Winning picks a question of balance

Interview with Eddie O'Sullivan Gerry Thornley talks to the Ireland head coach about selection policies and the year ahead

Viewed at first glance, Anthony Foley's absence from the 34-man Irish squad that completes a three-day mini-camp today was the most eye-catching and could perhaps be interpreted as signalling the end of his involvement at Test level. Nevertheless, Eddie O'Sullivan yesterday insisted the omission of the 62-times-capped Munster captain did not necessarily mean he had drunk at the last-chance saloon.

Pointing out that Leo Cullen was in a similar position, O'Sullivan stated, "My headset for this particular camp was that I know what certain guys out there . . . are capable of. And I will judge form from now into the Heineken (European Cup).

"I've got to pick the best 30 players for the autumn, so there's no gimmes. Anthony Foley isn't here because there are other guys I want to look at - guys who did a lot of good in the Churchill Cup. So it's just a bit of a fact-finding mission for me as well."

The primary focus of this early-season training camp is Ireland's phase attack, their continuity and defensive system. In words that might make the provincial coaches wince, O'Sullivan explained that this week allowed more contact sessions than might be possible in the weeks of internationals.

Most of the frontliners return next week after a five-week holiday and a nine-week pre-season, in time for back-to-back "interpro" rounds of the Magners League.

"That certainly won't be an easy start for them and will certainly get them back to reality pretty quickly, and then (after one more round of the Celtic League) it's into the Heineken. So what I'm trying to do now is to leave the provinces to get on with it," said O'Sullivan.

A sprinkling of those on the fringes of the summer squad had their pre-seasons reduced to seven or eight weeks in coming back a little earlier for their provinces.

"Cutting it below is a very harsh thing to do," said O'Sullivan of this balancing act, "because I think you're then bordering on what the players are getting in England and what we are trying to avoid, namely a five-week pre-season."

The catalogue of injuries to England's frontline players is more than sufficient vindication of Ireland's policy, all the more so with a smaller playing pool.

"The predominant principle behind it is that you can't make gains and strengths in power in the short term, you can only make them in longer-term blocks. The perfect scenario for us - which we'll never get, I believe - is what New Zealand have done; they've taken a block of seven weeks and built their power, then gone away and come back again for another seven weeks. The way our season is structured we can't do that, so we've got to try to condense that block and make it as productive as possible."

To start compromising on this by, say, three weeks per year would equate to the loss of one pre-season every four years.

"When you're building strength and power, it's like shovelling coal into a furnace. It's a slow process and you can't get it done in two or three weeks."

Next summer, the most Ireland can plan into the players' schedule is a three-week holiday and a five-week pre-season, which is submerged in a programme of at least 16 Tests between now and this time next year: ie, the end of the World Cup pool stages. Nor will there be any respite before another end-of-season tour in 2008.

Of the 34 present this week, Frankie Sheahan sustained a groin problem in Munster's defeat in Glasgow and Geordan Murphy picked up minor knocks, which obliged them to sit out yesterday's training, but both are expected to train today.

The Wasps contingent of Jeremy Staunton, Eoin Reddan and Peter Bracken were rested from Monday's work after their 42-23 victory over Harlequins on Sunday. Apparently the earth at Adams Park is still trembling from Bracken's extravagant swallow dive to celebrate his first try for the club.

Sheahan's return is all the more welcome given Jerry Flannery has been sidelined until the new year by a shoulder operation. "It's a bit of a worry losing Jerry, but Frankie has come through and is playing well for Munster. He's hit the ground running, in fairness to him, when everybody was worrying if he even would be back at all."

The next time an Irish squad, of 30 or so, will assemble will be on Sunday October 29th, two weeks before the three autumnal matches, against South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands, in what will assuredly be an emotional farewell to Lansdowne Road as we've come to know it.

O'Sullivan intends to dig deeper into the pool of players with a view to broadening the base of the squad for the World Cup: "We still want to win the three Tests, but I think there's a little more depth in the squad. Not in every position, but in a fair few positions. If things go to plan and we get a healthy squad I'll definitely have more elbow room over the three weeks and I'd like to use that opportunity if I can. But as soon as you say that, you pick up three or four injuries and your hands are tied again."

The Six Nations will not be used in any experimental form, with the World Cup in mind, but the decision to bring the World Cup forward by a month has put a squeeze on the end to this season. The Churchill Cup begins in the week of the final of the European Cup, and seven days later Ireland play the first of two Tests against Argentina.

This has echoes of 2000, when Munster lost by 9-8 in the European Cup final to Northampton and a week later Ireland lost a Test in Buenos Aires. But O'Sullivan is not of a mind to emulate England in talking of bringing a second XV to Argentina.

"I think Test rugby is Test rugby, and we've got to make sure that we keep getting good performances. It's very early to say what type of squad you'll bring, but we certainly won't be going to Argentina with a makey-uppy squad. There'd be no benefit for anybody in that."

Coach's manual: Eddie O'Sullivan talks about key issues

On the make-up of the 34-man squad in camp this week

"I know Anthony Foley is out there, and Leo Cullen is out there. John Kelly and Anthony Horgan pulled out this week, but I'll not lose any sleep over that.

"In fact it gives me a chance to see Luke Fitzgerald and Robert Kearney closer up.

"This squad isn't the autumn squad by any stretch of the imagination. I have to pick the form players, and rewarding form is a good dynamic for the players as well."

On balancing the players' pre-seasons and game time

"It's a problem for everybody in the Northern Hemisphere - the length of the season, the shortness of the off-season and the number of games that fellas are having to play. And to be fair, I'd be the first to say we are very fortunate in Ireland that (the union) gives us a fair bit of control over that. It's not perfect, there are compromises for everybody involved, but at the end of the day I think the players are the primary concern in getting them through the year."

On overall impressions of the recent Tri-Nations

"I thought Australia were disappointing after they played us. I thought they were going to make a bigger impact in the Tri-Nations. New Zealand were again outstanding and their capacity to rotate their side with that much talent is frightening. South Africa lost their way a bit but got their backs to the wall and to get two wins was very important for them. But Australia are still a team that are coming. It's a good Australian team and come the World Cup they'll always be the dark horses."