‘COME BACK TO what you know, take everything real slow’.
So said some middle-of-the-road English band from the 90′s. And so hummed Declan Kidney as he filled out his notepad, one through 22.
All down the list the only shocks to assault the senses are those that show off Kidney’s stubborn reluctance to change.
When Ireland began their training camp last week, Kidney named five possible players who could fill the number 13 jersey. Out of that he has reverted to Keith Earls, the one man who he’s played there before, but one of the least effective in that role at Heineken Cup level. We now must hope that Jamie Roberts isn’t deemed fit enough to crash his way through Ireland’s midfield.
The other bone of contention was the second row, with Donnacha Ryan holding the mantle in Munster, it was a logical assumption that he would continue his partnership with Paul O’Connell. Instead, Donncha O’Callaghan gets the nod: tried and tested, safe, but uninspiring for non-Munster fans and disheartening for Ryan.
Guilty by association, maybe, but even the selection of young Conor Murray now smacks of continuity over competition.
But wait, our conservative coach is developing an encouraging habit of throwing in a token bolt from the blue. It was Murray last year. Today, Peter O’Mahoney is the big surprise as he beats Shane Jennings to cover all three back row positions from the bench. The uncapped 22-year-old is most likely to appear on the open side, with a reshuffle required if he arrived in place of Stephen Ferris or Jamie Heaslip.
Aside from the absence of Brian O’Driscoll, there is only one change from team which started the Wellington quarter-final, the big call at fly-half.
This will be the third tournament in a row which Jonathan Sexton will start as first choice, it is about time he ended this long running debate and made the jersey his own. And it’s about time Kidney backs him up in both word and deed.
Now 26, the St Mary’s boy is capable of being the man for his country. Before that happens Kidney must take the stabilisers off. That means no more of Ronan O’Gara’s pre-determined introduction after 60 minutes, and no more, “well, we’re lucky to have two very good out-halves.”
O’Gara will be 35 by the time Ireland travel to Twickenham in March. For the good of Irish rugby Sexton should be trusted with the reins, not made to look over his shoulder at the legendary shadow of ROG any time he makes a mistake or a risk doesn’t come good.
At his best Sexton is a self-assured, bossy presence who will marshall his pack and his backs with equal authority. For Ireland he has never quite shown that confidence, but that is not necessarily his fault alone.
Special treatment
Man-management or mollycoddling, call it what you will. For good or ill Sexton needs to be convinced he owns that number 10 jersey. He only showed his true worth for Leinster once Felipe Contepomi was injured and out of the picture. It shouldn’t have to come to that with O’Gara.
Some players respond to competition and are inspired to improve, Sexton appears to shrink into his shell. You cannot apply a one-size-fits-all attitude to sports psychology, if Sexton needs special treatment to flourish then it’s time he was given it.
In all other areas of the field competition must abide. Kidney has shown his love of continuity in this selection; Earls over Fergus McFadden, Murray over Eoin Reddan, O’Callaghan over Ryan – on the 50-50 calls he invariably sticks rather than twist.
Predicting the starting line-up is getting too easy. Let’s hope that Warren Gatland doesn’t find the attack so transparent this time around.
