On Rugby: Some time this week, as is custom after the Six Nations and the November internationals, the IRFU's Appointments Committee will review Ireland's recent three-match autumn campaign with coach Eddie O'Sullivan. They appear to be none too perturbed by recent developments, even thought they should be.
The five people in question charged with analysing the performances of the Irish team and the coach are former Ireland coach Pa Whelan, Ulster's Neilly Jackson (chairman of the representative games' committee), Noel Murphy, the union's director of rugby Eddie Wigglesworth, and the union's CEO, Philip Browne.
They will be reviewing two alarming defeats when conceding 75 points, and a win-at-all-costs selection strategy against a one-dimensional Romanian team which in the long-term, much like the Japanese tour, will be viewed by many as a largely wasted opportunity.
Meanwhile, the heavyweights seem further away than ever, while in stark contrast Wales are playing with inestimably more freedom, skill and enthusiasm despite themselves missing half a dozen or more Lions. Are their players suddenly that much more skilful? Yet one of the above quintet recently spoke to me of the need to provoke change in the schools' game to improve skills, while another spoke of "peaks and troughs, with cycles within cycles, and we have an injury cycle at the moment which is not helping", adding "we're caught between a rock and a hard place in terms of winning matches and developing players."
It could have been O'Sullivan talking.
Their reluctance to effect any regime change at this juncture is understandable, because to do so might be construed as an admission of past mistakes, like granting O'Sullivan a longer contract as assistant coach than the then head coach, Warren Gatland, enjoyed; then replacing Gatland and foisting Declan Kidney on to the ticket as assistant; then extending O'Sullivan's contract on the eve of the 2003 World Cup until the conclusion of the 2007-08 season while not doing so for Kidney.
Those of us who dared to point out the potential repercussions of this strategy were damned, yet the inevitable consequences followed, with Kidney left in limbo and eventually shunted off. Even though O'Sullivan told the world on day one that himself and Kidney were "singing off the same sheet", the word within rugby circles was they didn't actually speak much - never mind sing.
Brian O'Brien and Mike Ford, a huge hit on the Lions' tour who is believed to have wanted more influence offensively as well as defensively, were also let go from the international coaching ticket. A union employee, Ger Carmody, became the new team manager and Graham Steadman the new defensive coach. A long-time friend and ally of O'Sullivan's, Brian McLaughlin, was parachuted in as a full-time skills' coach after a couple of years' involvement with the national squad.
This, despite the coach saying that bridging the skills gap was not his problem in the long-term, even though Ireland's longest-serving coach has been in charge for 49 games and heaven knows how many weeks, and is contracted through to 2008, roughly 77 matches in total by then. If that is to be realised, and realised fruitfully, you get the distinct impression O'Sullivan will have to change his ways, to become more inclusive with fellow coaches who challenge him without being a threat to him, and with the players.
It would be interesting if the aforementioned union officials consulted the players, for the picture emerging is of a rather joyless camp, as evidenced by inhibited performances, lacking spark or spontaneity. Indeed, after a row with O'Sullivan, one player had to be dissuaded by two team-mates from leaving the camp a week or so ago.
It's all very well being a brilliant organiser, with minute attention to detail, and ruling with a rod of iron as one insider puts it, but this is probably where Kidney and O'Brien are missed. Although marginalised when it came to selection or strategy, they were confidants of the players, who could meet them privately on a one-to-one basis.
In the midst of all the excuses doing the rounds - injuries, the opposition, bringing in a new defensive coach, blooding new players, developing a new style - the schools or under-age coaches have been easy targets. It's undoubtedly true that the schools game acts as a law unto itself and the overt emphasis on knock-out competitions mitigates against the development of skills.
To the frustration of many in the union's coaching structure, or under-19 level, the clubs and others, the schools game can often be distinctly non co-operative. But the schools didn't stop one of the richest crop of players Ireland has ever had to emerge on the Irish provincial/Test scene around the turn of the millennium.
One of the most repeated arguments for there being no regime change is that there are no alternatives. This is nonsense, though the main reasons for this appear to be more to do with politics than with coaching. Kidney, after all, has had six full seasons in charge of provincials sides, and is now in his seventh, twice taking Munster to the final of the Heineken European Cup.
Alas, his credentials appear to be damaged within IRFU circles for his desire to leave Leinster and return to Munster, and thereby upset the union's plans for Michael Bradley to return to his native province and another indigenous coach to take over Connacht. Nor, it has to be said, did one of Brian O'Driscoll's entries in his diary portray Kidney in a good light.
Failing that, what would be wrong with Bradley himself? True, he hasn't coached an Irish province in the European Cup. But how imperative is that? A 40-times capped, former Irish captain, he has been coaching for many years, and for the last four years or so has been on the professional circuit with the Irish under-21s, the Irish As and Connacht, where he has done well on a shoestring budget.
Failing that, the union could always look abroad to someone like Pat Howard. Either way, there are options out there. This Irish team doesn't have to continue like this.
gthornley@irish-times.ie
