Agendas. Most people have them. Few will admit they have them. The media is often accused of setting them.
Ireland are the reigning champions going into this Six Nations but they are beset by injuries. Hence, Joe Schmidt, his coaches and players have a juggling act – tempering expectations while trying to appear confident of their title chances.
One of the oldest tricks in the book is to broach a subject with the press and give them [including us] a nudge in the direction of a story.
For example: ‘X is really strong around the breakdown and it will be interesting to see how the referee interprets his approach in that area.’
What they mean: ‘Please, please watch X at the breakdown because he is illegal as a dodgy box.’
The positivity flowing from the Irish coaches and players, this week, has been a joy to behold.
Rob Kearney once told me that rugby players live in a bubble. If that is the case, that bubble must have bad phone reception, no WiFi and is not on the newspaper delivery route.
Asked about a sense of foreboding heading into the Six Nations, Ireland assistant coach Simon Easterby was non-plussed. He told us:
“I haven’t felt it, maybe it’s coming from you guys [the media]. At the end of the day, we can only control what we can control as a group.
“We try and go about our business the best way possible, and hopefully that shows in our performance. Whatever is spoken about or said outside of our group, is out of our control. That’s not something we’re really concerned about.”
Let’s take a look at what the Irish squad have been saying and spinning this week and how it tallies to current rugby reality:
Jack McGrath
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBXDSBQFVVv/?taken-by=sportsjoedotie
REALITY:Â This is the first time since 1997 that no Irish province has made the knock-out stages of the European Cup. Ulster came close but both Munster and Leinster [five losses from six games] fell well short. Connacht – Challenge Cup quarter finals and second in the Guinness PRO12 – are the sole success story.
Donnacha Ryan
REALITY:Â Ireland dismissed Canada and Romania with ease, struggled to overcome Italy and comfortably beat France before injuries, woeful first 15 minutes and spate of errors saw them soundly beaten by Argentina in the last eight. IRFU chief executive Philip Browne called the last eight exit “disappointing”.
Sean O’Brien on Ireland’s World Cup exit
REALITY:Â Ireland were beaten all over the park by Argentina but were left to rue a missed Ian Madigan penalty that would have levelled the game. After that, Argentina dominated the contest and romped to a comprehensive 43-20 victory that nobody was complaining about.
Simon Easterby
REALITY:Â Easterby is not telling porkies. The Welsh 23 will have over 900 caps, combined. However, the Irish 23 should comfortably clear 750 combined caps. Hardly greenhorns.
Jared Payne
REALITY:Â Schmidt gives his players a free license IF they do their designated jobs first. Payne’s second point is valid.
Donnacha Ryan
On whether the retired Paul O’Connell’s physicality would be missed against Wales:
REALITY:Â It will be.
Moving on
Perhaps the players’ attitude, and take on events, is best summed up by McGrath. When asked if the poor return from the provinces and World Cup fatigue was a toll on the players, he replied:
“We do mental work to let us relax and not get too worked up. If you were thinking about you were saying there, you’d begin to hate the game. It is about enjoying it and let’s hope that is what we go out and do.”
McGrath continued:Â “You lose at the weekend and in two weeks’ time you’ve got Wales. Come Monday or Tuesday, you think ‘I’m playing Wales in two weeks’ time. I can’t be too annoyed here’. You have to just move on.
“That’s the beauty of sport. It’s different if you are a boxer or fighter. They have six months dwelling on it [a loss]. We have seven days. You can let your frustration out the following week.”
Let us hope that the Irish players and fans will both enjoy this Sunday’s championship opener.
