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Ireland's Luke Fitzgerald, left, takes on the Welsh defence during their Six Nations rugby union international match at the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday March 21, 2009. AP Photo/Paul Thomas
Saturday’s upset was in the post. Fair play to Scotland, but we had it coming. There was an air of smugness in the run-up to the match that reminded me of all the fat drunken gombeens stumbling around at the Galway Races yelling “aren’t we great!” before the bubble burst and they lost their money.
Our problems in the scrum have been obvious for a number of years and if Declan Kidney was waiting for the legitimacy to finally give the shepherd’s crook to John Hayes, well he has it now.
On the issue of tight head prop, it’s worth revisiting Hugh Farrelly’s piece in yesterday’s Irish Independent.
“Mike Ross must also come in for consideration. The former Harlequins man is having an unhappy time of it at Leinster, where he is rated behind CJ Van Der Linde and Stan Wright — quality props of no use to Ireland.
There are issues with Ross’ contribution around the park, but the security that comes with the knowledge that the scrum is unlikely to travel backwards on his watch is a powerful argument in his favour.”
Well, the last time I checked, the primary job of a tight head prop was to lock the scrum and ensure that it doesn’t travel backwards.
Good play in the loose and a hoister at lineout time are nice to have, but Declan Kidney doesn’t need reminding that a poor scrum on our 22 in the final 10 minutes of a tight World Cup semi-final on current form would more than likely cost us the game.
Look, even the Australians are sniggering about the state of our scrum.
Enough said.
Between now and the World Cup in New Zealand there will be a number of changes to the current line up. It’s hard to know which of the veteran players will still be cutting the mustard by then as it’s still a year and a half away.
Our worry isn’t behind the scrum. We are well covered and there seems to be a mini-generation of young backs about to break through at Leinster.
If only we could say the same of the front five.
I think a lot of the problems in the scrum will be sorted once the right tight head is picked. This leaves the second row.
Are O’Connell and O’Callaghan untouchable? Not on current form.
It would be nice to see Donncha Ryan get more of a look in at Munster, as he’s a dog and could supply the ballast needed in the second row. As for open side, I’d expect either Sean O’Brien or Shane Jennings to have usurped David Wallace before the year is out.
The team as it’s currently configured is in decline, but a number of changes may lead to a side that is far better equipped to mount a credible challenge for the World Cup.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.