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Ireland in need of a Kidney transplant
By Robert Mulhern
IF failing privately is a sobering experience then failing publicly must
be a thumping one. A coach puts himself into these positions though, dodging
the bats and accepting bouquets as part of the job.
The Ireland coach doesn’t need to worry about tripping over any
bouquets right now. His shattered demeanour in the post-match interview
was more telling than all the excuses. When you’re convinced of
your own genius the fall is always going to be that bit heavier.
In time the coach may reflect on why he failed to harness and transfer
the form of Munster to the international stage.
He may look to England who previously won Championships when buying into
the mighty forward ethos of Leicester.
He may peer down south and reason that New Zealand did likewise with Super
12 — winning Auckland back in the late ’90s. And even this
year Warren Gatland — not yet wise to the Welsh ways — set
the dragon on its way via a Neath Swansea Ospreys embrace.
Ireland weren’t close to mirroring the best of Munster on Saturday.
The players gave their manager 20 minutes of trust and loyalty which they
failed to convert on the scoreboard. Then the contest, our hopes and the
Championship perished one after the other.
When a great team comes along you embrace the best it has to offer. You
buy into the players’ ethos, the management ideology and complement
with like-minded staff and a like-minded philosophy. You don’t prod
a team to success, you steer them.
I’m tired of all the articles which attempt to define our rugby
manager and his team. It’s simple: He is a good coach but he’s
just been around this team for too long.
This group of players are in desperate need of new ideas, a different
approach and a plan that suits their style. It’s time for a Kidney
transplant from Munster to Ireland.
With the right manager it’s not too late for this group of players
to succeed where their current coach has failed them. Their talent and
expression just needs to be steered and coaxed in the right direction.
Looking forward, Wales aren’t all that, France are clearly building
for the future while England, Scotland and Italy are short on both quality
and leadership.
The most disappointing aspect of the above assertion is that we’ve
failed to capitalise on our opponents’ lack of quality.
Ireland has had a more talented and settled group of players in comparison.
Sure there have been moments of greatness, moments and matches soon followed
by excuses and underachievement.
We’re tired of this team’s inability to conquer the Championship.
Tired of reading about the reasons behind the failure. Tired of all the
excuses.
It’s time for someone like Declan Kidney to come in, someone who
will develop the right ethos for this set of players. The same way England
embraced Leicester and New Zealand embraced Auckland.
Then Ireland and their coach might deliver the Championship. Succeeding
publicly under a shower of bouquets. |
