‘European rugby as weak as I can remember it’ – former Ireland and Lions full-back

Colin Newboult 02 Sep 2023 12:21 PM

Ex-Lions full-back Hugo MacNeill has poured cold water on Ireland’s chances of lifting the Rugby World Cup unless they improve in a couple of key areas.

MacNeill also stated that the world number one side have not been helped by European rugby being “weak”, despite the French standing only two places below them in the rankings.

With Scotland up there in fifth, three of the top five are Six Nations sides, but under that the former Ireland international insisted that there has not been much competition.

Real mess

“Ireland have been very good the past couple of years,” he told AFP.

“They are champions of Europe and Grand Slam winners but European rugby is probably as weak as I can remember it, with the exception of France.

“England are in a real mess, it cannot be helpful that three [Premiership] clubs have gone to the wall so players are worrying about their mortgage payments.”

MacNeill also made comments over Ireland’s game plan, which was not attacking enough and that Andy Farrell’s men did not score tries off phase play.

“Ireland have got tries from the driving line-out, the long pass and pressure paying off,” he said.

“However, you do not see the sort of phase-after-phase style of play.

“Bundee Aki seems a nice guy and a great team man but I do not think the passing game is as fluent as it needs to be.

“I think we need to go up a gear.”

Reliance on Johnny

MacNeill is also worried by how Farrell’s outfit will fare should Johnny Sexton be absent for the big games, whether it be through injury or suspension.

It is not just his ability to control a game which the former Irish back believes is so crucial but his captaincy, with stand-in skipper James Ryan not necessarily convincing the 64-year-old.

“There is a massive dependency on Johnny Sexton in terms of leadership,” he said. “It was very evident when he was not playing in the final that no one stepped forward.

“Ireland need players like James Ryan and Caelan Doris to be leaders.

“England, the only northern hemisphere side to lift the trophy, did so because they not only had in my opinion the greatest captain of all time in Martin Johnson, but also leaders all over the pitch.

“They had Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood and Mike Catt. In Jonny Wilkinson they had a fantastic executioner.”

Combating the Springboks threat

MacNeill added: “If Ireland are to be genuine contenders they need leaders to emerge and to develop an expansive backline game.

“They are not going to trouble the Springboks in the lineouts nor the driving maul. They need to spread the ball around.

“I think the draw is very tough, especially when a key part of Ireland’s fortunes hang on keeping Sexton fit.

“Being in a very tough side of the draw he has to play in the big games and if he is injured it will impact on Ireland’s chances.”

Ireland are hoping to avoid another quarter-final exit but they will almost certainly have a tough match in the last-eight should Farrell’s charges get through Pool B.

They will likely take on New Zealand or hosts France – unless Italy somehow pull off a miraculous upset – and MacNeill is not sure they have the capabilities to beat those two teams at the moment.

“Ireland are not at the level of winning the World Cup yet,” he said. “We need to get to that level because we do not want to go out in the quarter-finals again.”

Internationals