O'Connel signs with Toulon while Leinster go coach-hunting

Many comings and goings in European rugby this week as Ireland played a World Cup warm-up match against the might of the Barbarians.

Paul O’Connell joins Toulon
There had been speculation about O’Connell’s career for quite a while now, with some believing that he would retire after the World Cup (he’s 35). Now he has signed with Toulon for two years, though it’s not known yet what that will mean for his international career.

O’Connell made his debut for Munster in 2001, and has played 173 games for the province, during which time he has won two Heineken Cup titles and three Celtic League/Pro12 titles. He has been a talisman for the club for many years and will be missed.

Leinster sack Matt O’Connor
O’Connor’s reign as coach of Leinster was mixed, with the club winning the Pro12 title in 2014, but failing to reach the final of this year’s tournament for the first time since the knockout stages were introduced in the 2009-10 season.

In the Heineken Cup, Leinster were knocked out at the quarter-final stages last year, and semi-finals this year. This is actually an improvement on Joe Schmidt’s last year in charge at Leinster, where the province failed to reach the knockout stages of the Heineken.

O’Connor had a tough task as he was inheriting a Leinster side that had enjoyed its greatest run of victories in history, but the province were also going through some important changes, including Jonny Sexton moving to Racing Metro and Leo Cullen and Brian O’Driscoll retiring.
Those three players were part of the backbone of Leinster’s great success.

It would be tough for any coach to maintain Leinster’s form with so many factors working against them. But O’Connor failed to get the requisite performances out of the players, not being able to motivate them. He also received criticism for not picking a consistent back-line and not being able to choose his first choice out-half, between Ian Madigan and Jimmy Gopperth.

Many within Ireland felt that Madigan should have been given top ranking, as he was seen as the second choice out-half in Ireland (after Sexton) and needed the game time. Madigan’s game seemed to suffer as a result of the lack of faith shown in him by the coach.

Former Australia coaches Ewen McKenzie and Robbie Deans seem to be the top contenders to take over from O’Connor, though Deans appears to have declined any offers. Another possibility is Jono Gibbes. There is speculation that Leinster will continue with the support staff of Leo Cullen and Girvan Dempsey until after the World Cup.

Ireland face Barbarians in World Cup warmup
Robbie Deans actually took charge of the Barbarians as they faced off against Ireland on the weekend in Thomond Park. The game was the first match in Ireland’s preparations for the World Cup, and it did not go very well.

Although Ireland only lost by 21-20, against a team of international stars, and Ireland were fielding an experimental side, none of the Irish players really put their hands up during the game. It was a stuttering performance all round.