Doug Howlett: Schmidt can be Ireland’s trump card

There was a period in Rugby World Cup history where the narrative for the All Blacks read like it had been ripped from the pages of a 'penny dreadful'. Expectations were never but soaring, but somehow, some way the ghoulish storyline held strong and every four years we caught a glimpse of New Zealand's ugly side. Then 2011 arrived, a home tournament and they fell over the line.

Doug Howlett was not there when they first won it in 1987 or four years ago but remembers some of the times in the 24 intervening years. He played in 2003. The All Blacks were favourites. They came third. In 2007 his hat-trick against Italy in the south of France drew him level with Christian Cullen's All Black record for tries. Another try against Scotland beat it as he went on to reach 49. Again New Zealand went home empty-handed.

Howlett understands expectation and trying to live up to them and while Ireland is far from New Zealand, anyone looking at the pool configurations can rightly place something of a burden on Joe Schmidt and his players.

A pool win against France, a good quarter-final pairing and the Irish team are chasing the stars. In many minds, the script is already written, assumptions made. All that is left is a twist.

Year in advance

“The coach will play a huge, huge part,” says Howlett of Schmidt. “The vision, the game plan and the management of the players . . . all of those revolve around him. These things don’t happen on the day. They happen a year in advance.

“Joe, he’s shown all these attributes and I’d say it’s encouraging going into a World Cup. He’s shown his managing ability.”

When Howlett scored his three tries on a scorching day in Marseille, for a few hours he became the most sought-after player in the most glamorous team in the world. That made little difference. New Zealand struggled with leading from the front.

South Africa won it, beating England 15-6 in the final, with Argentina coming in third, beating France in the playoff.

The formidable All Blacks were in the rearview mirror, Ireland too.

“There have been some hard lessons that have been learned,” he says. “As part of 2003 and 2007, going in as favourites we learned lessons at those tournaments and I was just happy we were able to scrape through in 2011.

“There is more of an understanding of it now, of performing under expectation. At the time it was the school of hard knocks.

“For Ireland it will be challenging. The World Cup is a one-off tournament and everybody is at their best. What it could come down to is one game, a quarter-final or a pool game. Ireland will have to be at their best and constantly show their worth.

Follow through

“The Six Nations this year, I think we all saw it. There was an expectation and Ireland managed to follow through.

“However, it’s not easy leading from the front. The All Blacks have proven that and it is a skill . . . it is one that I hope Ireland is developing as we speak.”

Bordeaux in 2007 still haunts Irish players. Lens and Argentina in a previous generation also slapped down a hopeful Irish squad. But Howlett, now working with Munster, hopes provincial success can benefit Ireland.

Both Munster and Leinster have learned the skill of winning on demand. A semi-final? Ireland shouldn't shy away from targeting the last four and believing the team belongs.

Within reach

“Absolutely,” says the former winger. “With everybody on the field, Ireland has proven that’s within their reach. A match against an Argentine team would be tough but it would be a target to aim for.

“Knockout rugby is something the Irish team is familiar with. The Leinster and Munster teams have been through that environment.

“Again the coach’s role will be crucial in terms of management of players, managing emotional levels as you go though the tournament. It will be about repeat performances. France is going to be a big game in the pool. It’s going to be about managing the emotional arousal of the group and having them up for those games.”

Howlett has been in Munster long enough now he growing that famous chip on his shoulder. He talks of the eight, nine, 10 axis, the brains of the team but also of having the right players on the pitch.

O’Connell bullying, Sexton controlling, Kearney commanding, Healy and Ross rock solid. Those things, he says don’t happen by chance. Schmidt’s role is to conduct his players.

With that Kiwi in place, he believes, Ireland travel more on faith than in hope.