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.