There is a scene in Friends, the ever-present American sitcom where Chandler, the funny one explains that , to men, kissing is like the warm-up you have to sit through before Pink Floyd comes out. Rugby fans can be forgiven for thinking along the same lines with regards to the Autumn internationals. Lacking the fervour or colour of the Six nations, they are mostly to be endured rather than enjoyed. We gear up for the antipodean invasion hoping to snatch a win against the Aussies or even the Boks, and avoid embarrassment against New Zealand. Argentina serve the grudge course of the Autumn meal while the like of Samoa offer a chance for those stuck carrying tackle bags for the week, to sample some game time.
But this is no ordinary year. The clock is well and truly ticking to New Zealand 2011. Should Ireland ever want to banish to ghosts of France ‘07 then the preparations kick up a couple of notches with this series. Four physical tests in four weeks. Questions answered about key areas of the team.
One of which, as ever, is the front row. Time seems to have finally caught up with John Hayes. His predecessor in red and green, Tony Buckley looks ready to seize the number three shirt and retain it. Mike Ross has impressed this season. No more so than his performance for Leinster against Racing metro but he lacks Buckley’s mobility around the pitch. Tom Court has been steady for Ulster but has not done enough to edge out Cian Healy. Jerry Flannery’s injury problems leaves the contest for the hooker jersey between Connaught’s Sean Cronin and Ulster’s Rory Best. Best is more experienced but has misfired with his darts recently. Cronin has the dynamism and that little bit of devil to be a force at this level.
The centres and second-rows pick themselves barring injury. Two of the back-three look safe, leaving a tussle between Keith Earls and Luke Fitzgerald for the other wing spot. The back-row is much the same with Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris certain to start against South Africa. Sean O’Brien’s form at seven deserves recognition despite some vintage David Wallace cameos. Denis Leamy adds beef from the bench. Scrum-half is tough to call. Eoin Reddan just shades it on form but it would be no surprise if Declan Kidney thought otherwise and opted for Peter Stringer.
The battle at ten remains delicately poised. But Jonathan Sexton’s pyrotechnics at Wembley against Saracens has probably swung it his way. The argument could be made anyway, that Sexton is the coming force at ten and needs a run of games to bank for next year.
Ireland will target the South Africa game as their best chance of victory against one of the top dogs. The Boks are hurting however from a meek Tri-Nations and have selected their strongest possible squad. It might be a stretch to suggest that perhaps the passage of time has eased the animosity between Argentina and Ireland but we can only hope that the dismal standard of recent games between them can be upped in the next one. There is a crushing inevitability about a loss to the All Blacks. Kidney can only hope it is close and a lot is learned. Three wins is achievable, two should be a minimum. But for the Irish coaching team the warm up act starts here. Its along way to Pink Floyd.
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