Leinster rugby needs to find a fresh approach to break its losing streak
The television camera zoomed in. Jack Conan,
Leinster
's acting captain, stared at the touchline and then cupped his ears, presumably to indicate that he couldn't hear the instruction. Assistant coach Sean O'Brien, standing near the touchline, seemed to be the messenger; the communication − based on outcome − was to go for broke.
Leinster
trailed the Northampton Saints 37-34 with four minutes to play
in last weekend's
Champions Cup
semi-final at the Aviva Stadium. The gamble was to stick and take the three points on offer, hoping that fate would subsequently deal you a better hand; or twist, as Leinster did, and go for the corner in the hope of securing a match-winning score.
Players taking instruction or direction from the coaching group is not a new phenomenon; the most innovative example was the traffic light system famously employed by the Springboks during their 2023 World Cup-winning campaign, retaining the title they won four years earlier.
Leinster's detractors have gleefully tossed disparaging labels in the direction of the province − who are having a four-years-and-counting run without a trophy. It's been seven years since their last European title; the 'three Ps' – population size, purse strings and private schools – are brickbats used against them.
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Without delving into the minutiae of each of those seven European defeats − four finals, two semi-finals and a quarter-final − there were several notable differences in the manner of the losses, from being outplayed and physically squeezed by Saracens (twice) and La Rochelle to frittering away a 17-0 lead at the Aviva Stadium (La Rochelle).
Toulouse completely outplayed them for large tranches of the 2024 final, yet Leinster stuck in the game doggedly and came within a coat of paint of winning the game with a drop goal, before succumbing in extra time. If the Irish province had the same group of players and same coaches during that 'dry spell', then some of the jibes might find fertile ground.
Leinster changed just three players from the starting team that won the 2018 final against Racing 92 in Bilbao to the run-on side that lost to Saracens 20-10 the following year. James Lowe replaced captain Isa Nacewa on the left wing while Seán O'Brien and Jack Conan took over from Dan Leavy and Jordi Murphy.
From the last winning Leinster team in 2018 through to the side that lost to Northampton Saints last weekend, the Irish province has used 53 different players in those specific games. Robbie Henshaw is the only one who was in the run-on team in all eight of those matches: the win over Racing 92 and the seven subsequent losses.
Leinster's Robbie Henshaw dejected after the defeat to Northampton Saints. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
There were a cumulative 38 changes made to Leinster match day 23s from 2019 through to this season, at an average of 5.4 per match, the most in 2020 with nine alterations and the fewest in the 2023 defeat to La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium with just two, Jason Jenkins and Charlie Ngatai, from the previous year.
So, if there was a substantial shift in playing personnel, what about coaches? During the period under discussion Leo Cullen has recruited some of the brightest minds in the global game with a track record of success as well as promoting several former Ireland internationals to the coaching staff.
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Leinster must learn from humbling lesson and go on to win URC title
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Girvan Dempsey, Felipe Contepomi, Stuart Lancaster, John Fogarty, Hugh Hogan, Emmet Farrell, Denis Leamy, Seán O'Brien, Robin McBryde, Andrew Goodman, Jacques Nienaber and Tyler Bleyendaal have helped to oversee the evolution of the playing style and in several cases continue to do so.
The bedding-in period in the coaching turnover for tweaking style and substance wasn't instantaneous but despite that Leinster still contested four Champions Cup finals.
Cullen and Leinster couldn't be accused of resting on their laurels when it came to soliciting fresh ideas, bringing in top international talent and easing through some of the best young prospects in the province.
Leinster's failure in the URC since 2021 is less easy to fob off. Prioritising Europe is all fine and dandy, but it can't excuse a second-hand mentality when it comes to the league. Good teams win trophies; great ones do so regularly.
Connacht's Mack Hansen and Wame Naituvi of Racing during their Challenge Cup quarter-final match at Dexcom Stadium, Galway, on April 12th. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
If it wasn't the same players and coaches that presided over the losing streak, then some of the fault lines lie elsewhere; so too a solution – or, at the very least, a discussion point. Leinster and indeed all Irish teams are fairly prescribed in the way that they set up, players able to assimilate large swathes of detail around shape in attack and defence.
They're very system-orientated and when you look at the players that provide an individual creative spark, for both province and Ireland, they invariably come from the southern hemisphere: Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen are current examples. It's no surprise that all four are heading for Australia with the Lions.
The elite end of the schools' game – and they do a brilliant job in many respects – borrows heavily from the professional game, resembling mini-academies, from employing former pros in some cases as directors of rugby to creating an environment that subscribes to all the trappings from training, nutrition and video analysis through to matches, where the system is king.
That can sometimes stifle individual expression in favour of the team collective. Striking that balance in encouraging players to think for themselves and putting a game framework around that can be challenging. Player homogenisation is not the goal.
Young boys and girls should be given the skills sets to thrive irrespective of what level of rugby they go on to play, to be challenged mentally as well as physically, encouraged to play without fear, to colour outside the lines of the playbook or patterns and to understand and embrace opportunity in the knowledge that their team-mates are attuned to a similar thought process.
Children playing rugby in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2017. Photograph:That's the environment that nurtures creativity and flair, one that encourages players to have the courage and self-possession to take responsibility, to manage the game on the pitch rather than look to the stands for direction. That freedom of thought and expression can't just be activated at a professional level. Those instincts have to be nurtured from a young age in club and/or school, as they are in France, Fiji and New Zealand to offer a small sample set.
This season Leinster players to a man have spoken about how Bleyendaal in his first season as attack coach has encouraged them to play heads-up rugby, something that is increasingly visible in matches. It is the way forward to greater player autonomy in matches. Giving players who have come through a system-based culture that freedom will be like trying to mix oil and water initially. It's worth persisting with it, though, and also recognising that the process is built from the ground up, so an obvious starting point is childhood, when minds are open and receptive.
There's far more at stake than questioning last Saturday's endgame politics. It's time to recognise a fresh approach, in not only trying to break a losing streak in Leinster's case, but on a broader scale – to futureproof the sport in Ireland by making it more appealing to the most important constituents: those that play. The system should represent the easel holding in place a canvas for the players.
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5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Heimir Hallgrimsson believes confidence growing in Ireland squad
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So by the time the saturation of substitutes flooded the pitch, Ireland were holding on admirably, while getting the competitive test that they craved with tougher days ahead when they battle for top spot with Portugal and Hungary. Ireland had five substitutes on the pitch when Senegal finally secured their equaliser, which took a certain amount of gloss off the performance, and while the manager was happy overall, he was surely ruing the fact that his side were unable to hold out for the win. "Our collective defence was good," said Hallgrimsson, speaking at the post match press conference. "We must recognise that this is a world-class team, and at times when we were defending without the ball, made them look quite average. "But mostly happy that they didn't create a whole lot of scoring chances. Caoimh made one or two good saves but apart from that I don't think he needed to do too much in this game and that is pleasing. "To be able to play against such a strong attacking team, with so much individual quality, and not concede a lot of goalscoring chances." The manager was full of praise for the man of the moment, McAteer, describing the goalscorer as a "clever footballer with a good footballing brain". "If you have watched Kasey, he has got a run for Leicester at the end of the season so you can see his progress in his club, and he brought that now into the national team. "That is always the answer you would like to have when you try out new players. "It was his first start for Ireland. So a really good first start for him. He is a confident player on the ball. He has speed, good dribbling technique and if we can isolate him one-on-one that is his strength." And the manager sees that confidence growing throughout the squad, which augers well for the September international window where Ireland open their campaign at home to Hungary before travelling to Yerevan to take on Armenia. "I think it is growing," said Hallgrimsson. "The decisions at this level need to be quick. If you are too late you are always punished at this level. "Let's be honest, we're not one of the best teams in the world and this is how we need to play against teams that will dominate possession. "We need to wait for our chances and take them when they come. In this area, confidence is growing. "We will need to be patient, these steps are taken small steps at a time, but this was really pleasing because if we wouldn't have done this as well as we did, we would have suffered against this team. "So that is confidence for me, to be able to play good teams without possession and doing that for longer periods of time." While Hallgrimsson was taking the positives, he was also clearly disappointed about certain aspects of the performance, leaving more work to do as he continues to mould the team into a competitive unit ahead of the World Cup campaign. "Again, conceding goals from crosses too many times, and in this case we were too passive in the cross. "We didn't attack the ball when the cross came and it has happened before. That is a slight confidence thing."
The 42
6 hours ago
- The 42
Clear signs that Hallgrímsson's messages are coming through loud and clear for Ireland players
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O'Shea had the licence to be that aggressive and quick with his closing down rather than simply passing the man on to someone in midfield who might not have had the same momentum in their stride to keep Senegal going backwards. That level of freedom for players in the moment to assess such a situation and take on the responsibility is another cornerstone of what Ireland are trying to achieve under Heimir Hallgrímsson. It was evident again two minutes after the re-start when Jason Knight anticipated a breaking ball around 35 or so yards from the opponents' goal and straight away zipped a pass to Will Smallbone so his fellow midfielder. Advertisement He let the ball run across his body, took one more touch to set himself for a shot centrally but directed it far too close to Yehvann Diouf and that allowed the goalkeeper make a comfortable save. Still, it was sharp and positive and done with purpose; exactly what management asked of the players. By that stage, of course, Ireland led after Kasey McAteer's 21st minute goal. It was his first for the Boys in Green, coming on the occasion of his fifth cap and full debut. Friendly fire, perhaps, but if it can act as a catalyst for the Leicester City winger to make a telling impact in the World Cup qualifiers to come from September through November than it will be recalled as a pivotal moment. Again, he showed anticipation and impressive instincts to get his goal, staying on the move after Ryan Manning – excellent all evening in an advanced central role and also on the left when required – kept the corner kick alive to connect with a deft header, and following up Diouf's superb save with a calm touch and sharp swivel to fire low through the legs of Abdoulaye Seck. Nathan Collins wins a header against Boulaye Dia. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Just as encouraging as that telling impact in the box was a piece of defending seven minutes before half-time that was the second element of the gameplan: stop Senegal's counter attacks. That was the second message repeated around camp all week, and when Habib Diarra looked as though he was about to break free down the left, McAteer's willingness to sprint back and nick possession drew applause around Aviva Stadium. Most pleased would have been Hallgrímsson and assistant John O'Shea as well as coach Paddy McCarthy. There were three more clear examples of Ireland players ensuring they followed the doctrine laid out. Captain Nathan Collins led by example in the ninth minute when Manning looked to have been bundled over down the left after receiving a throw in, play was waved on and with the Brentford centre back advanced to try and get on the end of a ball into the box, he ended up sprinting 40 or so yards back to stop Senegal making it out of their own half. Job done. Nine minutes later Knight and Smallbone also combined with pressure to hurry Krepin Diatta into a misplace pass from the centre when there was a break on down the left and numbers supporting centrally. Best of all, and perhaps the strongest nod yet to Hallgrímsson finding out who among his squad have the capability of being that 'bastard in the team' that he spoke of when he took charge, came on 56 minutes. After Senegal cleared an Ireland corner, Knight picked up the ball around 40 yards out and adhered to the crowd's roars of 'shooooooooot.' It was blocked down, and all of a sudden space opened up for Diatta to take the ball clear. Killian Phillips made his Ireland debut. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO He was still only midway through his own half but before he could open his legs and get into his stride Collins clattered in from behind with a type of organised clumsiness that prevented the counter. He was thoroughly apologetic for the incident, hands in the air straight away, but he knew exactly what he was doing and it was exactly what was required in that moment, and what was expected. That the Senegal equaliser on 82 minutes came after a raft of subs had been made won't soften the blow for Hallgrímsson. It would no doubt have been disallowed for offside after a VAR review had this game been one of consequence, but it was not in use so Cheikh Sabaly standing in Caoimhín Kelleher's eye line went unpunished. It undone so much good work in terms of the result but, crucially, it was a performance that highlighted how Hallgrímsson's messages are coming through loud and clear with World Cup qualifying on the horizon.
The 42
6 hours ago
- The 42
'This is a world class team and there were times when we made them look quite average'
HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON PRAISED his Irish players as he saw further progress in a 1-1 friendly draw against Senegal in Dublin. Ireland led at half-time through Kasey McAteer's goal, but were denied a win by Ismalia Sarr's late equaliser. 'Our collective defence was good', said the Irish manager. 'We must recognise this is a world class team, unbeaten now in 21 games, 19 in the Fifa rankings. And there were times when we were defending without the ball we made them look quite average. We are happy they didn't create too many goalscoring chances. Caoimh made one or two good saves but apart from that he didn't need to do much, that is pleasing. 'We needed to start on this, working on a shape that is now looking quite good. There are still a few areas, we have talked about needing to do some movements quicker, within the structure. 'To be able to play against such a strong attacking team, with so much individual quality, and not concede a lot of goalscoring chances.' Advertisement Hallgrimsson pointed to the low levels of confidence among his players when he first took the job, but says now they are climbing. 'I think it is growing', said Hallgrimsson when asked about confidence levels. 'The decisions at this level need to be quick. You need to be quick deciding what to do and act quickly. If you are too late you are always punished at this level. What I said about defence, being in structure, closing spaces: these things need to happen quicker. 'Once we repeat these things again and again it just gets it ahead and we showed that against a really good side again. We limited their chances of creating things against us and, let's be honest, we are not one of the best teams in the world, and this is how we need to play against teams that will dominate possession. 'And we need to wait for our chances and take them when they come. So in this situation confidence is growing and it is a similar setup in September, playing the stronger team at home and then flying away to Luxembourg, like Hungary at home and then away to Armenia. So it is good preparation for September. So that is confidence for me, to be able to play good teams without possession and doing that for longer periods of time. But again, conceding goals from crosses too many times and in this case we were too passive in the cross. We didn't attack the ball when the cross came and it has happened before. That is a slight confidence thing.' Hallgrimsson meanwhile praised his goalscorer Kasey McAteer, who showed Ireland have further depth among their right-sided attackers by scoring on his full Irish debut. ''If you have watched Kasey he has got a run for Leicester at the end of the season so you can see his progress in his club and he brought that now into the national team', said Hallgrimsson. 'That is always the answer you would like to have when you try out new players. 'It was his first start for Ireland, so a really good first start for him. No, he is a confident player on the ball. He has speed, good dribbling technique and if we can isolate him one-on-one that is his strength. 'He is just a clever footballer with a good footballing brain. Knows where to pass the ball etc.' The Irish boss was sanguine too about the lack of VAR, which would likely have inspected and potentially disallowed the Senegal goal for an offside. Cheikh Sabaly stood in an offisde position occluding Kelleher's view of a shot which the Irish goalkeeper saved brilliantly before Ismalia Sarr forced the rebound over the line. 'VAR probably would have given it offside, but we knew VAR was not in house and we cannot complain. The referees did a really good job today, they had a really good flow to the game. I was really happy with the referees.'
