Old wolves and young tyros given their heads

Although making 10 changes, Declan Kidney seems to have got the balance just right, writes Gerry Thornley

AS MUST-WIN games go this, curiously, is also something of a no-win game for Ireland. Win well, and it will be dismissed as a thin, relatively immaterial filling in between the mighty Springboks and the almighty All Blacks.

Suffer an unthinkable defeat, or win poorly, and the fall-out doesn’t bear contemplating.

But the must-win part, and winning well, has assumed an even greater importance in light of last Saturday and the ensuing Saturday, and to that end Declan Kidney and co have certainly not reacted as conservatively as other coaching tickets might have done.

In making 10 changes they have also struck a balance between affording opportunities to experienced old wolves (there are seven thirtysomethings) and a smattering of younger tyros. Those 10 players will go into Saturday’s game believing they have a gilt-edged chance to stake a claim for the All Blacks game as well. And that’s how it should be.

Take the halfbacks. Jonathan Sexton may yet be given his opportunity against the All Blacks, but Ronan O’Gara reminded everyone on Saturday, not that any of us should really have needed any reminding, that he will rage against the challenge laid down to him by the emergence of Sexton with every fibre of his being.

The notion that Sexton should have been kept on to see out the 80 minutes against the Springboks as part of his education in game management would have been a waste of O’Gara. It’s akin to when David Humphreys wasn’t of a mind to let go of the number 10 after O’Gara first emerged on the Test scene over a decade ago.

The pressure Humprheys maintained on O’Gara, and vice versa, was good for both the younger and older man, as well as Irish rugby, witness how O’Gara replaced Humphreys to help steer Ireland past Argentina by a point in the pivotal pool game in Adelaide.

When O’Gara, albeit far from alone, was off colour at the 2007 World Cup, there was no Plan B. Ireland need two outhalves jousting with each other right up into the 2011 World Cup and beyond.

Scrumhalf is possibly the most important player in striving for a higher tempo game, and the case for re-instating the quickest service around could become even more compelling for Peter Stringer after this Saturday.

Starting his first Test since the Canada/USA tour those two summers ago – prior to which he last started against Australia in June 2008 under Michael Bradley – the 92-times capped Munster slinger will also be straining at the leash.

Benefiting from Tomás O’Leary’s misfortune, Stringer has appeared re-energised in recent weeks, varying his game nicely against Toulon by either moving away from the breakdown or planting his feet in trademark, textbook fashion, and his passing has been as good as ever.

With the changed emphasis in the laws, his ability to give all those outside him extra invaluable seconds is looking back in vogue.

As important or significant as the changed team will be the mindset which, if not changed, will certainly be altered.

Amid the global clarion call to ape the All Blacks, there’s clearly been a realisation within the squad environment that Ireland possibly tried to go too far down that road against South Africa, especially as the weather last Saturday made that road very slippery.

The Springboks, by comparison, played the conditions better.

Lamenting their own tally of 29 turnovers against South Africa, ranging from lost lineouts to knock-ons and players being tackled into touch, Kidney said: “We must learn to cherish the ball that little bit more.”

Very tellingly, he also admitted: “We were bitterly disappointed after last week, we know we can play better, but we have a plan and we don’t want to tighten up or seize up.

“We want to play an Irish way; we’re not trying to imitate anyone else; we’re just trying to play to our strengths; planned control. I hold my hand up, maybe I didnt cover what happens if it buckets down like it did last week. But we’ll learn from it and I believe we can become a better side for it.”

For Kidney to admit that was brave, and all too rare in modern-day culture, while as revealing was his statement about not trying to ape other teams – presumably the All Blacks – and developing an Irish way of playing.

Maintaining the theme, all the more so with 10 changes, Brian O’Driscoll also spoke about “balancing our game” and “playing our way into the game and don’t try miracle plays early on. It’s about building, and building the focus and momentum in those sort of games.

“All Test sides need breaking down these days no matter who they are so we’ll go about it the same way we do the vast majority of Test matches.”

Of course, all of this hinges on applying the basics – most notably quality set-piece ball. But not only is it a more experienced side, you go through each department and you cannot say it’s noticeably weakened – if anything it looks stronger in some areas.

Tom Court deserves his chance at loosehead, and as with the scrum, the lineout oughtn’t to be diluted by the first cap afforded the 6ft 10in Devin Toner nor, indeed, the return of the human forklift that is John Hayes.

Admittedly it might also help that the Samoans don’t have the likes of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha in their ranks.

There wouldn’t have been much between Seán O’Brien and David Wallace last week anyway, and Denis Leamy will be as hungry as the other recalled Munster warhorses in what looks a well balanced backrow.

A good, balanced side.

But then again, some of us thought that a week ago too.