Provinces need to exploit breakdown possibilities

RUGBY:This weekend should bring in the big guns which will indicate much about the provincial squads, writes LIAM TOLAND

LAST WEEKEND three crucial tries arose directly from the new rules. On 69 minutes Fergus McFadden scored a crucial try for Leinster in beating a very strong Cardiff Blues. Crucial for many reasons, putting his side into a winning position for one, but for me because of the source of the try – counter-attack.

The beautifully, balanced and spatially-aware Isa Nacewa fielded the ball on the blindside and countered. Watch Brian O’Driscoll in these situations where he immediately runs back onto the opposite side of the pitch, away from the ball anticipating a potential run out. Cian Healy powered onto the ball before putting McFadden away. Up till then Leinster chose to kick into field position.

New rules aside I have massive sympathy for our provinces as defences are so tight it’s hardly worth the risk, but Nacewa proved it is. The provinces need to engender the “counter-attack” spirit in the underage structures where defences are a little less exacting; more of that anon.

Last week I discussed the breakdown realities of life in the thirds league. Not pretty stuff. However, the new laws are having an effect on the game even though the Irish provinces have yet to consistently expose the possibilities. Two examples come to mind, both resulting in crucial tries. Munster had an attacking scrum 15 metres out from Edinburgh’s line. Being almost in front of the post Edinburgh’s defence was sweating both sides which adds more weight to my point. Denis Leamy broke right to Tomás O’Leary who popped to the flying Ian Dowling who was aided by the decoy run of Sam Tuitupou with Ronan O’Gara further behind. Dowling was scrambled to the deck by number eight Netani Talei and his ball placement was perfect.

But last season the Fijian Talei would have surfed the tackle back to his feet and if not stolen the ball would have added huge delay to the flow. Donncha O’Callaghan arrived, picked and crashed over before Edinburgh could rearrange.

A split defence ruthlessly exposed by Dowling’s line break and brilliant ball placement was compounded by Edinburgh’s inability to slow the ball. The pace of the break followed by the unaffected ball forced Edinburgh’s “power house” fullback Chris Paterson to fill in at “pillar” – no chance Chris.

The breakdown rules will affect defences close to their own line and attacking teams should maximise this advantage but the real damage will be done way outfield. With the speed of ball coming back, front-five defenders can be badly exposed. Old war horses watch out.

The best defenders in the world wear number 13, where the pace of movement and skill levels are at their optimum. O’Driscoll and co rely heavily on their front five to get back into line quickly and fill the space inside him. In doing so the outside centres will face, worst-case scenario, two attackers. If the front five fail to get into place he will be faced with three or more, a fait accompli. But if the ball is particularly quick the front five will find themselves out of position and forced to act like O’Driscoll.

Such a case arose for Nacewa’s try. All and sundry focused on Luke Fitzgerald’s wonderful hands to unleash Nacewa but it was Cardiff’s secondrow Deiniol Jones who created the space. Again his problem was pace of the Leinster ruck ball. When Isaac Boss arrived at the base he had Nathan Hynes, Richardt Strauss, Fitzgerald and Nacewa outside him facing three and a half defenders. Boss moved quickly, Hynes ran a lazy decoy and Strauss got on the ball. Without thinking Jones (front five) stepped out of the line and hammered Hynes, who was nowhere near the ball. Now Leinster had a three on two with Strauss’ skill uppermost to pass out of the tackle. Fitzgerald simply completed the pass to Nacewa. High skill Strauss, low skill Jones.

This weekend should bring in the big guns which will indicate much about the provincial squads. Ulster have a great chance to tackle Edinburgh but Thomond Park will be my focus. Munster’s team selection will be very interesting. The Ospreys will be bringing their full deck and despite two well-earned wins under their belt Munster will need to step up.

As always Tony Buckley is worth watching closely. But the centre partnership, and in particular All Black Tuitupou will be telling. Based on last week the Ospreys will be full of outside channel running which requires very disciplined and accurate defences. Although similar in physique to Leinster’s centres Tuitupou is more compact than Gordon D’Arcy and O’Driscoll. With the Leinster v Munster clash on October 2nd in mind he appears to be shackled in the English Premiership rugby of hard lines and power plays. This week will prove telling for Munster’s style but I’ll be watching Ospreys defence in midfield and observing Tuitupou’s ability to unlock them with more than power plays.

It’s early days in his Munster career and as the weeks tick by with the winter drawing in, power will be a very useful tool for O’Gara to turn to in times of stagnation but both Leinster and the Ospreys defence will require subtle football to unhinge them. Tuitupou and his potential partner Johne Murphy will need to add much understanding to their repertoire with the hurdles they face in coming weeks.

Finally things are picking up in Connacht but not just for the senior team, this week Munster Schools 5, Connacht Schools 11.

PS: Diary of a third: harping back to the Bruff fixture and the life in the trenches. My ongoing battle with a certain backrow came to a crescendo when a very blatant stiff arm swung into my lip causing considerable claret. On hearing no whistle, I looked up to the referee pointing at the blood and asked “does this guy have diplomatic immunity?”, to which the very concerned referee retorted, “Shut up, you’re grand.”