Ex-Ireland star: Springboks expose ‘long-term’ issue which shows IRFU’s ‘limitation’
Ireland players dejected during Springboks defeat and head coach Andy Farrell.
Former Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy believes that their defeat to the Springboks shows the “limitation” of the IRFU’s current system but he is hopeful of it getting addressed.
Andy Farrell’s side were defeated 24-13 by South Africa on Saturday in a match where they were dominated for the majority of the 80 minutes.
Only Boks profligacy, allied by Irish resilience, stopped the margin from being wider, with concerns that this current team are on the decline.
While D’Arcy praised Ireland’s refusal to give up, he felt that it displayed the problems Farrell and the governing body have.
Ireland’s ageing squad
It is an ageing squad and, although a few younger players are coming through, the head coach is hardly rushing matters when it comes to promoting the next generation.
“This match reinforced everything admirable about Irish rugby, with passion and resilience as key virtues. Most teams, and I include sides I played in, would have turned a three-man advantage into a decisive margin. South Africa didn’t. That speaks volumes,” D’Arcy wrote in his Irish Times column.
“But it also highlighted a long-term issue in Ireland’s squad depth. There are insufficient numbers breaking into senior rugby quickly enough to challenge established starters. New Zealand, South Africa, France and England all operate from deeper pools. That is the limitation of our system.”
“The encouraging sign is that David Humphreys and Andy Farrell are not burying their heads. The recent summer tour across Europe, the fixture against Spain, the international against England A and two tours next summer, all point towards a deliberate effort to test the next player tier without jeopardising senior results.”
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Ireland claimed just two victories during their November campaign – against Japan and the Wallabies – with the other games resulting in defeats to the All Blacks and Springboks.
Although there were huge positives in the 46-19 triumph over Australia, the results against the two giants of the sport gave a truer indication of where Farrell’s outfit currently stand.
Looking towards the Six Nations
“So, was this November successful? We won’t know until after the Six Nations. In 2013, we won one from three in November and lifted a championship trophy months later as our attack and defence evolved,” D’Arcy added.
“In 2018, we won four from four and then unravelled in the Six Nations as defences began to decode our shape. The November series does not tell the full story of the season or even this team, it gives a snapshot of where we stand.
“Growth in performance and a broader base will not just allow us to deal with the pressure that the Six Nations will bring, they will also help us evolve. The results will follow.”
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