Provinces mix it up for Kidney

RUGBY ANALYST:SITTING HERE in Thomond Park listening to Declan Kidney, Conor O'Shea and Enda McNulty at a sports and coaching conference, I couldn't help but wander into Kidney's mind. Seven competitive games in and where are we? With his first real squad of the season out this Monday, what must he be thinking?

Over the weeks his main provinces have been evolving under difficult circumstances. There have been huge oscillations in playing styles.

Each week new combinations have evolved due to the drip-feeding of Lions, injuries and provincial coaches’ selection priorities. Lion Robert Kearney was omitted and then restored. Lion Gordan D’Arcy was rotated. Lion Keith Earls has played three games, one at fullback and two on the wing. Lion Luke Fitzgerald has played once at centre, thrice on the wing.

There is serious trouble at tighthead and hooker. Loosehead is a little light and Paddy Wallace is being rested.

Kidney could be forgiven for thinking the provincial coaches are now dictating the form, confidence and timing of key Irish players through their need to balance expensive foreigners and winning cup matches. The provinces have done exceptionally well, but Kidney must balance form and pedigree for his squad. Confidence must be maintained this autumn, but players must be blooded. On merit and influence thus far there are now several contenders to the established starting international XV.

Cian Healy, Kevin McLaughlin, Johnny Sexton, Ryan Caldwell, Fergus McFadden, Felix Jones, Darren Cave, Andrew Browne, Seán Cronin and John Fogarty should be very close. With the breakdown laws, groundhogs Niall Ronan and Seán O’Brien are worth the investment. And Shane Horgan deserves another shot.

The styles used by each province have been hard to decipher. Leinster are becoming a cup-winning side, heavy on defence and kicking. They are striving for the balance between a kicking and a running game. The gap between the traditional style of Munster versus Leinster is closing.

In many respects, Munster are working out their style. There was a massive return to their old values last week: flat at two and rumble.

It is difficult to judge Munster’s seven-try performance. With an explosive back line Munster elected for muscle in the opening half. Was it a tactical decision to throw to Donncha O’Callaghan at two, or was it to ensure first-phase possession? A little of both I fancy, but it did stunt the Munster go-forward. So with mounting injuries I expect Edinburgh will be a tough match to win.

In the meantime, Ulster are evolving nicely, building a little confidence. But with Stade Français home and away they will struggle in the middle section of the Heineken Cup.

So where does all this leave Kidney? Who’ll be his loosehead, tighthead, hooker, backrow and inside centre? Regardless of his pencilled-in squad, this weekend is another chance for a breakthrough. There is huge indecision throughout the provinces regarding their best centre combination. Will Kidney use the autumn to bed down these positions before the provinces rearrange them back to suit themselves?

The provinces are bouncing talent around a little. Fitzgerald, D’Arcy and Earls are all figuring in the opening weeks of rotation (experimentation): to whose cost?

If tighthead is a worry, so too is openside and inside centre. Not because of a dearth of talent, but due to the subtle differences in the talent. The opening Irish backrow is virtually a shoo-in, with Stephen Ferris, Jamie Heaslip and David Wallace.

Down Leinster way, Shane Jennings sitting out the next few weeks affords O’Brien a series of big weekends. Over the coming matches and especially tomorrow Leinster need a link man, and if O’Brien is to threaten the autumn internationals he needs to add this to his armoury.

The Leinster backrow have been excellent, but the Tigers remain most potent when the ball is off the deck and going forward; ditto Ireland. Crowds love to watch backrows carry ball, as O’Brien can do, but Jennings remains a much better all-rounder and, of course, leader. So if O’Brien can balance between busting forward and linking he has a real future.

Jennings will be upset with the double punishment of suspension and O’Brien threatening his jersey. However, there is a real threat behind them both in 19-year-old Dominic Ryan. The former Gonzaga College player is building real momentum.

The big game this weekend is obviously tomorrow in Ravenhill. Once again I’m looking forward to watching what game Leinster bring. The gap in intensity between the Magners League and the Heineken Cup is clear. Although one point above Connacht in the Magners League, the Scarlets provide a real obstacle for Leinster in the Heineken Cup. I would understand a slight lull in play from Leinster based on the cushion built thus far in the league. Reserves will be needed to attack the Scarlets in December. So it’ll be much closer than expected.

Following on from last week’s article regarding the cleanliness of union at present, I noticed last Saturday TG4 were airing an Ireland v Scotland match from the early 1990s. Gary Halpin had been substituted by a nameless number 20 tighthead. It was interesting to witness his rucking. Very heavy with the studs.

By the way, his son bumped into Schalk Burger’s finger very early in the second Lions Test. The circle is complete!

liamtoland@yahoo.com