The economy and Leinster are in trouble but, with the right attitude, can rise again, writes Liam Toland
'WELL, WOULD you take Leinster at 6 to 1 now?" A Munster supporter shouted to me. This of course was in the Shannon RFC clubhouse immediately after the Munster victory over Clermont. "Not at 600 to 1," I replied!
I know we were to discuss the ELV homework from last week, but as I sit here listening to drive-time radio, depression is slowly sinking in. I'm sick of it, the negative talk. When are we all going to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and diving for cover as Leinster did last week? Complaints of a seven per cent drop in retail shopping from last year are ringing in my ears.
A mate told me about a 50 per cent sale in an exclusive men's shop some time back. I resisted, saying "half of too expensive is still too expensive!" So seven per cent doesn't sound too bad to me. CDs are down a whopping 40 per cent over the last five years, and how did they react? Bouncebackability, inventiveness and a belief in their product allowed the music industry to survive, albeit in a different guise.
I'm sick to the teeth of all the nay-sayers. We know the economy is in trouble and we know Leinster were terrible but, with the right attitude, both can rise again. Where once there was the glass half empty, half full brigade now there's the glass is smashed all over the floor and unfixable. I'm sick of it. In sport, if our players reacted like our national leaders, we'd win nothing. If Munster reacted like that Clermont would have beaten them and they'd be out of Europe.
Munster refused to accept their fate and in eight minutes changed their course through a common need. Like many successful football/hurling teams in the wide expanses of Croke Park, where words are useless, the Munster team communicate through the medium of a stare.
With eight minutes left on the clock the luxury of debating is long gone. With minutes remaining and the score in Clermont's favour I was in the terrace within touching distance of the Munster players. They weren't talking but the message was loud and clear, one clear goal, one purpose. The energy was extraordinary. But no real talk. Jerry Flannery, exhausted, looked at Donncha O'Callaghan and in an instant both knew what to do next.
Clermont have been the best rugby team in Europe over the past two seasons and deserve more but Munster want it more.
The beauty for Leinster is there's no doubt in my mind they'll qualify, and they'll do so by beating Wasps. Like in any crisis, true characters come to the fore. Reputations cannot be tolerated. Leinster are not a team of world class players, because true class steps up when the pressure is at its most intense. Leinster are not void of leaders, they simply don't know how to look each other in the eye and demand the best.
With yesterday's Government visit to Dublin Castle in mind I'm conscious of a former instructor in the Cadet School who would tell us, 'don't bring me your problems, only your solutions'. So to him and you I give you these four solutions.
Firstly, obvious leadership issues persist. Leinster's lineout last weekend was telling. Who was calling them? The lineout general must be a supreme tactician, selfish to the needs of many and totally focused on the result. Time and again we've witnessed fixtures lost on a single lineout.
In Old Crescent a number of years ago the All Black legend second row Ian Jones taught me a valuable lesson about lineout play. For about 30 minutes in the dark of winter we persisted with inventing a brilliant lineout with every throw. Then Jones spoke, "KISS", keep it simple stupid. If you have a lineout specialist, like Devon Toner that stands 6ft 10 inches then why not throw to him every time?
Who cares how often? To see Bernard Jackman, at 6ft tall, a full 10 inches shorter than Toner, trying to overthrow him to the tail at critical times was bad lineout management. So if Toner's on the pitch, throw to him, especially when ball retention is key. If Mal O'Kelly, at 6ft 7in, lifts Toner and both extend their arms, he will be at 15ft. It's simple maths, who will out-jump that?
Secondly, there aren't too many city boys (narrow backs), but if Leinster are scratching around for tough country boys to stiffen their resolve they have failed to see the rich pickings available under their nose. Leinster is wrongly accused of being a Dublin 2 club, which is understandable but inaccurate. However, they have traditionally failed to tap the resources of counties Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow, and particularly Meath, all with rich sporting tapestry of GAA.
The amount of Tomás O'Learys togging out each week in Meath and beyond is staggering. Niall Ronan, a Munster hero from the All Blacks and Clermont fixtures is a Meath minor. Have Leinster actively searched for the next Shane Horgan? Jim Glennon can claim the connection there but how often has Michael Cheika ventured out to the wilds of Meath to watch a minor football match? There are tons of Michael Galweys out there dying for a shot at professional sport.
Thirdly, Leinster require swift retribution. Even Rudolph W Giuliani's three-strike rule is too forgiving. Immediate culling is required.
Clearly there's room for backline accuracy and control of the ball in contact but my last solution is the source of the higher gear. Players must accept they can't debate their way out of a poor performance or worse still, wait for a "leader". When up against it and in need of a new gear, each player should "get out there and create mayhem".
