. . . based on Key Performance Indicators arising from the provinces' Heineken Cup campaign, writes LIAM TOLAND

‘I TELL YOU what . . . Manoa Samu (sic) is opposite Mafi, I don’t think Mafi will be calling for that one again,” were Will Greenwood’s words on Sky Sports after 20 minutes of the Northampton versus Munster match last Saturday. The score was 13-6 following a penalty try for Northampton resulting from a massive hit on Lifeimi Mafi deep in the Munster 22. Greenwood made sense in that Samu Manoa had smashed Mafi then James Coughlan and finally Donncha O’Callaghan in that opening half.

Getting Manoa’s name back to front was one thing but Greenwood neglected to spot or simply understand his words couldn’t be further from the truth. Not one Munster player would shy away from the challenge and, having never met Mafi, I’m judging his mental approach on observing him from the stand. I’ve no doubt Mafi would have been shouting for the ball so he could run at Manoa and right the wrong from earlier.

My business is constantly hunting for improvements year on year, primarily by reviewing the previous year and building a new business plan to tackle upcoming challenges. I centre this process on Key Performance Indicators (KPI). With an extraordinary Heineken Cup campaign behind us all four provinces have brilliantly negotiated their various specific challenges. With Ireland facing Wales Sunday week in the Six Nations I wonder can these KPIs specific to the provinces be blended into an Irish jersey.

This question is all the more pertinent considering the limited time available and our opponents the last time we played; what were Ireland’s KPIs in Wellington on October 8th last and are they relevant on Sunday week? Greenwood, like Harlequins, Leicester and Northampton, failed to understand one of the great building blocks of Irish rugby – that Mafi would love another shot at Manoa; provincial KPI one, never give up.

Contrast Munster’s reaction to that penalty try where they smashed the resultant kick-off receivers. Munster, especially O’Callaghan, followed up like lunatics to pressurise (KPI 2) the Saints into an immediate turnover. Coughlan, who had a marvellous match, especially on ball-carrying, made massive yards into the Saints, where Munster hit the gain line fast (KPI 3), targeting weak shoulders and a ferocious clear-out that provided quick ball and room to manoeuvre for the much-maligned backs.

Munster, strictly business, get an immediate three points back – over to you Northampton. Munster are next to score, 13-9, before Northampton’s Ryan Lamb kicks a beauty of a drop-goal, turns and enjoys a giggle and chat with Ben Foden. Nice drop-goal but it’s too early to celebrate. One minute later Munster score through BJ Botha, who had been murdered (KPI 1) in the scrum earlier for the penalty try – 19 all.

The next KPI (4) is very hard to quantify but was evident in all four ties last week – that of mental/physical fitness levels. How Connacht made it to 80 minutes I’ll never know. Leinster spent nearly 15 minutes defending their try line against the biggest club team in French rugby, whose loosehead prop Na’ama Leleimalefaga must have the biggest bottom I’ve ever seen. Leinster’s resilience and technique repelled Montpellier and the French side looked exhausted.

Leinster can play their game at tempo and gain in energy as they progress. Ulster have also developed a beautiful blend of pace, power and a pack that can bend and twist with the opposition until their chance arrives. Obviously, Munster are past masters.

KPI 5 is the breakdown, an area which has been of enormous benefit to the provinces, where their technique and ferocity have dominated all-comers. Where technique has eluded them, weight of numbers has saved them. But an interesting development has occurred over the past few weeks where a better blend of positions have committed to the ruck. Munster’s Simon Zebo, for instance, scored three tries last week, which interests me mildly. It is his work-rate and, in particular, hunting, turning lost causes into victories, that impressed me but he also engaged in much more quality rucking, which adds huge value to the breakdown.

For years Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll have been ploughing this lonely furrow but now the provincial players, regardless of position, are contributing to this dominance at the breakdown.

Where the provinces diverge is in the subsequent use of that ruck ball, but that is improving. Zebo’s first try was provided by Denis Hurley’s fantastic hands (KPI 6?), having sucked in Jamie Elliott and Foden.

However, earlier in play, Paul O’Connell found himself in midfield, having been a major carrier to that point, but this time he was cut out by O’Gara to Keith Earls. O’Connell had carried and out of nowhere was being used as a decoy to fix buckets in midfield, eking out inches of space for Zebo. Great variety from the forwards and much needed at Ireland level.

An even more difficult KPI to quantify is that of skill. From a dead ruck on 25 minutes 30 seconds Conor Murray kicked high and Elliot fielded but got hammered by Donnacha Ryan and so turned over the ball (KPI 2). However, watch openside wing forward Peter O’Mahony’s actions on 25 minutes 40 seconds where his left-hand spin pass to O’Gara was as good as Peter Stringer’s – beautiful.

The provinces managed huge pressure from the opposition and when the chance arose used great skill. Again here is where the provinces diverge slightly; their use of skill.

Leinster are more balanced, with a better count-attack (Rob Kearney much improved) and much better variety off the breakdown. Munster will always cling to the gain-line attack around the fringes and Ulster are coming up fast behind. How Ireland elect to redress this imbalance under pressure will be very interesting indeed.

Defensive structures (KPI 7) have been very tight as Ulster, Leinster and Munster progressed into the play-offs with a healthy try differential skewed only by Clermont’s mauling of Aironi. Clearly Wales made much of the Irish defensive lapses last October.

The team best suited to the Welsh challenge based on form, effect and ability to blend the KPIs would be as follows; Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Fergus McFadden, Gordon D’Arcy, Andrew Trimble (wing switch required), Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Donnacha Ryan, Paul O’Connell, Stephen Ferris, Jamie Heaslip and Seán O’Brien. As a caveat to the above, out-and-out pace combined with deftness of touch should be prioritised, with Luke Fitzgerald and Keith Earls first on my team sheet, but the above back line will be very hard to navigate.

Next week’s team announcement will afford a better opportunity to delve into the individual performances that will affect the team but my biggest concern for Sunday week centres on the ability to blend the provincial KPIs in to an Irish jersey under pressure from a very explosive Welsh team. Will the individuals revert to their provincial type and therefore influence the performance of the hybrid? Only time will tell . . .