Advertisement

Madigan will return to find Ireland's out-half depth chart all the deeper

The Dubliner will face an utterly changed landscape to the one he left four years ago.

EVERY NOW AND again over the course of the last four years, the name Ian Madigan would be put to Joe Schmidt as a potential solution when this knock or that had brought Jonathan Sexton low and out-half ranks were running a tad thin.

ian-madigan Madigan lines up a kick against La Rochelle in last season's Challenge Cup quarter-final. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

Clearly, the idea was given short shrift by the erstwhile Ireland coach. Sexton was to be the only exception to the non-rule of selecting only Irish-based players.

The chief playmaker is now also the captain, remains top of the out-half tree and Andy Farrell’s influence remains on the Ireland coaching setup, but otherwise the landscape has drastically changed since Madigan was last on the books of an Irish province.

The Dubliner will make a welcome return under the IRFU wing next season when he departs Bristol for Ulster, but he can by no means expect to pick up where he left off on his 30th cap for Ireland. Provincially, competition will be intense too.

ian-madigan-with-johnny-sexton Madigan and Sexton in early 2016. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Madigan’s last outing in green came at the end of the long World Cup season that began with such palpable emotion as his tears marked an immense win over France to help Ireland top the pool before the tournament, as it seems all World Cups do, quickly turned sour.

The then-Leinster man remained second-choice to Sexton through the 2016 Six Nations, but come that summer’s tour to South Africa -Farrell’s first tour in a green tracksuit – he remained a replacement with Sexton out through injury. And after being an unused replacement in the landmark 14-man win over the Springboks, he would make cameos off the bench in the two defeats that followed.

Returning to third place in the pecking order to be 10 in Farrell’s team will surely take some time for Madigan to work towards. He will turn 31 next week and will arrive back on these shores to find the two men who deputised him at Leinster hot on Sexton’s heels.

Ross Byrne is quickly coming of age as an expert all-rounder, Joey Carbery will hope to be back to full fitness after a string of torrid luck and Jack Carty’s post-World Cup resurgence has been halted only by the Covid-19 cancellations.

ross-byrne-and-joey-carbery Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Billy Burns has earned his share of public plaudits from Farrell too, and he will provide the main obstacle for Madigan as his excellent array of tactical kicking has boosted Ulster’s attacking rhythm this season.

Madigan’s time away from Ireland certainly did not go as he would have planned. After a stint with a stodgy Bordeaux side, he helped Pat Lam’s Bristol seal promotion to the Premiership. But, curiously, he has made just three appearances for the Bears in the top flight this season.

Along with Burns, Ulster have talented young 10s in the shape of Bill Johnston, Michael Lowry and Angus Curtis who are capable of making the step up, but competition from an experienced performer will do them no harm.

Madigan has proven himself capable of being one of the most cool and consistent goal-kickers around and his ability as a running out-half made him a natural fit to operate as a second playmaker at 12 and 15.  Dan McFarland’s quote as Ulster announced the signing may be instructive here:

I’m confident he will be a valuable addition to our squad both on and off the pitch, where he will bring a bank of experience to a group of talented young out-halves.”

The head coach will hope that experience will help drive standards through next year.

Postponed Six Nations fixtures mean that the 2020/21 season will likely have extended international windows when coaches must make do without a large cohort of players at their disposal.

McFarland will be keen on seeing Madigan and fellow new recruit Alby Mathewson dole out worldly wisdom through the squad and ensure the northern province continue building a consistency that was so sorely lacking in years past.

Close
39 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute #JUSTICE4NOEL
    Favourite #JUSTICE4NOEL
    Report
    Mar 30th 2020, 7:48 PM

    Dan Leavy returning soon will be huge for Leinster and Ireland. The best forward in the country when healthy and a challenger with Underhill and Curry for those 2 lions flanker positions.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Fahey
    Favourite Sean Fahey
    Report
    Mar 30th 2020, 10:20 PM

    @#JUSTICE4NOEL: I’m very excited to see him come back too and, sadly, will be hopeful that he is the same player when he gets back.

    The Leinster medical team are excellent at managing rehab, very few if any players with recurring injuries, I’m optimistic that he will be.

    Will Conners might be focused on as a 6 such is the depth at 7.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
    Favourite Carmine Lorenzo
    Report
    Apr 1st 2020, 12:09 PM

    @Sean Fahey: Leavy could be a highly effective 6 too. He’s not a renowned jumper in the lineout but he can do everything else, and offers serious balance to any backrow, in similar ways that SOB did in previous years. Touch wood he comes back as the same player, as you said, the Leinster medical team have a good track record. Keen to see where Leavy and Conan will fit from an Irish perspective now Doris and Deegan have got their breakthroughs aswell.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jamie Bent
    Favourite Jamie Bent
    Report
    Mar 30th 2020, 6:57 PM

    That drop still haunts me. Better team lost that day!

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Fahey
    Favourite Sean Fahey
    Report
    Mar 30th 2020, 7:13 PM

    @Jamie Bent: Ulster were immense that day but every now and then you either ride your luck a little bit or run out of it completely. It’s up there with Fofanas bicep alright.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin
    Favourite Kevin
    Report
    Mar 30th 2020, 10:04 PM

    @Jamie Bent: I’d dare say it still haunts stockdale too. He hasn’t been good since.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oval Digest
    Favourite Oval Digest
    Report
    Mar 31st 2020, 9:34 AM

    Two things stand out to me from a Leinster POV re-watching this -

    It’s such a shame Adam Byrne has never really kicked on. Immense physical gifts but just seems to be lacking something to really cement his place. Rumours that he’s off at the end of the season too.

    Secondly, Ross Byrne really is a big game player. Might not have the athleticism of his bro or even Sexton, but he never lets Leinster down in Europe. He has had by far the better outcome from the Carbery move so far.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kingshu
    Favourite Kingshu
    Report
    Mar 30th 2020, 7:42 PM

    It was a great performance for year one, of a 3 year plan. Year 2 and in play off spot in league, and Q final in Europe is nice showing, who knows where it will end, but certainly on target to be in finals and aiming for silverware in year 3.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute acallkelly
    Favourite acallkelly
    Report
    Mar 31st 2020, 11:54 AM

    I hope Dan Leahy will be given time to get to his own high standard, Leinster supporters will give him the space, not sure about the rest of chattering classes though !

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute PScald
    Favourite PScald
    Report
    Apr 1st 2020, 5:16 PM

    @acallkelly: you’re right Leinster supporters are just superior people.. I heard theyre close to a vaccine

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel