Comparisons between Irish and Australian rugby are many – third (if not fourth) most popular field sport in the country, provincial teams playing in international tournaments, centrally contracted players, we could continue.
Instead, this article will look at the new coaches from an Irish-centric point of view.
Australia appointed Ewen McKenzie this year after the Lions tour defeat. Successful in provincial terms with NSW, and to a better extent, Queensland, he plays an exciting brand of rugby that centres on a 10 that divides opinion.
His predecessor was also successful in provincial terms, but could not turn this into success after some early positive signs.
McKenzie means hope for Australia, as he moves the country on from a facile kick-orientated attack plan to one that revolves around the hugely talented players numbered 7, 9, 10 and 15.
Schmidt’s CV is very similar. An innovative attacking coach with huge success at provincial level with Leinster – a glorious three years with four trophies – he takes over from a similarly successful coach that never got the potential from his squad.
Schmidt’s game plan at Leinster revolved around Jonny Sexton, a figure who divides opinion on this island due to his new employers Racing Metro 92, who ran the show. During Schmidt’s tenure, Sexton led an all singing, all dancing team to two Heineken Cups, a Rabo title and an Amlin Cup in three years.
This team was playing the closest thing to All Blacks rugby this side of the equator.
Kidney’s attacking plan left all and sundry scratching their heads as to what was going on. One minute it was forward dominated; the next, touchline to touchline.
Could this have been down to his inability to drop Ronan O’Gara until he could see the pearly gates of retirement? Schmidt brings hope that Ireland will play the same exciting and, most importantly, winning brand of rugby seen at Leinster.
Ireland’s game will focus around Sean O’Brien at 7, Conor Murray at 9 and Sexton at 10. We can only hope Rob Kearney finds his sky scraping form to complete the 7, 9, 10, 15 axis.
Hope defines the start of these regimes, with some unavoidable speed bumps dampening the mood Down Under.
Only time will tell whether the talent, which is there on both sides, can be transformed into success.
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