From an Irish perspective, the final table in the Five Nations Championship does not make for pleasant reading. Played four, lost four. Yet behind the cold statistics lies a story that offers much more encouragement.
In many ways, the championship has been a case of opportunity lost for Ireland - an inability to capitalise on some quality possession and a high price paid for mistakes. And, as was the case against England at Twickenham last Saturday, some silly acts of indiscipline.
There was no reason at all to feel despondent walking away from Twickenham last Saturday afternoon. The Ireland side showed tremendous character, resilience and courage after going 15 points down before 20 minutes had been played. The pack, to a man, played very well. Over anxiety and indiscipline saw at least four scoring chances go by the board. And while one could not argue that Ireland deserved to win, they did deserve to be much closer on the scoreboard.
But losing can become a habit and the team needs a few players behind the scrum and the belief that they have the ability to win. Belief is a fundamental and, as was revealed against both Scotland and Wales and, one could add, in France, Ireland lack it at the moment. One win could change that.
Just look at the Ireland under-21 team. The manner in which they dug in to defy England at the Richmond Athletic Ground last Friday afternoon was heart warming and an object lesson. I will return to the under-21 scene, however, like their senior brethren, the A side also paid a high price for unforced errors and allowing their opponents to build a lead early on. They were 15 points down after 12 minutes, but fought back and did not drop their heads.
Now as we look back on the season, and bearing in mind some adverse circumstances, there is absolutely no reason to feel despondent. That point was made to me by Bob Dwyer, the Australian World Cup-winning coach of 1991 after the match. "There were a lot of very good things in that match for Ireland. I was very impressed by some aspects of their play and especially by the forwards. Ireland did not deserve to lose by 18 points. There is the makings there of a good side," he said.
Warren Gatland took this team over in adverse circumstances and has done an excellent job as coach. He has shown a keen awareness of the Irish scene, temperament and mentality, and has built a fine team spirit. He is well aware that changes are needed in the days ahead, most notably behind the scrum.
When one bears in mind that two Lions Test players, Jeremy Davidson and Eric Miller, were not in the team last Saturday, and that players such as Peter Clohessy, Ross Nesdale, Mick Galwey and Nick Popplewell were also not on duty, the reservoir of talent runs deep. Popplewell alone of those mentioned will not be available next year and Gatland can look to the A and under-21 teams and for some quality forwards.
Last Saturday, Keith Wood had his best match for Ireland this season and he produced for the full 80 minutes. Wood in that kind of mood is invaluable. The displays of newcomers Reggie Corrigan and Malcom O'Kelly have proved they are international players of quality and O'Kelly had a tremendous season in the Ireland jersey. So has Paddy Johns.
The choices behind the scrum are more limited and here the South African tour could help in the development of some young players. Barry Everitt had a fine match at out-half for the A team. Darragh O'Mahony had to withdraw from the A side, but he is another player I believe has the qualities to make the senior side on the wing. He has never played badly for Ireland at any level. I sincerely hope he will be chosen for the South African tour.
There is a rich crop of talent in the under-21 team and at least a few of those youngsters should be brought to South Africa. I have in mind centre Shane Horgan, a highly-promising centre in an area where Ireland needs some quality players. Half backs Ronan O'Gara and Thomas Tierney are two more fine young talents and the display of Michael O'Driscoll in the second row for the under-21 team marked this young man down as a player for the future. He had a tremendous match and so did hooker Frank Sheehan. Every member of that side deserves great credit and the entire back row of David Wallace, Leo Cullen and Aidan McCullen played splendidly as a unit. Both Wallace and Cullen could benefit from a tour to South Africa and gain experience in some of the less-demanding matches. Barry Gibney was injured and did not play, but he is another player of immense talent and promise. One other thing about that under-21 team - nine of them are under age again next season.
In addition to those mentioned above, I still believe that Alan Quinlan and Eddie Halvey have something to give Ireland. The reservoir of forward talent runs deep.
The three-man Ireland management committee of Pat Whelan, Gatland and Donal Lenihan were present at the under-21 and A matches and will have taken some encouragement for the days ahead. Whelan came in for a lot of criticism in the not-too-distant past, but he and Lenihan seem to have formed a happy alliance with Gatland. The truth is that the Ireland side has shown considerable improvement under Gatland. The South African tour represents a formidable assignment for Ireland, coming at the end of a demanding season. It has its value, although I think the Irish were ill-advised to agree to two Tests.
Back to the under-21 side. Two Triple Crowns in three years represent a very fine achievement. This was a fourth successive win over England at this level and indeed, the sixth win over England in eight matches. Every player on that side last Friday is home-based and every effort must now be made to keep them at home. It is interesting to reflect on the players who helped win the Triple Crown two years ago.
No fewer than eight have been capped at senior level. They are Dominic Crotty, Denis Hickie, James Topping, Conor McGuinness, Malcolm O'Kelly, Eric Miller, Kieron Dawson and Brian O'Meara, who actually displaced McGuinness for the matches against Scotland and England. That represents a fair ratio of progress. I would, too, confidently expect to see some of the youngsters who played in Richmond last Friday making the breakthrough soon.
In conclusion, I went along to Roehampton last Friday night to see the Irish Universities win the Triple Crown for the second successive season with a superb display in the rout of the English Universities. Ireland scored 12 tries, and revealed pace, ingenuity and flair that was heart warming. The under-21 and university sides win Triple Crowns; the schools score 49 against Scotland; the youths are going for a clean sweep at Ravenhill this afternoon; and the under-19 team are in the World Cup Final in France. Somebody in authority in Irish rugby must be doing some things right.
