Is it time for youth to answer Ireland's call?

When Declan Kidney made the decision to evacuate Paddy Wallace from his holiday on the Algarve to play in the catastrophic 3^rd test against the All Blacks it accurately summed up the ultra conservative coach’s attitude to the young players of Ireland. It confirmed that despite the heroics of the 2^nd test the party had truly travelled more in hope than expectation. The 60 nil drubbing, needs far more reflection than that? The IRFU cannot simply ignore what happened.  It is though, not all hopeless and the Irish U20 team shows that Ireland does still have a pool of talent and real potential available. The problem though will not be one of selection by Kidney rather the harder job of getting the “Big 3” provinces to pick and back these young players, giving them the vital experience necessary to make the step up to international rugby.

The flawed and disappointing regime of Kidney might well come crashing down if the autumn internationals prove a step too far for the current ageing and injury prone Irish squad. The Irish U20’s have shown during the Six Nations and in the recent JWC in South Africa that they are a group of players of genuine capacity and deserve far more consideration from Kidney and his staff. After all they defeated the junior ‘Boks, the only team to do so during the tournament. In Mike Ruddock they have a proven and capable coach who knows international rugby well and is an astute judge of talent. He has over the last two seasons put together teams that are savvy, physically imposing and play with pace and guile. But, how many of those players will be given the chance to play in the RaboPro12 this season or even fortunate enough to get quality game time elswhere?

Ireland have constructed the much heralded National Player Succession Strategy for 2013/14, which ostensibly puts the focus on maturing the young and up and coming talent across the provinces of Ulster, Munster and Lenister. Although the intentions are laudable the provinces will be far more pragmatic about their responsibilities and will find ways of circumventing its good intentions. The reality is that winning matches, trophies and championships is what counts, that is what protects careers and jobs and playing callow youngsters does not sit well with coaches paid to get results.

It is a sad fact that in Ireland excellent young players with talent to burn are consistently overlooked at their provinces, never mind by the national set-up. Darren Cave was overlooked for the jet lagged and obviously unfit Paddy Wallace in Hamilton. Other players that should have been called up like Ian Madigan, Ian Keatley and David Joner must be wondering what they have they have to do to get a fair shake. There’s an innate fear of change in Ireland, just consider the vehemence of the debate over the selection of the fading O’Gara versus the new force Sexton.

Given the tuning the Irish pack was given by the English and All Black packs there is a clear need to bring in new blood, that is belligerent, physical and imposing that will not bow at the knee to anybody. At Lenister there is the massive physical presence of the 19 year old 118 kgs Tahg Furlong. In the JWC ha scrummager superbly and was a force around the field. Yet he will be fourth choice at his province, how will that help his development? How will that help Ireland as they still try to find a genuine long term replacement for Hayes? At Ulster there is the prodigiously talented Iain Anderson who can play at 6 or lock at least with international calls he will get some game time, purely because he can not be ignored. This will give him the chance to learn and develop, others will simply not be that fortunate. Lenister have a superb academy, producing great players yet they still keep buying foreign talent. Against the junior ‘Boks all three members of the physically dominating Irish back row were from Lenister; Conan, Gilsenna and Coghlan could be Ireland’s back row in 2019 but they need to be playing now. But Lenister have so many riches in this area of their squad will they get a game?

But the jewel is JJ Hanaharnan, whose cool drop goal condemned the defeated ‘Boks. He is a Munster player and they know that they have to nurture his exceptional talent yet how will be first choice for Munster this season? It is time for the IRFU to show some leadership and vision here, not bask in Heineken cups won by foreign coaches and stars, and one Grand Slam from such a feted generation of players and realise that unless young Irish talent is given the chance to play on the bigger stages, the humiliation of Hamilton will become the norm. Provinces have to be made to give young players to chance, coaching has to become more enlightened to encourage the development of these players before they are lost to the game.

Consider how old was Brian O’Driscoll when he made his stunning debut? The answer, is that he was 20, and played for Ireland before he played for Lenister. 

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