The XV's Team of the Decade

As this decade comes to a close it seems remiss to pass up the opportunity to throw The XV's 10cents worth into the team of the decade debate. The criteria for selection were as follows;
i) Iconic moments and stand out performances were preferred to overall consistent performance throughout the decade
ii) Selection was based on both club/provincial achievement as well as international
iii) Winners were generally preferred for bringing that ethos to our side
iv) The side is merely a best 15 players, not necessarily involving the best balanced side possible for selection
An impossible task for a decade that contained some truly iconic moments but here’s our XV. Your thoughts, as always, are much appreciated!


Loose Head Prop

The prop positions have been problematic. The unnatural physicality required to succeed at the position have meant props often rotate not only from game to game, but within the 80minutes themselves. Injuries are frequent and career shelf-life perhaps shorter than in other areas of the field because the position has evolved more than any other in the decade. Props were expected to do progressively more than just secure scrummage ball; rucking dynamism, athletic ball carrying and increased tackling productivity were demanded in conjunction with the solid set play basics. France has excelled beyond all others in producing this prop utopian of brute force and classy dynamism but none, domestically or internationally has effectively stood out from the others enough to win through. Not one has truly dominated the decade. The versatile Gethin Jenkins was a strong consideration on both sides of the front row. 5 Lions test caps and 2 Grand Slams support the explosive performances from his 2003 debut to the end of the decade. Never less than phenomenally hard working in the loose, and at his best, destructive in the scrum with a touch of class with ball in hand Jenkins was hard to overlook. But after much agonizing Martin Castrogiovanni was the selection.
Whilst ostensibly a tight head his work in the loose is second to none and the transition would not daunt him. If “Castro” (as he prefers to have emblazoned on his shirts) was a movie, the poster tagline would read ‘where old world meets new’. With his caveman hair and beard, and socks rolled down is he smashes another scrum with almost worrying glee he is a throwback in both appearance and attitude. Yet, the youth team basketball players confident handling, surprising pace and impressive try scoring record make him the benchmark for modern day prop forwards to aspire to. Man of the Match in Italy’s maiden Six Nations victory, Castro is also perhaps this side’s symbol of the progress of Italian rugby in the decade, which culminated this autumn in a staggering 80,000 people heading to the San Siro to watch the national side take on the All Blacks. With domestic medals (2005 Italian League title, 2 Guinness Premiership titles and Anglo-Welsh cup) to back up his popularity and impressive performances in a struggling national side Castrogiovanni is the complete package.

Hooker

Hooker is perhaps the most controversial selection in the side. In other sides dotted about the various sports blogs and publications South African World Cup winning Captain John Smit has been the consensus choice. His name was strongly debated in regard to he XV’s team. A CV containing not only a World Cup win but a brace of Tri-Nations titles and a Lions Series victory are certainly not to be shunned. But I have always felt Smit has been somewhat carried by those around him, his leadership, rather than his play have kept him in good sides. There is no doubt at the end of the decade he was a poor second to Bismarck du Plessis in the race to be springbok hooker and in a straight fight for the hooking jersey in Clermont he finished second and returned home after just one year in France. It is the man who won that jersey who takes the hooking birth in this outfit, Argentina’s Mario Ledesma. The rise of Argentinean rugby in the noughties is probably the success story of the decade. Beaten World Cup semi-finalists by the end of the decade and Tri-Nations rugby to look forward to from 2012, “Super Mario” epitomized the thrusting new force in World rugby. A stand out front row forward in a Top 14 not short on such a commodity Ledesma is a worthy choice.

Tight Head Prop

As was mentioned in the loose head section, Gethin Jenkins was again considered for this position but in the decade of big scrummagers no one quite did it like All Black Carl Hayman. Rugby’s highest paid player racked up 45 All Black caps in a side that dominated World rugby between World Cups, before heading to Newcastle in 2007. Leading a very young Falcons side with aplomb and still seen as so integral to the national teams’ success, that tireless efforts are being made to ensure his return for 2011 World Cup back home. The premier prop in world rugby full stop.

4&5. Lock

The Second Row was another congested area of not only stand performers but massive leadership also. The decision in the end became fairly straightforward but those left out would grace any side. Honourable mentions need to go to Simon Shaw, so often the forgotten man in the decade but a tight forward of genuine skill and to say the biggest hearted Lions tourist of all time may not be stretching the point. Made up for lack of England caps by filling his domestic trophy cabinet. The mountainous Fabian Pelous of France and Stade Toulousain. Huge club success, Six Nation triumphs as captain of his country and finished his international career as third highest capped Test match player of all time. The most recent Lion captain, Paul O’Connell, also falls in to the category of the unfortunate. In domestic rugby Munster redefined what the club was and where it stood in rugby conscience; the province can be widely referenced in the success story of the Heineken Cup. As an integral part of this success alone O’Connell is a worthy candidate, before looking at his role in the resurgence of the Irish national side climaxing in the end of the long wait for the Grand Slam. But in the end 2 influential World Cup winners could not be overlooked. Victor Matfield was imperious both for South Africa on their way to World Cup glory and for the Blue Bulls dominance of the latter part of the domestic decade. The World’s best lineout forward, with an insatiable appetite for work if the Lock slot really is the “engine room” of the team, then this side is in no danger of breaking down. Matfield is almost a mark II of his partner in this side, England’s World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson. In a game increasingly played by giants Johnson was still able to be physically intimidating to his opponents. As revered by fans as he was respected by colleagues, Johnson was the heartbeat of the English ‘invincibles’ of the early part of the decade, with domestic success only adding to his legend.

Back Row

The back row was at ones stage fairly fluid in this side with guys shuffling from their traditional positions to be accommodated. In the end however, the back row has taken on an orthodox look with an abrasive ball hog 6, a fetcher and harasser at 7 and physicality, both carrying the ball and defending at 8. Martyn Williams of Wales deserves mention in the open-side debate. Wales’ 2 Grand Slams of the decade were built around a string of man of match performances by Williams, and his ability to help revitalize welsh rugby post 2007 World Cup disappointment deserves huge praise. As does another fine Lions Tour, and his huge class in the face of farce in the Heineken semis. The ignominy of a missed penalty shootout goal should never be bestowed on another in this coming decade. However, it was impossible not to select the All Black captain Richie McCaw(C). Very probably the best back row forward ever to play the game McCaw’s game is as near perfection as possible. Try scoring; support running, turnovers, slowing ball and enormous tackling have made him the most respected player currently playing the game. The only player ever to win the IRB World Player of the year twice, personally, domestically and internationally McCaw is one of the games most decorated players. In fact a World Cup is all that is missing to befit his talents in the new decade. The statistics that as Captain Richie McCaw has a win percentage of 90.9% in Test matches and 90% as a player in his 70 Tests is almost unparralled in professional sport. For these reason McCaw is also the captain of our side.
At blind side, whilst Serge Betsen was considered, England World Cup winning duo Neil Back and Richard Hill battled it out. Back would obviously be out of position but with McCaw already at 7 it felt Back was still impossible to ignore. The personification of ‘never give in’ Back is one of rugby’s great success stories. Success both internationally and domestically as well as ruck time skills comparable to McCaw made him appealing but Hill just got the nod. Powerful and destructive defensively(there was no better goal line defender in the game) but the complete opposite with ball in hand Hill gives the side that little bit more going forward in terms of offloads and support running. His never say die attitude would be highly valued in any dressing room.
The third of the England World Cup back row Lawrence Dallaglio is our NO.8. Sergio Parisse of Italy was his nearest rival, a fine player but with nothing like Dallaglio in terms of honours. Dallaglio proved time and again that in the biggest games he could be the difference. The 2003 World Cup final against France he pounded the fringes to get Wilkinson on the front foot to dominate the game. Parisse has obviously not been afforded such opportunities internationally but at club level he is arguably part of the worst offending underachievers in Europe, bags of talent for little return, and where Parisse has not been able to make the difference even in a good side. It made me question whether he really has that elite level in him. Perhaps Stade and Sergio will shine in the new decade but in the past Dallaglio more than took his opportunities. Undermined at times by his own big mouth and silly transgressions off the field, on it Dallaglio was a leader vocally and in his actions. If something was going wrong he would take responsibility with a thumping run or man handling a maul. A try scoring machine in the Six Nations there has not yet been anyone to come close the England 8 carrying from the base of the scrum (although Pierre Spies may well be that man in the coming decade). A prominent gambling firm even ran spread bets titled ‘Larry’s Carry’s’ such was Dallaglio’s ball carrying proficiency. Old fashioned powerful No.8 play is still the bed rock of the game; it enables the backs to play on the front foot and opens up the game. If there were Dallaglio’s in the modern game we certainly would have a more open style of rugby, his explosiveness harnessed to his raw power and positional nous have remained the bench mark for good number eight play.

9. Scrum Half

George Gregan’s Test cap milestone of 139 set in this decade is a truly remarkable feat. Two Super rugby titles and a World Cup final appearance as captain strengthened his claim to be in this team. But neither his performances nor successes matched up to his achievements in the 90’s. Australia were a poor third in the southern hemisphere for most of the decade particularly toward the end of Gregan’s career and his subsequent failure in Europe in Toulon suggest that this was a decade we saw then end of a player who was once great, but not enough in this decade to warrant selection. Matt Dawson and Fourie du Preez got World Cup medals but neither were quite impressive enough to make this side. The 9 jersey goes to former All Black Justin Marshall. People may now think of Marshall as something of a “has boots will travel” but his honours, recognition and longevity make him the scrum half of the noughties. Voted into the 2003 RWC team of the tournament (ahead of Dawson and Gregan who made the final) Marshall had an extraordinary decade. Spikey, creative and amazingly committed in defence Marshall wrapped up domestic titles in both hemispheres. He was also part of the All Black team between World Cups, and particularly during the ’05 Lions series whitewash, that were by far the best in the world. And Marshall has proved he wasn’t just carried by a good side, he made the players player of the year shortlist in his first season in England, even though his side Leeds went on to be relegated. Still leading by example in Saracens remarkable early season form in the Premiership, Marshall is one of the best examples of consistent top level performance throughout the decade.

10. Fly Half

Ronan O’Gara’s feats for Munster in particular over the decade must be admired but in reality this was a 2 horse race. Daniel Carter, the All Black star, IRB International Player of the year for 2005 and his predecessor in 2003 England’s two time World Cup finalist Johnny Wilkinson. Probably the hardest selection in the side there was little to pick between them. Both technically have all the skills; with Carter outshine Wilkinson running the ball and vice versa on defence. Two of the best goal kickers of all time and superb out of hand the side would lose or nothing from one being selected above the other. I finally went for Wilkinson on the basis that in those clutch moments he had got his team through. On the biggest occasions Johnny has been able almost through force of will to drag the England side through. Successive World Cup semi-finals read like master classes of big game management and that extra time drop goal showed the nerve of a true champion. Sometimes there are some skills that just cannot be measured; there are just simply some people in this world that are winners. Johnny Wilkinson is one of those.

12. Inside Centre


Tana Umaga. In the era of the huge battering ram centre the original and best was never surpassed. The first man of Pacific Island origin to captain the All Blacks Umaga was not only a terrorizor of defences but an icon. More subtle than a lot of big centres since Umaga could step off both feet and broke tackles for fun with a brutal hand off, as his 36 Test match tries bear testament to. Equally intimidating defensively he was also a true sportsman, and was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin award for outstanding sportsmanship, after stopping play to check on the welfare of an unconscious Colin Charvis in 2003 Test vs. Wales (although Brian O’Driscoll may dispute his sportsmanship). Will Greenwood, for his imaginative, see it play it style of back play so missed in the modern game deserves mention.

13. Outside Centre

If Fly half was the hardest decision, this was the easiest. No on defined the 2000’s in rugby terms more than Brian O’Driscoll. From his scintillating try for the Lions in Brisbane 2001 right through to his 4 tries in 5 games and subsequent player of the tournament accolades in the 2009 Irish Grand Slam O’Driscoll stood out throughout the decade. A first ever Heineken Cup winners medal with his beloved Leinster and another outstanding tour as Lions vice captain in South Africa proved the post World Cup doubters wrong and returned to world eating form. Like an extra back row forward defensively and throughout the decade with pace and imagination to tear apart the most stubborn defences O’Driscoll is a mantra to how rugby should be played; with passion but clam, valiant defence and even more fearless attacking. Years from now we are all going to be privileged enough to say that yes we saw one of the greats, and yes he was that good.

Wing

Shane Williams sparkled in Wales Grand Slams and their valiant ’03 World Cup showings against New Zealand and England. It will be for the good of the game if he can recapture the form that punctuated the middle of the decade, but I’ve gone for 2 southern hemisphere wingers. New Zealand’s Joe Rokocoko and South Africa’s Bryan Habana. Both are obviously blindingly quick, but there have been plenty of fast men who haven’t wracked up the same number of Test tries (81 between them in 117 Tests). Both are deceptively strong, read the game well and have fantastic feet and awareness to finish moves off. Habana’s threat on intercepts has changed the way teams think about defending with the outside fast rush style he has adopted. Rokocoko’s spins and turns brought a new way of avoiding tackles and creating space. Fans love finishers and we have 2 of the all time best strike rates in the game.

15. Full Back

Chris Latham would get an honourable mention, his lines of running and counter-attacking skills from the 15 position have sadly not been bestowed on many of our full backs right now. It is 2003 RWC adversary though Jason Robinson who gets the final spot in the mythical dressing room. An icon as the first black England Rugby Union captain he was the stand out success story in the decade of rugby league converts. Where others failed, Robinson’s explosive acceleration and dancing feet meant he beat more tacklers than any other back in the early period of the decade. His kicking and positional play came on vastly throughout his career, but it was his running that brought crowds to their feet every time he touched the ball. The game so desperately needs these x-factor players if it is to capitalize on the huge progress in interest it has managed to generate in this decade. It is for this reason that Jason Robinson is The XV’s Full Back, a reminder of what the game must rediscover if it is to continue successfully in the next 10 years and beyond.

1.Martin Castrogiovanni
2.Mario Ledesma
3.Carl Hayman
4.Victor Matfield
5.Martin Johnson
6.Richard Hill
7.Richie McCaw (C)
8. Lawrence Dallaglio
9.Justin Marshall
10.Johnny Wilkinson
11.Joe Rokocoko
12.Tana Umaga
13.Brian O'Driscoll
14.Bryan Habana
15.Jason Robinson

Class of '09 running out of time to reach the summit

Assistant Coach Jim Telfer famously told the 1997 Lions that they had an opportunity, in rugby terms, "to go for Everest". An opportunity that only Lions Tour's afford. In the aftermath of defeat in Durban last weekend both captain Paul O'Connell and brace bagging blind side Tom Croft felt that the clock, and not the World Champions, had ultimately beaten the Lions. If this is the case then the squad are staring down the ticking foe with even greater anxiety in their quest to reach the aforementioned Everest. 80 minutes to save the series, to remain on the mountain for one more week.

So many questions need answering in the cauldron of Loftus today, where both oxygen and local sympathy will be at a premium. Can the Lions get any kind of platform at the set piece to allow their more incisive back division to dictate the direction of the game? Can the tourists repeat the intensity and accuracy of their showing in the last 20 minutes of the 1st Test match for the full 80? Were the World Champions exhausted or just too complacent in the last quarter? What is clear is that the Lions need to be as close to perfect as possible, or next week at Ellis Park they will be the sideshow entertainment for a Springbok carnival.

The scrum, a disaster zone in the first Test as we know for the Lions has been beefed up and makes a lot more sense. Rob Howley pre-tour had spoken a lot of the need for mobility and moving the big South African pack around, but as we suggested here at The XV, that's all very well but you do need to secure your own ball and slow the oppositions down and for that you need that pace blended with physicality. As was suggested by myself and columnist Jack Travers the Lions did not add enough of the physicality. I still worry today whether the selection of Adam Jones at tight-head is the right call. I personally would have preferred to have seen Sheridan go loose and the versatile Jenkins come across to the tight to start. The start of the game and momentum are going to be so important that I feel the Lions cannot allow any opportunity for things to go as wrong as they did last week early on. To this ends Sheridan, who admittedly has looked a liability in the loose on this Tour, is needed to set the tone early on at scrum time and then replace him with the more dynamic Jones once they have garnered some control.

Shaw looks a strong selection in beefing up the lock position and giving the Lions another on field totem of leadership. One must feel desperately for Hines however, skilful and hugely physical his a big loss, to sadly yet another poor officiating decision. If that is a dangerous tackle we may as well all pack up now and take up billiards Because the game of rugby is a lost cause. In the backs Fitzgerald has looked lively all tour and the Lions must look to bring him and Bowe of their wings to expose the lack of pace in the Springbok midfield. The understanding the Ireland back 3 all have will also be significant in an arena where kicking will be hugely influential. On this note Stephen Jones must take his chances, both out of hand and off the tee. This blog has already argued about the importance of clutch kicking and it is an undoubted chink in Jones' armour.

On the South African side, I would like to see them be more creative with their wing talent. Whilst the axis of Jones, Roberts, and O'Driscoll is defensively daunting their one weakness, would be out and out speed, particularly laterally. Instead of trying to reverse kick or chip being to get Pieterson and Habana on the ball I would like to see Pienaar bring the of the wing and up the 9,10 channel, or use De Villiers as a dummy runner up that channel and play the wingers in behind him to test the centres movement. Berger's extra physicality and nous should help tame Roberts if the Berger of '07, the IRB world player of the year turns up, and not the look-alike act that has masqueraded as one of the World's premier back row forwards for the Stormers all year.

So many questions of which 80 minutes will give us the answers. Perhaps the overriding one will be is this Lions team a good one or great one? We're about to find out.

Lions Begin to Hunt in Packs

Jack Travers

1997. The Lions, against the odds, recorded their first Test series win in South Africa since the 1974 ‘Invincibles’. That ’97 tour has many parallels to the current one. Both visiting sides were massive underdogs playing against the world champions. Both tours had the legendary Ian McGeechan as coach and both tours have utilised the size and physical example of a lock as their skipper. However, there are many more subtle similarities that give the 2009 vintage a fair chance of emulating their predecessors or at least standing toe to toe with their formidable foe.
The first of these lies in the team morale that McGeechan sees as so important to any Lions touring party. As anyone who has watched ‘Living with Lions’ can testify (anybody who hasn’t seen this classic behind the scenes documentary should move quickly to adjust this as it highlights everything that is great about rugby and shows Jason Leonard’s unforgettable team talks!), team spirit is as instrumental a factor in a winning Lions tour as anything. It is a difficult thing to come by as the players come from four different nations and as a result often don’t know each other well. But if a certain camaraderie is cultivated, the Lions are capable of creating a formula where each player will do anything on and off the pitch for their new pals. More often than not, this results in victory on the rugby field. The personnel of the two touring parties have both a number of similarities and disparities that could help the current batch of Lions become as or even more successful than the 1997 squad. The first position that springs to mind as having been a thorn in the South African side 12 years ago, and that has the potential to have the same impact this time around is inside-centre. Jamie Roberts is arguably the player of the tour thus far. His performances have echoed what Scott Gibbs did so effectively the last time the Lions were in South Africa. The direct running lines that Roberts has used so emphatically and his ability to draw defenders, allows colleagues such as Brian O’Driscoll to take advantage of the gaps created. This partnership will be crucial if the Lions are to match the World Champions. If it works as well as it has in the two games where it has been exhibited so far, against the Golden Lions and Natal Sharks, then these two players at opposite ends of their careers will take some stopping.

The issue of full-back was a contentious one in 1997 when it was decided that Neil Jenkins would play despite being dodgy at best under the high ball. This decision was vindicated by Jenkins’ metronomic goal-kicking. However, this is one position where the Lions are spoilt for choice at the moment. Lee Byrne looks likely to take the starting jersey but Rob Kearney is as adequate a replacement as any on the tour. Both players’ confidence under the high ball will be crucial, especially in the latter test matches where the Springboks will be sure to test their nerve with hanging balls on the high altitude of the highveld.

Many believe that the series will be decided at the breakdown as it was in 1997. With such a physical pack, the Boks look hard to beat in this area but the Lions are progressing with every match in this battleground. With Shalke Burger set to miss the opener through injury, the tourists have been given a boost. Croft, Wallace and Heaslip will be confident of first making the test side and then matching their illustrious opponents, utilising their mobility as much as possible. These are the three in possession of the back row positions at the moment although Martyn Williams will look to put his experience to good use to stake a claim for the seven jersey. His canny operating technique could give him the edge although he will have to perform in tonight’s fixture against the Western Province after missing the last three games through injury. Losing Stephen Ferris is a big blow as his physicality and aggression would have been useful, especially against Pierre Spies. Joe Worsley seems to be on the fringes at the moment although his versatility is welcomed by McGeechan and his coaching staff and could prove to be an asset off the bench.

Most members of the tight five seem to be putting their hands forward for selection and this could prove to be the most difficult area of selection for McGeechan. Andrew Sheridan has done himself no harm with some impressive scrummaging performances and Gethin Jenkins’ allround game and adaptability is lauded by all, despite the opinion of referee, Jonathan Kaplan. Their pure size could be especially helpful against the brutality that is sure to be a feature of the front row battle. This might be especially prevalent as the diminutive Lee Mears looks to have put forth a strong case for selection with his excellent performance against the Natal Sharks on Wednesday where his lineout throwing was as reliable as ever. However, the rest of the front-row squad members, particularly Phil Vickery and Euan Murray, are all knocking on the door and a strong performance from them against Western Province and Southern Kings could put pressure on the men seemingly in possession.

The second-row seems solid with O’Connell likely to lead the team and to be partnered by Alun-Wyn Jones. These two worked especially well together in the line-out against the Sharks. However, the skilful and experienced Simon Shaw will be desperate to get a Test cap whilst Nathan Hines has another opportunity to impress in tomorrows game against Western Province after his commanding effort in the rout of the Golden Lions last week.
The one big surprise that could shock everyone could be that Ugo Monye might start at left-wing. With another big performance, Monye can overtake other more likely alternatives. Shane Williams, despite many opportunities looks to have been found out by defenders. Luke Fitzgerald looks sharp but the selectors might want a bit more physicality which Monye offers in spades.

But, if anything is certain, it is that Lions teams are never set in stone. Different players will be required for different scenarios. Add to this the constant threat of injuries and all is still to play for before the first Test next Saturday.
Whatever team lines up against the Springboks in Durban are sure to be ready to fight for their new mates as the Lions’ legendary team ethos looks to be a major weapon for McGeechan and his men.

However, if the indomitable Matfield, Spies, Smit and co are to be defeated, the Lions will have to fight in prides, hit every ruck like they are fighting for survival and never let the Boks hit open space as they are pretty handy in the backline too….

Trav’s Likely Test 22 for the First Test, 20th June 2009, Durban:

Andrew Sheridan
Lee Mears
Gethin Jenkins
Alun-Wyn Jones
Paul O’Connell
Tom Croft
Martyn Williams
Jamie Heaslip
Mike Phillips
Stephen Jones
Ugo Monye
Jamie Roberts
Brian O’Driscoll
Tommy Bowe
Lee Bryne

Time to clear the deadwood from The Shed

At 5.29pm today, Gloucester Rugby released a statement on the clubs official website stating that Head Coach Dean Ryan had left his position "by mutual consent". It brought to a climax the 7-year rugby mirage that has been the former England No.8's tenure at Kingsholm. The tired cliché talks of 'rollercoaster' seasons, but for cherry and white's fans' it's been more like sitting on a lilo in the Southern Ocean. Highlights have arisen as quickly as they been brought crashing back down again, an opening in the waves for the team to sail to glory has appeared, only for the storm to whip up once more and blow them 5o miles back again. However hard a vast array of expensively assembled crew have paddled the side has stood still. The hapless captain had to leave the ship before the whole thing went down.

No trophies in his entire tenure as Director of Rugby would read as a disappointing statistic in itself, but is was the manner of the failures. Twice Gloucester topped the final Premiership standings, failing to convert regular season dominance into overall titles on both occasions. At European club rugby’s top table, Gloucester must register as one of the continents biggest underachievers with their negligable impact on the competitions business stages. Their last visit to a final, this year's EDF Energy Cup against Cardiff Blues at Twickenham also culminated in spectacular failure. And it is this that is perhaps the most damming indictment of the Ryan era. It is not only the failure to finally convert a talented squad and strong overall season form in to big game success; it is the fact that the failures have been quite so cataclysmic! It is all very well after a big game mauling to churn out how you have learnt a hard and valuable lesson and that you'll go away and come back stronger at the next opportunity. However, when all the evidence consistently suggests that you have done nothing of the sort, questions need to be asked of the man at the top. Far from looking like a man who had garnered, painfully acquired tactical nouse for the big occasion, Ryan looked increasingly clueless and predictably reactive.

Demolition by the Tiger's twin south sea island wrecking balls, Rambeni and Tuilagi, in 06/07 Grand Final convinced Ryan, to a large extent, to move away from the expansive style of play that had served Gloucester so well in the league and try win the war up front with sides in the biggest games. Whilst Gloucester obviously needed to adapt their exhilarating, yet lightweight, style of play there was very much a case of the old adage "throwing the baby out with the bath water". This is what I mean by Ryan being reactive; he swung the Gloucester tactics to the polar opposite following the Leicester defeat, which meant when they faced Munster in the following seasons Heineken Quarter-Final at Kingsholm the side had clearly been wound up in to frenzy about how physical they needed to be. Ryan pushed the side so far that they spent all day trying to maul Munster down the field, pummel them round the fringes, or simply run over them. It was, as the result demonstrated, a complete disaster. Gloucester went away from everything that was good about their own game in an attempt to counteract the Munster power, and subsequently played right into the men from Thomond Park's hands. Ryan had simply reacted to being beaten by force at Twickenham by trying to recreate that same style in his own side, when the talents of his squad clearly didn't lend themselves to such tactics.

The next big game arrived in the Play-Off Semi-Finals the following month. Following defeat to Munster Ryan had said he felt the side were "moving in the right direction". For the first hour at home to Leicester it looked like maybe he was right, and that the painful lessons were going to pay dividends. However, Ryan was again to come up tactically short. Ryan clearly didn't have a strategy for how to close out big games. It seemed as though the game plan was either to blow the opposition so far out the game with Plan A that they wouldn't need a closing out tactic, or if the game was close going in to the final quarter, simply allow the players in the decision making positions to make it up as they went along. The latter would have perhaps been acceptable had Ryan's inconsistent selection, dreadful man management and scatter gun recruitment policy not dictated that most of the important combinations on the field had never been together consistently enough to instinctively know how to kill off big games. The Munster's and Leicester's of this world have tried and tested combinations that have been in these situations time and again, win or lose, they know they can withstand the pressure and get the side past the winning post. Their teammates subsequently believe that these combinations will hold firm and that the team ARE going to get the job done. At Gloucester, there has been none of this confidence and belief. All they know is failure and then change the combination again, the panic sets in, control is lost, and Andy Goode drops a last minute goal to condemn you to failure once more.

I am not arguing that the players are totally blameless in all this. Seasoned professionals, internationals even, have woefully unperformed when they were most needed; yet again, the man at the top seems to have played his part in this. The side looked totally devoid of ideas, belief, and confidence against Cardiff Blues as they were annihilated in the EDF Energy Cup Final this year. The Coach had once again not armed his players with the appropriate strategy and belief, or more worryingly, the players on this occasion after so many previous disappointments simply didn't trust him anymore. Ryan's man management has got to come into question at this point along side, what we will generously term a recruitment policy. It's a clear return to Ryan's reactive style of management we touched on earlier. If something went wrong all the good went out with the bad in wholesale changes. I'm all for players standing up and earning their place in the starting line up but how is Ryan Lamb consistently meant to come back and turn in top performances in big games when he's just been ditched the previous week and told he's not good enough. Chris Patterson has barely missed a kick before or since his Heineken Cup nightmare so the question has got to be asked why then? One would suggest that if the coach clearly hasn't fancied you for the majority of the season, you’re on the brink of sealing a deal back to Edinburgh as a result, then your confidence and motivation may, justifiably, not be quite all it should for a Heineken Cup Quarter Final. Ryan demanded performances at key times from too many players he hadn't backed previously.

On the key elements of sporting management Ryan ultimately came up short. His tactics were reactive and rigidly one dimensional. With more funds at his disposal that most of his counterparts around the league his recruitment policy seemed to lack clear direction, taking a gamble on a rugby league convert may be a calculated gamble, but two at the same time, for big salaries, seems excessively rash. Ollie Berkley and Chris Patterson went as quickly as they arrived and at one stage this season their were four fly halves on the books in the first team squad, more options than they often had in the back three. His lack of man management skills and inconsistent team selection, when coupled with this recruitment strategy, escalated a lack of confidence and lack of familiarity in the squad. In difficult situations in tight games the best sides fall back on that shared experience of how to get through the situation something Ryan’s squad was never afforded through constant chopping and changing, particularly in the back row, where not only did the personnel change, but the positions they were playing in. Belief that Ryan could finally end the wait for trophies had dissipated, from supporters, players and ultimately ownership. As Tom Walkinshaw told a local radio interview “One week we could beat almost anyone, the next week we couldn't beat a carpet.” Former Scotland scrum half Bryan Redpath steps up to hot seat now. He will have plenty of weapons, but needs to change the culture of the club before success can finally come to Kingsholm.

Apologies for the lack of recent activity, both personal and technical issues have arisen to cause an inconviniant break in play! We hope you enjoy the upcoming articles and please feel free to contact us either in the comments section for individual posts, or more generally at mail@theXV.co.uk.

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theXV

Luck of the Irish?

Friday night should have been a night to savour for the Munster players. Victory at Musgrave Park over the Scarlets put the side on the brink of their second Celtic League title, their first for 6 years and since the re-branding and restructure of the league. They are looking forward to an unprecedented 8th Heineken Cup Semi-Final in the last 10 seasons. The province provided 11 of Ireland's Grand Slam winning squad and 8 will be touring South Africa this summer for the Lions, more than any other club or province. A night to saviour then, for the successes already achieved this season, and for the exciting challenges ahead. None, perhaps, had more to saviour than young scrum-half Tomas O'Leary. The man of Cork, playing at his club side Dolphins HQ should really have been able to savour what has been his "coming-out" party in to high class rugby society. He has of course featured in previous Munster triumphs, notably last seasons Heineken Cup win, but there is a feeling that this year it is more his achievements, after taking over the number 9 jersey for both Munster and Ireland from his Cork based colleague Peter Stringer. Heartbreaking then on a night that should have been a celebration of this young mans progress, that he should see his season ended so innocuously in the ninth minute, with a fracture and dislocation of the ankle. The cruel irony to cap it off? The injury was inadvertently inflicted by his team mate and fellow Lions selection Alan Quinlan. Luck of the Irish hey? Don't tell Tomas that.

O'Leary's absence is certainly a Lions concern. The removal of the only form 9 selected for the tour makes the battle ground with Fourie du Preez even more daunting. O'Leary may not be the flashiest or physical of scrum-halves but is understanding with O'Gara was a huge positive, as was his mounting collection of big game, pressure performances. Scotland skipper Mike Blair would perhaps now be the most obvious candidate to step in. Many, including this blog, felt that Blair was perhaps a little unfortunate to miss out in the first place, seeming to be omitted purely to make a point. It is fair to say that Blair, like the Scottish team as a whole, was not exactly inspiring in this years 6 Nations. True also that Edinburgh with Blair in the side have once again failed to make an impact at home or in Europe. However Blair hasn't particularly done anything wrong, he just hasn't particularly stood out since sparkling autumn form pushed him, for some commentators, into captaincy contention. This would be a fair enough reason to omit him if the same couldn't be said of the other half backs that did make it. Phillips, like the Ospreys and Wales, has tailed off with worrying rapidity. Further, after touching on luck earlier in this article, one has to ask how many four leaf clovers Harry Ellis has stashed away! Uninspiring, ill disciplined and not even the best 9 at his club, Ellis doesn't exactly fill you with confidence for the battle ahead with the World's best scrum-half.

England's Danny Care would add a bit of "x-factor". Searingly quick, alert to opportunities for breaks around the base and coming from a club side full of confidence and playing some of the most attacking rugby in the European club game. However his worrying penchant for mind numbingly foolish decisions on and off the field (perhaps most notoriously a ludicrous sin binning against Ireland in the 6 Nations and his drunken antics in the company of Mike Brown and Topsy Ojo between Test matches on England’s summer tour last year. The actions were later investigated by New Zealand police as part of sexual harassment charges brought against the players) do not aid his case. Neither has Care proven in a big game that he can take control and make a difference, the Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat against Leinster being a case in point. He has an opportunity to do so in the Guinness Premiership play-offs however, so maybe an outside bet. Chris Cusiter seems a more likely bet. A man riding high at the top of the French Top 14 with Perpignan, Cusiter was even entrusted to supply Daniel Carter ball on his brief stay in France. Cusiter has perhaps been unfortunate not to have forced his way in to the Scotland's starting 15 owing to Blair being captain. He has certainly shown both domestically and from the bench internationally that he is in better for than his national skipper and could even make a late run at the Lions test 15 if selected as O'Leary's replacement.

A final name and perhaps the most intriguing of the lot. O’Leary’s misfortune may well be to his provincial competitor Peter Stringer's gain. Stringer's second half of the season form as an impact number 9 has been a revelation. A man of the match performance at Murrayfield in the 6 Nations will have done know harm either and, if you think about it, he is almost the most logical replacement. The squad dynamic would not change at all; 14 Irishmen with 8 men of Munster still. A player the captain clearly knows and trusts with an even better relationship with O'Gara at fly half than O'Leary. Tried and tested in big games, still bringing a winning mentality and a vast experience of big games. He would not be first choice but ideal in the midweek squad and to perform a similar role as he has done for Ireland this season emerging from the bench with half an hour to go to either steady the ship or inject some fresh impetus with his snappy delivery. With big games left now as Munster's first choice he has the perfect opportunity to make the decision for the selectors. Luck of the Irish hey? Perhaps for Peter Stringer.

It seems to me that Blair may again miss out given that his opportunities between now and the end of the season a severely limited to impress. Therefore I feel Messer’s Howley and McGeechan may well be collecting their tickets for Heineken Cup, Guinness Premiership play-offs and Top 14 Grand Finals as the 3 form candidates battle it out for the newly open seat on the plane. It's going to be fun watching!

"Oh my life is changing every day in every possible way"

Moyross, North Limerick is plenty famous. In the early 1990s a girl by the name of Dolores O'Riordan replied to an advert placed by Moyross based brothers Noel and Mike Hogan. They were seeking a lead singer for their band The Cranberry Saw Us. Not only did her voice blow them away but with her she had a rough copy of a track she'd written called 'linger'. Over a decade later, via multi-platinum album sales worldwide, the Cranberries (as they would become) had become one of the most successful bands of the '90's. Their phenomenal success angled a celebratory spotlight on Limerick.

Unfortunately the nature of the spotlight pointed at the city has not always been so endearing. "Stab City" as it was christened in the 1980s has been plagued by tit-for-tat gang violence and anti-social behaviour. The Cranberries home estate of Moyross has sadly been at the heart of the troubles, with grim arson attacks and drive by shootings in the past. Just last month 18 year old Darren Bennet died of stab wounds after an altercation at a party on the estate where he had been celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. Dolores O'Riordan once said that "[the] key is to realize that there’s always hope.” There isn't always a liberal splashing of that particular commodity in a place like Moyross.

What may give rise to some though is the regeneration scheme launched by President Mary McAleese last year. It includes plans for a complete rebuild of the Moyross estate; including 2,000 new homes, a library and new public facilities for sports. Similarly perhaps, the exploits of another one of their own on the world stage may inspire. In a field that defines Limerick, rugby. Keith Earls selection for 2009 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa was announced Wednesday. It is a richly deserved accolade for the diminutive Moyross speedster. He burst onto the seen with a try in the Munster Senior Schools Cup final win for St Munchins College; a Gold Cup winning stable for future Irish Rugby thoroughbreds. Like fellow alumni Keith Wood, Marcus Horan, Anthoney Foley and Jerry Flannery he went on to represent Munster and Ireland; making his Munster debut the year after leaving school, at the Liberty Stadium in April 2007. He has since become a regular in the side wrestling the 13 jersey from Rua Tupoki and making it his own with consistently scintillating performances, none more so than his two try salvo against the Ospreys in the Heineken quarter final ten days ago.


If his blistering pace is his most obvious asset then his lightning quick feet are his most dangerous with a fluidity off both that simply cannot be coached. That is perhaps what makes this talent so special. In the run up to his selection in this squad pundits both side of the water have labelled him a 'stepper' and suggested his selection would suit 'the firm tracks'. This is of course true but is nowhere close to the full picture. Earls was once described to me by a fellow AIB player as "the most natural rugby player" he'd seen, and that "if he [Earls] didn't make it [play higher than AIB]" then something in rugby had gone seriously wrong. When running in traffic between the tackles it's as though everyone else is in slow motion; from deep, defensive waves seem to part for him. But most importantly he doesn't just see the opportunity he backs his ability to execute it. From the school fields of south west Ireland to Thomond Park this aspect of his game has never changed; he will see, believe and exploit. That is what makes Keith Earls a special rugby talent.

It seems more than ironic that on the day of his Ireland debut (on which he scored against Canada at Thomond Park) Shane Geoghegan, a member of Limerick's famous Garryowen rugby club, became the latest victim of the city's gangland feud. Earls' achievements and talents can be immediately contrasted to the struggles of his roots. Like The Cranberries he is a reminder that sport and music, as much as physical regeneration, can engineer social mobility. An escape. Hope. The biggest thing to come out of Moyross since The Cranberries has the opportunity to put Moyross back in the world spotlight for the right reasons.

Only True Lions Wanted as toughest test nears

The nervous anticipation for the announcement of the 2009 British and Irish Lions tourists was punctuated, bizarrely by an almost tranquil calm, the minute Tour Manager Gerald Davies appeared, stage left at the Sofitel Heathrow. Davies,twice a lion himself, appeared to no great fanfare, light show or highlight reel montage of his exploits as one of Northern Hemisphere rugby's undoubted greats. His history and standing, like that of the British and Irish Lions speaks for itself and was allowed to do so. This set the tone from start to finish; the Lions needs no extra hype, no ramping up of anticipation it is simply the greatest honour a professional rugby player in these four nations can have. It was an enormous relief after the debacle of the previous tour and was the first sign of hope, that a return to true Lions values has been brought about and that is something in which we can all take our first fillet of confidence.

This confidence was not to be unfounded in the squad itself either. True to his word Ian McGeechan picked a more manageable squad of just 37 compared to 45 last time around. This has left genuine test opportunities for all concerned with even the most densely populated positions in the squad being contested by 5 guys for 2 places. The coach also backed up his claims that reputation would count least in his selection process and thus national captains Steve Borthwick, Mike Blair and Ryan Jones will see their passports stamped with summer tours to the Americas and not South Africa. Jones in particular must be starting to wonder what he got up to in a previous life. From leadership front runner and hunting back to back Grand Slams his rugby world seems to have disintegrated around him. A flat EDF semi final performance, demolition at Thomond Park and those narrow defeats to France and Ireland have sadly defined Jones' season. The stand out player of the 2005 tour and nominee for the 2008 IRB world player of the year(as was Blair) must still be losing sleep over whether Gavin Henson should have been thrown that ball with seconds left at the Millennium in March's 6Nations decider. Injuries seem to be as regular part of Lions tradition as the court judge however, so maybe we will get to see what Jones is truly made of. Ospreys collapse in the last 2 months perhaps did similarly for the versatile James Hook who looked to be in prime position for the third fly half spot. His time, like that of another undoubtedly talented youngster Danny Cipriani, may well be in future tours.

An Osprey at the other end of the spectrum must be Adam Jones. The Welsh prop who has played like a member of the "hair bear bunch", not just resembled one, in recent weeks can count himself fortunate that the ever underrated John Hayes has again been bitterly unlucky to miss out on the recognition he deserves. Perhaps pushing Hayes for most unfortunate holiday maker is England and Leicester blind side Tom Croft. Croft seems (perhaps with Delon Armitage) to be the only player to have missed out purely on squad balance and tactics and not form. Looking at the probable shape of the test back row Croft's undoubted skills don't seem to blend with skill sets of the other selections to create a balanced back row. Whilst speed is vital to keep the ball away from the giant spring bock pack the Lions also need to be able to retain it at ruck time and most probably defend their line for long periods. With Martyn Williams the obvious choice as a spoiler and ball player at open side the Lions 6 needs to be physical both in defence and in enabling the quick ball needed to move the Springbok front 5 around. 6 will also most likely need to be a gain line ball carrier off slow ball, particularly if Jamie Heaslip is, as he seems to be right now, first choice at no.8. One big back row carrier is simply not going to be enough and it is not particularly Heaslip's game at any rate. Therefore I predict that Stephen Ferris is the man heading up the queue for the number 6 slot with Andy Powell as an impact carrier from the bench in the last half hour. Croft isn't a big ball carrier and neither is Williams, it is therefore impossible in my opinion for them to be in the same side, this coupled with Crofts relative inexperience in a squad that isn't burgeoning with such a commodity depreciated his value to the mid week side and thus, wily veteran Alan Quinlan snuck in ahead of him. However if Williams were to lose out to Worsley, a ball carrying 7, for the open side slot then leaving Croft seems a huge error.

The squad as a whole is a reassuring blend of battle hardened pros and just enough magic and element of the unknown to keep the Springboks interested. The use of partnerships in the squad such as Tomas O'leary and Ronan O'Gara, Tom Shanklin and Jamie Roberts, Paul O'Connell and Donnacha O'Callaghan seems astute both as a method of quick bonding and understanding, as well as tried and tested combinations to face up to their greatest test yet. With 25 of the squad having won Grand Slams in the last 2 years, and 8 from European rugby's school of winners Munster as well as men such as double World Cup finalist Phil Vickery, the Lions management seem to have gathered men of a like minded, big game winning mentality which will be so vital.

Despite a lot of doom and gloom mungers in the press the squad looks strong. The front row battle ground looks to be an area on which the Lions can build a platform. Gethin Jenkins is in fine form, Vickery whatever his critics argue a powerful scrummager and Euan Murray perhaps the most destructive scrummaging force about at the moment. Murray lest we forget turned in a man of the match performance against the Springboks back in the autumn as he almost single handedly demolished the World Champions scrummage. All Black captain Richie McCaw described England as the greatest physical challenge in World rugby after his sides victory last summer so the presence of Shaw, Worsley, Sherridan, Vickery and Mears in the forwards is perhaps more cause for optimism that it initially seems. In Leigh Halfpenny, Keith Earls and Rikki Flutey there are relative international unknowns with game breaking ability. Brian O'Driscoll is again showing why many feel he is still the finest player in the world, both goal kickers are reliable and both Kearney and Byrne, the full back options, are excellent under the high ball and kick it miles, perfect for the altitude tests when allied with their searing counter-attacking ability. There seems in all an exciting blend of guys with reputations to create and those who have a point to prove. A Lions series victory would take the O'Gara's, O'Connell's, Williams' to the next level, enhance themselves as true greats of the game, in summation there are a lot of hungry Lions.

Having said that South Africa rightly start as favourites. Their options in most areas of the field are embarrassingly plentiful. Whilst injuries to key Lions would spell disaster if the best Springbok china gets broken they simply wheel out an equally opulent trinket to replace it . Forget the Springbok first team for a second and glance around the reserves and even those outside the squad. Would either Ndungane ride the bench for the Lions? or Kankowski? Juan Smith not even in the squad??!! All the articles of a Springbok persuasion this week have highlighted 2 things; firstly how hungry the South Africans are to avenge 12 years ago, and secondly, for the Lions players the cycle if you miss out is every four years, for these Springbok players they could get 3 or 4 goes at a World Cup but this could be their one and only shot at a Lions series win. The Lions players interviewed this week have spoken of their selection being the pinnacle of their careers, it is merely the start if they want to come away with anything other than defeat.

Before the slide show of squad inclusions had whirred into action there were already omissions to laud the coaching panel for. Gone is the eurovision monstrosity"power of four" that served, as it happened, as a fittingly cringe worthy prelude to the performances on the field. The army of back room staff has been decimated, Alistair Campbell palmed off to the BBC and single rooms consigned to history in a return to a shared experience. As Ian McGeechan famously told the victorious 1997 Lions, no one else will understand the bond they have, one day many years in the future they would bump into each other and that experience would be expressed with just a smile or a nod, the Lions is about a unique collective not a razmataz travelling troupe. In short those type of Lions have been returned to the circus, the true Lions have been called for.