40 years of Irish rugby failure leave no room for sentiment

Extra.ie​

4 days ago

Right, that's over with then, now can we get on with what really matters?
The 2025 Lions tour to Australia ended up pretty much as expected – a commercially successful, culturally questionable trip that was not as bad as it could have been, not as good as they would have us believe.
Indeed, of the 10 Lions tours to have taken place since 1989, you would rank this one only above Clive Woodward's 2005 catastrophe in New Zealand and the 2021 abomination in South Africa that should be wiped from memory. A disappointed Clive Woodward in New Zealand in 2005. Pic:That is not to diminish the individual achievement by the players and head coach Andy Farrell – Lions recognition is the highest point attainable and series
victories are uncommon – but for all the foaming excitement that ensued after the second Test, history will be largely apathetic whenever the 2025 tour is raised.
So, back to what really matters. This tour arrived slap back in the middle of the latest four-year cycle featuring Ireland's ongoing quest to end their World Cup
quarter-final jinx – now extending to 40 years.
Opinion is divided as to how this Lions tour will affect that target. Maro Itoje lifts the Qatar Airways series trophy. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Some believe having so many Irish players and backroom staff on tour can only be a good thing when Ireland return to Australia for the World Cup in 2027.
Others make a good case as to why Andy Farrell's secondment on Lions duty was an unwelcome distraction within the bigger picture and why exposing his methods to rival countries could come back to bite Irish ambition in two years' time. A good case has been made as to why Andy Farrell's secondment on Lions duty was an unwelcome distraction within the bigger picture. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
There are merits to both positions but, wherever you come down, the key conclusion remains the same – every decision from this point on has to be made with the World Cup 2027 quarter-final in mind.
Beating the All Blacks in Chicago this November? Been there, done that – not as important as winning our first World Cup knockout game in two years' time.
Winning next year's Six Nations? Been there, etc. Conor Murray celebrates Robbie Henshaw's try against New Zealand at Soldier Field in 2016. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland
Triumphing on next summer's tour to Australia and New Zealand? See above.
Nothing else matters and Farrell has to grasp that reality now or his remarkable coaching legacy will be forever ruined by consistent World Cup failure. And that starts with his selection policy for November.
Farrell gets significant praise for his selection acumen over the years – there are many examples of this, notably the elevation of Jamison Gibson-Park in 2021, bringing through the likes of Jamie Osborne and Sam Prendergast and, most recently, having faith in Tadhg Beirne and Tom Curry when form and favour were against them. Tom Curry celebrates scoring against Australia. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
However, there are also examples of selection myopia, when Farrell zeroes in on the challenge directly ahead rather than widen the lens to embrace the full picture.
We saw that for the third Test on the Lions Tour. The series was in the bag and no matter how many emotional speeches were delivered about making history and becoming 'the greatest Lions ever', the players were never going to be at the same emotional pitch as they were when the series was on the line – especially not at the end of such a long, gruelling season.
Furthermore, there were players like Josh van der Flier, Ellis Genge, Scott Cummings, Sione Tuipulotu, Will Stuart, Mack Hansen, Henry Pollock and Jac Morgan who were worthy of a Test start after excellent tours. Josh van der Flier was worthy of a Test start. Pic:This might have led to cries of disrespect from the hosts but none of those players would have weakened the Lions starting XV and their freshness would most likely have energised a performance that could not cope with Australia's onslaught in Sydney.
A similar approach to Ireland's November international schedule could have disastrous implications down the line.
The core of Farrell's Ireland team are now well into their 30s and, while it may seem cold given what they have brought to the green jersey, they have to be assessed on the basis of whether they will make it to Australia 2027.
If they are deemed unlikely to do so, then they need to be thanked for their service and moved to one side. This country's greatest player Brian O'Driscoll played up until 2014, just a year out from the World Cup, and, as a result, Ireland did not have a settled midfield combination when it mattered in 2015 – a situation New Zealand would never have allowed to happen. Brian O'Driscoll celebrates with the Six Nations trophy in 2014. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
For all their contributions to the cause, there is no point in Bundee Aki (35), James Lowe (33) or Finlay Bealham (33) blocking the path of younger players in November if they are considered unlikely to still be in consideration in 2027.
The likes of Jamison Gibson-Park, Tadhg Beirne and Tadhg Furlong are also well into their 30s but these are hugely influential leaders within the Ireland squad and there is precedent for corralling an experienced core to backbone a successful World Cup campaign.
England remain the only northern hemisphere side to have won the World Cup and in 2003 they got there on the back of the nous and resolve of the likes of Martin Johnson, Neil Back, Jason Leonard and Mike Catt, who were all well into their fourth decade at the time. England remain the only northern hemisphere side to have won the World Cup. Pic: Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images
With careful management, Ireland can do the same with their key veterans, as long as there is plenty of exposure given to younger alternatives to ensure that when Australia 2027 rolls around, Ireland have proven cover in all positions – the key ingredient that's been most consistently absent in previous World Cup failures.
However you feel about the Lions in general, and the 2025 tour in particular, this victory represents another landmark achievement for Andy Farrell. Since 2020, Farrell has won two Six Nations titles, three Triple Crowns, the Grand Slam, a historic series in New Zealand, the world coach of the year award in 2023 and now a Lions series.
It is a staggering roll call of achievement that already sets Farrell up as one of the finest coaches rugby union has seen.
Getting Ireland to their first World Cup semi-final is the only gap yet to be filled and, with the Lions firmly in the rear-view mirror, every action Farrell takes between now and 2027 should be taken with that one knockout game in mind.
We are looking at 40 years of failure – there is no room for sentiment.