Planet Rugby readers are never short of an opinion and our mail box is seldom empty. This week, one of our readers questions the wisdom of Declan Kidney's selection policy.
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Win or bust for Kidney?
By Rory McGimpsey
Ireland coach Declan Kidney has at last revealed his hand for Saturday's Six Nations curtain raiser at the Millennium Stadium.
Bearing in mind Ireland's fairly mediocre record in recent championships, this season's campaign is of cataclysmic significance for Kidney's tenure as coach. Put in stark terms: failure during this season's Six Nations would surely signal the end of Kidney's five-year reign as national supremo. And for those of us who follow Ireland's progress with expectation, the early signs are ominous.
In recent seasons, Kidney has developed a reputation as a conservative and pragmatic coach. The overriding feeling within Irish rugby is that in terms of both team selection and performance, the Cork man has tended to err on the side of caution.
While this ethos was initially successful; delivering two Heineken Cups for Munster and Ireland's first Grand Slam in 60 years, it is equally apparent that Kidney's conservative philosophy is now an intrinsic part of the current malaise.
What makes this state of affairs all the more frustrating is that for the first time in a decade, Ireland have unearthed some genuine young superstars who have the potential to enrich European rugby for years to come. In Luke Marshall, Simon Zebo, Cian Healy, and Craig Gilroy, we can witness an emerging generation who possess not only supreme talent, but also a big-game mentality that epitomises the fearlessness of youth.
In this transition season for Irish rugby, which could herald the international retirement of Brian O'Driscoll, the time was surely right for Kidney to roll the dice and give youth its chance. What did we get instead? More of the same: conservatism galore.
Let's start with the backline. While it is fantastic to see the return of Rob Kearney to international rugby, and the merited selection of young tyros Gilroy and Zebo, it is monumentally depressing to see Gordon D'Arcy togging out again at inside-centre. D'Arcy was arguably never a natural in the role in any case, but given his lacklustre performances in recent years, it is utterly depressing to see him occupy the position.
The injured Luke Marshall represents what a dynamic, modern number 12 should typify, but even the experienced Paddy Wallace would have been a better option for this opening encounter. The predicament is even more galling in the replacements, where Ronan O'Gara again provides fly-half cover. ROG has been a magnificent servant to Irish rugby for many years, but how can young starlets such as Ian Madigan and Paddy Jackson gain the requisite experience when the ancient O'Gara clings onto his place in the squad?
There are some equally bemusing selections in the forwards. How Peter O'Mahony can keep Chris Henry out of the back row is a source of complete bewilderment. O'Mahony is a promising prospect, but Henry has been an open-side sensation in Europe this season.
Against a poacher as accomplished as Sam Warburton, the expedient route would have been to select Henry alongside Sean O'Brien. Although it is heartening to see Declan FitzPatrick occupy the reserve tighthead spot, I fail to see how Dave Kilcoyne can be chosen ahead of Tom Court.
Court has been one of the most destructive loose-heads in Europe this season, annihilating virtually every prop he has some into contact with. His regal form should, at the very least, have been rewarded with a place on the bench. I would also love to have seen young Iain Henderson or Devin Toner preferred to veteran second-row, Donnacha O'Callaghan among the reserves.
Balancing the twin objectives of Six Nations' competitiveness and building for the World Cup is never an easy task, but it is hard to resist the conclusion that Kidney has got the chemistry wrong.
With his position openly being called into question, the moment was rife for Kidney to experiment. Give youth a chance; is all we are saying. Regain the equilibrium, and Ireland could be embarking on a new era driven by its talented youngsters. Get it wrong, however, and it will definitely be adios for Mr Kidney.
Comments
99call says...
Stagg I dont like the song anymore that you do but getting rid of it isnt going to suddenly change years of history and make those ulster players who dont want to sing it suddenly break into a chorus of the soldiers song.
i have no issue with it never being sung again but you cant go against peoples beliefs whatever they may be, Im a proud ulsterman and irishman but I wont be dictated to by anyone as to how i show that and I certainly wont "get on the same page" which is the statement of a child
Posted 16:16 01st February 2013
stag says...
99call - Strauss is proud to play for Ireland and all that it involves. Taking a leaf out of his book would be the most progressive step of all. Apart from a small minority in the most north easterly corner of the island, Irish rugby supporters are tired of cringing their way through another pitiful rendition of Ireland's Call. It's gonna be axed someday, might aswell get the ball rolling now.
Posted 14:36 01st February 2013
99call says...
Stag what exactly are you on about????? you think telling ulster players to "get on the same page" as a south african who has decided to learn the national anthem is OK and it would be that simple
Or maybe it is all the history and peace processes were a total waste of time all we need is you mate coming up and telling us all to "get on the same page"
I must email Bill Clinton as Im sure your revelation in getting national harmony would be of use to him next time he's in the Gazza strip
Do us all a favour and crawl back under your rock
Posted 14:03 01st February 2013
stag says...
Ireland's call is the biggest travesty of all. You ulster boys need to get on the same page as Richardt Strauss and learn the anthem and save us all the shame of Phil Coulter's contrived mess.
Posted 12:46 01st February 2013
99call says...
Stag we all know you were your red shirt under your green one as thats more important to you, as much as I may not agree with everything in this article there are some fair points and to call an ulsterman one eyed coming from, what I presume is a munsterman with a name like stag, is bordering on the ridiculous.
You sound like the Llanelli boys in wales every year they hark on about how they beat the all blacks and therefore they must be the best side and the national side must be mostly made up of their players, same thing comes from some munstermen.
The one thing you are going to have to get used to in the next few years is that ulster will be supplying more and more players for the national side with the likes of Best, Ferris, Bowe, Henderson, Henry, Luke Marshall, Gilroy, Paddy McAllister(when he gets fit again) and Jackson all playing a role in the future of irish rugby
And as for Irelands Call you dont want to start that arguement on here do you?????
Posted 10:52 01st February 2013
Stag says...
This guy only leaves Belfast for Ireland matches & love ulster parades in dublin. Ridiculous ulster gibberish. I've seen these types in landsdowne many times over the years. When chris Henry is brought on after 73 minutes they'll celebrate like a try has been scored. Other moments to savour will be a Craig gilroy linebreak and a Rory best choke tackle. Anything else is just a sideshow for the one eyed ulster boys. And they are also responsible for Ireland's call.
Posted 21:56 31st January 2013
RoryMcGimpsey says...
Thanks guys. My point is not concerned with the province players hail from. I don't care where a player originates, as long as the team is performing well. The primary concern of the coach, however, should be to pick the best players and I don't think Declan has accomplished that in this squad. But that's just my opinion. I'm a big admirer of Kidney, but I think he has a made a few wrong calls here. By the way, I think Henderson should be on the bench as back row cover!
Posted 21:24 31st January 2013
RoryMcGimpsey says...
Thanks guys. My point is not concerned with the province players hail from. I don't care where a player originates, as long as the team is performing well. The primary concern of the coach, however, should be to pick the best players and I don't think Declan has accomplished that in this squad. But that's just my opinion. I'm a big admirer of Kidney, but I think he has a made a few wrong calls here. By the way, I think Henderson should be on the bench as back row cover!
Posted 21:23 31st January 2013
scrumdog says...
Donnaca O'Callaghan is back in form as is D'Arcy, both playing very well and deserve to be in the match day squad. Paddy Wallace is a brave player but not a test level player. The other selections you mentioned I'm in agreement, particularly with regards to O'Mahony and O'Gara who will hopefully remain on the bench!
Posted 16:41 31st January 2013
99call says...
The only irishman capable of doing the job after Kidney is O'Shea but I would still rather have an outsider for the next coach
We are going into a transition period with many of the golden generation retiring over the next couple of years so personnally Id like to see someone with no provincial alliances at all who can look at the young talent in the 4 provinces and bring these kids forward no matter what part of the country they're from
Look at what Gatland did in his first season in Wales, the first team he picked was 14 Ospreys plus Martyn Williams, everyone looked on in amazement and asked how he could do that, he could do it becasue he had no club ties and actually picked the best 15 players in wales at that time no matter where they played and he was right. A welsh coach couldnt have done that as he would have been called biased towards a particular side.
So each province has an amount of top players and we all think our boys are the best and cant understand how that Munsterman Kidney cant see our point of view, tell me would we be that animated if we couldnt blame a coaches selection policies on where he was born, coached or played???????????
Posted 16:23 31st January 2013
lawynd says...
I can't comment on the article itself, but what about Conor O'Shea, 99call? A Limerick man who played for Leinster but has done all of his coaching in England?
Posted 13:40 31st January 2013
Kevin83 says...
99call:
"Lets just hope the next coach is not an irishman as then we can get rid of the provincial bias rubbish"
I really hope the next Irish Coach is an Irishman by the name of Conor O'Shea
Posted 13:21 31st January 2013
corkoptimist says...
Was this the only letter sent in this week?!
How can you call for Kidney to pick youth over experience in one breadth and then complain that he's picked O'Mahony and Kilcoyne over Henry and Court in the next while also barely acknowledging the brave call of picking Zebo and Gilroy when it would have been so easy for him to pick a combo of Earls, Trimble, Fitzgerald and McFadden. Of the 4 young unearthed superstars you've mentioned 3 are in the team and 1 is injured.
D'arcy arguably never a natural 12?! I think 6 nations player of the year award, another 6 nations player of the year nomination , a world player of the year nomination and 2 Lions Tours would say otherwise! D'arcy is a legend, who yes is past his best but he owns that 12 jersey until someone takes it off him (which nobody has managed to do yet and that's not Kidney's fault) and you're having a laugh even mentioning Paddy Wallace's name!
O'Callaghan is having a great season, Toner will never be up to it and with back row cover already on the bench as 99call says Henderson is a bit light yet to be covering the second row (he'll get his chance)
Posted 13:00 31st January 2013
3in4 says...
Can't believe I wasted 5 minutes of my life reading this. When the guy wrote that Paddy Wallace is a better option than Darcy, I kind of lost the will to live.
Posted 12:26 31st January 2013
Kid_Diablo says...
call me paranoid but i suspect o'gara will keep getting picked until o'driscoll retires, he has about 6 caps more than o'driscoll ( only because bod missed quite a few games through injury )and i think kidney would like the honour of most capped irishman to be held by a munsterman for many years to come.
i think it explains why o'gara gets capped for the last 5 mins of every game.
Posted 12:16 31st January 2013
12Counties says...
I thought these letter of the week posts were reserved for someone with something interesting to say that perhaps most of us hadn't considered before? This is just the ramblings of an Ulster fan, sometimes right, sometimes wrong, no different or more insightful than any commentator on any piece on this site.
The 6 nations is the only tournament Ireland enter at present, that they have a realistic chance of winning, and even then we can only win it in odd number ending years. So this is certainly no time to be throwing out caps to whoever shows a bit of potential, I want Ireland to win this tournament, same as the players, same as the coaches. Paddy Jackson off the bench for 15 minutes in high stake games, is not the way to achieve this. If he or Ian Madigan for that matter were knocking down the door with their provincial displays and putting pressure on Sexton I'd understand it. But they're not. Neither is Rog granted, but hes been there done that, and i'd rather him coming on for 15 minutes at end of a tight game than any other 10 in Ireland at present. If these young 10's were doing it at provincial level Rog would just go away. Chris Henry, fine player that he is, seems to have turned into Richie McCaw in the last week in some peoples minds. Hes now a ground hog extrordinaire and the answer to all our problems, possibly on the back of a Rugby Club clip on sky showing him turning over ball once or twice against Castre. I just don't see it, hes a good player and deserving of spot on bench but maybe coaches are planning to keep ball alive to negate rucks and potential turnovers? Why bother with poachers then? Ireland have played without one since Gleeson and have had good results. Tom Court, i'll give you, should be on bench. Kilcoyne good but very similar to Healy. Henderson needs to fill out, too lightweight still for 2nd Row, too slow for backrow. Toner? Ah here
Posted 12:16 31st January 2013
melkdave says...
Have to agree with all the posters gripes .ROG shouldnt be near the 1st team squad imo,with such talants as Jackson,Maddigan,available now,and Keitly and Hallaoran coming though at breakneck speed.As for D'Arcy well virtually every poster thinks his been total crap for years ,and should have gone in 2010 L.Marshall i hope will finally see him off in the summer .Hell id even play J.Sexton at 12 now and Jackson /Maddigan at 10that imois a hell of alot better than Ireland playing D'Arcy at 12..C.Henry should be starting thats a no brainier for everyone it seems but for dear DK. and I.Henderson on the bench.Then we come to the lock positions if POC was fit he would start imo.Myself id prefer him to be the impact player,the posistion DOC seems to be trying to fill.I would have D.Ryan and R.Caldwell as my locks and POC on the bench.at least for this season.Also T.Court does seem very unlucky not to be in the 23,The England match will make or break it for D.Kidney imo,Lose and his out ,win and he may yet survie ,given that the IRFU is just as conservative,and loath to dismiss coaches if their irish that is .Still feel sacking W.Gatland all those years ago,was a big mistake,and put irish rugby back 10 yrs
Posted 12:13 31st January 2013
99call says...
Sorry mate you dont have a clue, you're ulster bias is just bordering on the ridiculous and Im and ulsterman
Paddy Wallace shouldnt even be mentioned in the international scene now, Luke Marshall is the natural replacement for Darcy but hes not fit so Darcy, who is playing well, is the only option at 12 and before the munstermen jump in you can leave that cart horse Downey back in cork.
Yes we all agree that Henry should have been in there but hes on the bench so thats fine, you of all people should see that Henderson is not ready for international second row play hes not big enough yet, thats been obvious when hes played there for us hes been bypassed by Stevenson and McComb as Anscombe can see that the pack is too lightweight when hes in the engine room. Henderson will be a stalwart of irish 2nd row play for years to come but not yet.
Court or Kilcoyne is open for debate granted Court has been playing well but so has Kilcoyne and he offers alot more mobility around the park.
Kidneys gone for the new talent in Gilroy and Zebo so lets see how that works out, personnaly i thought he would revert to type and put Earls in there but hes made the tough and right decision based on who is playing well.
Kidney needs to win the championship to get his contracted renewed which is possible but it will be hard work so I do think we'll have new coach for next year to take us into the RWC and even if we do win I think its time for change and some new ideas.
Lets just hope the next coach is not an irishman as then we can get rid of the provincial bias rubbish
Posted 11:55 31st January 2013