland last March, by 38 points to 10, was the product of an appalling performance. In many respects among the worst I have seen in 50 years by Ireland.
Scotland conceded 34 points to Wales, 41 points to England and 47 points to France. Those statistics are a fair reflection of the limitations in the Scotland team. More recent results by the Scots give an even more clear indication of the problems they face.
The defeat by Italy early in January 1997 set the trend in many respects for Ireland. And ending the year by the concession of another 37 points to the Italians in Bologna leaves Ireland with a psychological barrier to break. No doubt the highlight of the year from an Irish perspective was the win over Wales in Cardiff. A feature of that victory was the spirit, resilience and courage shown by the Irish team. Passion and pride will not in themselves win matches, but they are essential elements for Ireland. One of the more depressing aspects of the defeat by the Scots inflicted on Ireland was that there was a spiritual failing in the Ireland team. That was also evident against Italy last January, against England in February and to some degree against Italy last month.
A fortnight ago, once the Italians scored the first of their three tries in Bologna, one could not see Ireland winning the match or even saving it. The win over Canada was very welcome. Right now a win over any opposition is welcome. But it was not the product of a convincing performance and did no more than conceal deficiencies that the Canadians did not have the experience or the talent to expose. The Italians had both and showed a tactical awareness that Ireland lacked. Set-piece possession is not a problem, our ruck possession is too slow and our second phase possession and continuity play are not nearly good enough. These are areas on which Ireland must work. Brian Ashton will be aware of that.
I have stated before that professionalism embraces many elements. Paying people to play does not in itself make them better players. It does give them more time to train and frees them from the daily chores of earning a living outside rugby. But it is not just about money, it is also about attitude. And all aspects of life are conditioned by attitude. This is one of the things among many that Ashton must address as a matter of urgency. It is not without significance that several times last year once teams got in front of Ireland in the second half, there was what amounted to capitulation. That is not acceptable in any circumstances, certainly not from highly paid players.
I have seen many of Ashton's training sessions, I have seen how hard he works. He has a certain concept about the game and the way he wants Ireland to play it. I understand what he is trying to do, but I wonder if the players have the capacity to do it. After the match against Canada Ashton said: "We won, we scored five tries and played some good rugby." True on all three counts. After the match against Italy he could have said, we lost, we scored one try, when the match was effectively decided, we showed astonishing naivety on occasions and we had a totally ineffective back row. I could not agree less with the comments made by the Ireland manager Pat Whelan after the match in Bologna. He stated that there was no real comparison between what the team created in Bologna and the match last January. Apart from a few scrums near the Italian line, one break by David Humphreys and O'Mahony's late try, I am at a loss to know where the chances were created.
In the eight matches Ireland played in 1997, no fewer than 45 players were used. We have had three full backs, we have had five different centre combinations - Mark McCall and Jonathan Bell, Maurice Field and Bell, Field and Kurt McQuilkin; McCall and Robert Henderson and McCall and Kevin Maggs. Seven players have played on the wings. They are James Topping, Dominic Crotty, Denis Hickie, Bell, John McWeeney, Maggs and Darragh O'Mahony. Three different players have filled the out-half berth - Paul Burke, David Humphreys and Eric Elwood. Four players have played at scrum-half - Niall Hogan, Stephen McIvor, Conor McGuinness and Brian O'Meara.
In the pack, we have had three players at loose head, Nick Popplewell, Reg Corrigan and Paul Flavin, three hookers, Keith Wood, Ross Nesdale, and Allan Clarke. Paul Wallace and Peter Clohessy have filled the tight head berths. In the second row, Jeremy Davidson, Paddy Johns, Malcolm O'Kelly and Gabriel Fulcher have all played. Then we come to the back row and we have had six different combinations in eight matches. David Corkery, Anthony Foley and Eric Miller; Corkey, Miller, Denis McBride; Corkery, Ben Cronin, McBride; Eddie Halvey, Miller, Kieron Dawson; David Erskine, Victor Costello, and Dawson, and Erskine, Miller, and Dylan O'Grady.
There had, too, been some positive elements from the match against New Zealand, the performance against Canada was adequate for the needs against mediocrity and the match against Italy made it clear that several on the Ireland team should not be there for the championship.
THE LIONS win in the Test series in South Africa was a splendid achievement and it was great to see four Irishmen on the field at the end of the second Test. Yet again last year, Shannon were the dominant force on the domestic scene.
The performances of Connacht in the European Conference deserve immense commendation and wins by Munster over Harlequins and Bourgoin, Leinster over Leicester and Ulster over Swansea in the European Cup, made one wish that all the provinces could have their players who in England available.
And a few wishes for the new year. That some of the players based in England will return and the indications are firm now that at least four will. That the IRFU will decide to rebuild Lansdowne Road and retain it as Ireland's international ground.
That we will see a reduction of at least four clubs in the first division of the AIB League within two years and that instead of the play-offs for the league title we will see an All-Ireland Cup based on finishing league positions. And that for the first time in over a decade Ireland win the opening match in the Five Nations Championship by beating Scotland.
