THINGS DIDN’T LOOK too promising for Leinster at the start of this season.
They’d come off their worst Heineken Cup display since the Gary Ella days, with signs they could be bullied by bigger sides. After the home loss to Clermont Joe Schmidt admitted there’s only so many times the small guys can outsmart the big bullies.
They had lost their most influential player in Sexton, their most consistent player in Nacewa, and Schmidt departed, taking his ideas with him.
Matt O’Connor was coming from very different cultures at The Brumbies, Japan and Leicester, with no proof he could make a backline sing.
He was both a backs coach and a head coach for The Tigers but most of the big decisions were made by their director of rugby, Richard Cockerill. O’Connor had won back to back league titles in his time with the club, but winning the Premiership with Leicester is like winning the Ulster club championship with Crossmaglen — it seems to happen no matter who is involved.
The Australian is approachable and friendly but says almost nothing in press gatherings, a big change from the previous head coaches, so the media have had to read more into what he has done on the field to gain any insight.
INPHO/Andrew Fosker
Even there though, before Saturday at least, there wasn’t a huge amount to report. Some slight tinkering with selection, no definitive change in gameplan, and solid if unspectacular displays.
While results were good from the start, the fluidity in the backline wasn’t there.
Ian Madigan’s non selection appeared significant too. A fan favourite and heir to the Felipe Contepomi ‘flawed genius’ role, Madigan had his momentum halted by O’Connor, which built on the idea that the team would be more risk averse from now on.
The performance in Franklin’s Gardens, however, told us something new about this team, and about the head coach.
Over the last three years the province was reliant on Schmidt and Sexton and Nacewa, but as often happens when leaders depart, others step up. Rob Kearney and Jamie Heaslip, two superstars of the 2009 Grand Slam Heineken Cup double season, have once again found the form of their lives. Luke Fitzgerald, the unluckiest of that generation, is clearly relaxed and enjoying himself again.
The supremely talented Sean Cronin, in the past a frustrating player to watch, has added brilliant basics to the subtle skills he always possessed. Gordon D’arcy, meanwhile, has carried on from the New Zealand game, and even last year’s fringe players, Rhys Ruddock, Devin Toner and David Kearney, have become central figures this term.
INPHO/Andrew Fosker
In spite of fears to the contrary, it’s clear the loss to New Zealand has energised the players, and the similarity in styles of play was striking. The rucking technique, and the ability for a whole range of lone ball carriers to break tackles is on a new level to what we’ve seen before.
O’Connor, though, has to be given credit for not only the mental preparation and so many players being in form, but also the ambition and variety shown in attack. It was always likely he’d get the defence right, but the lines of running, composure in possession, option taking and offloading were as good as anything this province has delivered in the past.
The coruscating style they adopted against Northampton, apart from helping to win the game, had a few fringe benefits. They killed it as a contest in the first 30 minutes, preserving nervous energy and drawing Northampton’s sting.
They usually sought space as opposed to contact so the attrition rate was low, and when they did seek collisions, they had the inertia, inflicting rather than absorbing the contact.
Northampton are deemed to have the most athletic pack in England, and can wear a team down over a two-legged affair, but that advantage was negated by Leinster’s style.
Given the changes over the summer, solidity and consolidation would have been acceptable this year, but after last weekend, the horizons have shifted. He has now proven his team are capable of great things, so is expected to do it two weeks in a row.
INPHO/Andrew Fosker
Northampton won’t play that badly again, are free of pressure, and Leinster are unlikely to be as accurate. History is against them too, teams rarely get hammered by the same opposition two weeks in a row, and Northampton themselves bounced back from a similar loss at home to Ulster last year.
Players talk about fear being a great motivator, but embarrassment is probably an even greater motivational force.
O’Connor and Leinster haven’t proven anything yet, but last Saturday was the first real window into his mind, and his playbook.
They don’t need to set any benchmarks in the Aviva, just get a win, but more of the same would tell us the province have once again chosen the right man for the top job.
Furlong really is exceptional. There isn’t another tighthead prop even close to him in world rugby. Any thoughts on the sub position? For me I think John Ryan has done enough to be second behind Furlong. He was very good in the first test and I think he’s slightly ahead of porter. Only slightly though.
@Jim Demps: I agree regarding Ryan/Porter but I’d say Ryan is further ahead than you might. What largely sealed that for me, apart from Ryan’s excellent performance last week, was the fact Porter had serious difficulties in the few scrums he was involved when he replaced Furlong. Porter’s all round play is excellent but Ryan’s scrummaging was very impressive
@Richard James: That’s what it comes down to really, what do you want off the bench, more impact around the park or greater solidity in the set piece. I think Schmidt will persist with Porter on the bench, but if, God forbide, Furlong got injured, Ryan would be the starter
@Jonny Martin: Yea I’d probably go along with that but I think Schmidt is going to invest lots of time in Porter before the World Cup. The guy is incredibly talented and is so new to the position. He’s already made huge strides in the last 18 months.
@Jim Demps: Jim Demps in Munster player preference shocker! :)
@Jonny Martin: How comme Ryan didn’t start in the 6N then when Furlong injured?
I must have imagined Porter more than holding his own in two games in the scrum, including a 78 minute shift.
@Jim Demps: porter is younger and has vast more natural ability to ryan. He will be favoured by the management id imagine going forward. If you consider ryan better now porter will gain on him all time. Predict a similar injured blighted career for porter to healy and obrien. His body is carrying so much muscle and his current playimg style he will be broken up by 27
@Jim Demps: At 29 Ryan is only coming into his prime as a TH. Considering this is only his third year as a tighthead, he has been a revalation for Munster. I thought he put in a tremendous shift in semi final. Particularly against Jack McGrath who is so technically proficient in the scrum. In choosing between Porter and Ryan, i think it depends on the opposition. Porter is so tall, that shorter props cause him difficulties, and he is continuing to learn as he develops. However, he is incredibly dynamic around the field. Exciting times for Ireland fans, and 2012 looks ever more distant.
@Brian Meagher: Porter and Ryan are the same height. I don’t disagree though, Porter is not as good in the set piece, Ryan not as good around the pitch. The Aussie scrum is very good, so I’d go with Ryan on the bench for next week.
Furlong was immense, just rewatched there with the Aussie commentators who were quite biased in their teams favour, but they were still blown away by Furlong. I haven’t seen the stat replayed, but they said he’d made the most metres of any Irish player so far, and they predicted he was odds on for MOTM. Even after he break, his attempted looping pass would have been a beauty, all other tightheads would have gone to deck. And then when it was touched by an Aussie player, to still have the wherewithal to regather. He really is a new breed.
@Conor Paddington: I think Tupou could potentially be better than Furlong. He just turned 22 and is already better in the loose I think.
@Conor Paddington: Unfortunately I had to watch the game, again, with Aussie commentators on Rugbypass. Again, I had it muted long before half time. This time it was after POM won a turnover penalty early in the first half. The first thing Phil Kearns do was suggest POM came in from the side. Their default position is always that the ref is wrong, then the reply comes up. Oh. Commentators annoy fans. Ryle Nugent was useless. BBC too. The NZ commentary team were so patronizing towards France. The problem with Aus is not bias. It is the terminology they use. They strike me as very ladish, masochistic, sneering and yet yet groveling (towards Pocock). Rod Kafer is the best of a truly dreadful bunch. Collectively, they offer absolutely nothing as team.
@Minami: of course he is
@Conor Paddington: Aweeee that pass, so close. Would have been fitting for him to pop a pass like that which led to a try. We really can’t do without Sexton, Furlong or Murray for the world cup. Everyone else can be replaced by someone as good, if not far behind.
@Alan Madden: I’d have to add Ringrose to those players as well, we have very good midfield options but he is a step above the rest.
Watching this on Aussie TV. Second week in a row they have a go at Ireland’s project players (Stander et al).
They think nothing however of their own Tongan Thors , and so many other Islanders that the likes of the Wobblies or the ABs consistently ensure will never get to play for their country of birth.
You don’t know how lucky you are not to have to suffer watching this on such blindly biased and myopic TV here down under
@Gordon Kelly: worth it when they lose tho
@Gordon Kelly: u ok hun?
@Gordon Kelly: hear hear. I say the same thing every match. Phil Kearns being by far the worst culprit.
@Gordon Kelly: it’s moronic. Stander was the only project player yesterday as I think Herring qualifies through his heritage. Let them off.
@Gordon Kelly: Superiority complex. They think they have a right to these Pacific Islanders. Sure aren’t they taking them out of poverty and giving them a better life? Dreadful.
@Gordon Kelly: Aussie commentators really are pathetic. The bias doesn’t bother me. That’s just how it is everywhere. But their attitude is so awful. They know it all. They’re the guardians of the game. They strike me as pals who pat each other on the back regularly throughout the game, then collectively scoff when a decision goes against them. “It’s a ripppppppppaaaaaaa.” Morons.
What a player. He was looking tired at the end of the season for Leinster but that was a performance for the ages. The range of skills he’s shown for Ireland this season has been incredible. And at just 25 years old he’s got plenty of years ahead of him to get better.
Immense – that’s how you deal with Pocock.
It was a right on all right. Not as good as SOB against France in the last world cup.
@John A. Dixon: Are you not thinking of SOB against France in Lansdown 3 years ago?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVUHFFUvjKk
@yvan buggy: Best clearout i have ever seen from a standing start.
@yvan buggy: I stand corrected. Good man. Some clear out.
Can you imagine how Pococks body must be after regularly getting cleaned out like that.
I think that is part of England’s problem. Guys like Billy Vunipola and Robshaw seem to be going through the motions and trying to avoid really putting their bodies on the line. Almost like the physical toll is too much.
Seeing that again pocock makes no attempt to release, just goes for the ball straight away when he clearly was part of the tackle. Have i got that wrong?
@Patrick Corrigan: he releases. Went down with his left hand on the player but takes it off before his initial swipe at the ball with his right
@Patrick Corrigan: No, you got it right, he is often illegal. I read recently that his body movement looks like he is disengaging, but his hands stay in there.
@Patrick Corrigan: spot on. he gets away with murder. him hooper similar to mccaw. Savage player tho!
Some player .
Sean o briens clear out v france is way better and the best I’ve seen!
@Fred McHugh: O’Briens was amazing, no doubt. Which one was better? Donno. Furlongs one hurt more, Pocock didn’t know what hit him. I bet it made him think twice about putting his body on the line again like that.
Furlong was immense but you also have to give it to Pococks reading of the game to get into those positions multiple times during each half.
Yeah he is. Spot on in fact..