Winds of change in Irish rugby on and off the pitch

“Bastareaud is like a black John Hayes that can move”

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Former Ireland out-half and Racing Metro assistant coach Ronan O’Gara, in his role as television analyst for RTE

DECLAN WHOOLEY

– 02 February 2014

At this stage last year aspirations of a Grand Slam were in full swing. Those views maybe more mooted this time around, but things are definitely changing both on and off the pitch.

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Today’s win over the Scots was just what Joe Schmidt demanded in his first Six Nations outing. It wasn’t spectacular and there is room for improvement as the Welsh will provide a sterner test next weekend than a limited Scottish outfit, but the main objective was achieved.

“We can’t afford to lose our first game, to be honest,” Schmidt said earlier this week.

“It’s pivotal for us to get a good start. You only get one shot at your first game and you’ve got to give it your best shot I think.”

On that score he can have little complaints and some new faces are beginning to emerge from the shadows to add serious competition within the squad.

Over in Montrose, the RTE studio too has undergone some freshening up.

Yesterday, as so often he has in his career, Ronan O’Gara stepped into the breaches. Brent Pope assumed the Jonny Sexton position of a few years back, jettisoned out before returning to action today, though the contribution of the Racing Metro man was everything we have come to expect of the Cork man.

The RTE rugby analysis can come under a range of categories, but the addition of the Munster legend adds serious substance to the pantomime performance of George Hook and theatrics of Tom McGurk.

Similar to Conor O’Shea, O’Gara offers the in-depth analysis and attention to detail that Hook lacks, and perhaps Pope to a lesser extent.

While the Newstalk presenter is happy to lambaste the stuttering Welsh performance in Cardiff, Philippe Saint-Andre’s credentials and Ireland’s lack of ball carriers – justifiably in some cases – his fellow Cork man prefers to delve deeper. Criticisms are easy, reasons and possible solutions are a little more thought provoking.

Yesterday O’Gara spent the majority of his time looking over left shoulder to the Harlequins Director of Rugby, highlighting where he felt the more enlightening discussion would take place.

While the honesty is refreshing – shooting down Hook’s dismissal of Ireland’s Championship credentials was a good start – the humour brought to the studio will have entertained even the non-sporty folk who may have been keeping an eye on proceedings.

Never short a word on the field of play, he was his chirpy self throughout and brought Hook out in fits of giggles on a number of occasions, a feat in itself.

Suggesting that Wales’ game plan next week will be to stick the ball down Rob Kearney’s channel at every occasion, he hinted that the Irish full-back would be “far busier than George’s make-up artist.”

He also demonstrated that his French is coming on leaps and bounds when discussing offensive tactics in the Top 14, while his crowning glory was his description of a certain burly Les Bleus centre Mathieu Bastareaud.

“Bastareaud is like a black John Hayes that can move.”

The French back can take that as a huge compliment, presuming he ignores O’Gara’s other description of “lazy” when analysing Saint-Andre’s options in the back division.

Today O’Gara was back in more familiar surroundings, pitch level at the Aviva with Shane Horgan as they previewed the challenge ahead for their former team-mates.

“Ireland’s kicking game, particularly the kick and chase has been poor for some time,” Shaggy argued, which was met with agreement from his esteemed colleague.

How ironic that Ireland’s finest kicker, and beside him a man that has scored many high-profile aerial scores should lament the downturn in this facet of Ireland’s play.

After getting their teeth into their respective roles in the Autumn Series, Schmidt and O’Gara gave us a taste of what to expect over the course of the Six Nations and beyond.

The future looks bright indeed.

Article source: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15323/9011769/neil-budworth-retiring-from-international-rugby-league-with-wales

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Winds of change in Irish rugby on and off the pitch