Incoming prop: Michael Bent
Ireland's selection of Taranaki prop Michael Bent has raised plenty of eyebrows over the IRFU's failure to produce quality props locally.
The 26-year-old qualifies for Ireland through his grandmother, and is expected to make his Ireland debut during the upcoming November internationals having not played a single game for his club side, Leinster.
Having Bent 'parachuted' into immediately being selected for his country has once again brought under the spotlight the IRB laws regarding qualification to play Test rugby.
The inclusion of Richardt Strauss in the Ireland squad for this month's internationals was also met with some opposition, despite Strauss having played his club rugby in Ireland for three years with Leinster and in that time winning two Heineken Cups.
Speaking to Newstalk's "Off the Ball" programme last week, former Ireland skipper Keith Wood was explicit in his views regarding Bent's selection.
"It can't be, it can't be that easy to play for Ireland as to get onto a flight and fly into the country. It can't be. I find it wrong," said Wood.
"There is something unpalatable about a guy who hasn't played a game in this country to go and play (for Ireland).
"We know he has played 10 or 11 games (for Taranaki) down in New Zealand and apparently he's good, and all that, but this is playing for your country. It isn't playing for Leinster.
"How in the name of Jesus are we getting to the point where a guy flies into the country and he will play for Ireland?"
Wood's view is not uncommon and the fact is the IRFU's production of quality prop forwards over the last decade has been sub-standard.
For years Ireland mercilessly flogged Marcus Horan and John Hayes due to a lack of quality alternatives, the two Munstermen amassing 172 caps between them.
Now the baton has been passed on to Cian Healy and Mike Ross, although age is not on Ross' side at 32. Healy has been an integral part of Leinster and Ireland's success in recent years and aged 25 has potentially a decade of playing time ahead of him, but without regular competition for his place he will simply burn out.
A series of outstanding foreign props have been brought in by the Irish provinces in recent years - John Afoa, BJ Botha, Nathan White, Wian du Preez and Heinke van der Merwe to name a few - with many operating as starters.
Whilst doing so may have increased the chances of success at club level - four of the last five Heineken Cups have been won by Irish sides - the end result is young Irish talents at both loosehead and tighthead have been denied opportunities.
This was highlighted when Ireland took on England at Twickenham during last year's Six Nations championship. With Mike Ross off injured, Tom Court was found wanting on the tighthead side of the scrum - not his specialist position.
If Ross picked up a long-term injury tomorrow, without Bent the talent is arguably not there to replace him.
That is not to say that Ireland are without prospects. Jamie Hagan, Declan Fitzpatrick and David Kilcoyne all have potential but are far from ready for Test rugby.
With Bent available to play immediately, Ireland cannot turn him down. Wood may not be happy with the circumstances, but the outlay on foreign props and failure to nurture strong depth on both sides of the scrum has forced Ireland's hand.
It all means that according to The Irish Times, Bent could become the first man to play for Ireland without playing a provincial game since Brian O'Driscoll.
By Ben Coles
Comments
Bones7 says...
I think this would be totally different if Bent had even played Super Rugby but the harsh reality is that if he was decent he would have. Ireland are picking a bloke who is not even a standout in the ITM Cup. Maybe he just hasn't had the opportunities he has deserved but to me it seems unlikely to be the case.
Posted 10:07 05th November 2012
passtheball says...
Living overseas I lost count of the number of Irish rugby fans who were happy to aggressively argue that NZ only won because they poached PIs. They learned their "facts" from the UK press who knew better but loved to stir the pot along. Now we see total hypocrisy but I guess the Irish press will want this to die down quickly.
Posted 09:56 05th November 2012
Ferdie says...
I'll support MB all the way and wish the ex Taranaki man every success. Though cannot help but chuckle at the words of Team Manager Mick Kearney in trying to justify MB's Irish heritage/links: ¿His sister Kim was a Rose of Tralee entrant some years back, she plays the tin whistle and now lives in Dublin.¿
Tin whistle? But can she play rugby too? Can we have a picture (though it was only the local RoT comp, not national, and she didn't win . . .
Irish Independent reported: "Leinster put the word out that they were on the look-out for Irish-qualified players operating in the southern hemisphere. Agent Karl Hogan came up with Bent and the rest is history." - that does highlight the problem with lack of local development.
Posted 09:50 05th November 2012