Following the Guinness Pro14, one topic which often arises is the protection and management of players and its impact on the league.
In systems such as the Irish and to a lesser extent the Scottish one, many players have their game time noticeably managed by their Union, limiting the number of appearances they make in regular club competitions.
Many argue this devalues the club game. The counter argument is that protecting these players leads to International success and player development, the former being what ultimately financially drives most professional rugby clubs.
If we put the game-time argument to one side, we can see exactly what having an integrated system brings for national sides and why England coach Eddie Jones praised the Irish system this week.
Player Character
An absolutely crucial stage in the selection progress at any level is knowing the character of a player. There are some exceptionally high-quality players who never quite manage to establish themselves in international sides for various reasons; usually temperament, be that on the field or off of it.
One way that so called ‘hot-heads’ can often be tempered is with the inclusion of a majority of cool-headed and quality players. Peer pressure is a powerful force. If you put a loose canon in with a bunch of well-disciplined chaps, he’s likely to be looking to impress the boys around him and less likely to fly off the handle. Being surrounded by positive influences can help to change a player. Of course, this isn’t an exact science though and the risk may not always pay-off.
Flair vs Consistency
Some coaches do follow this approach of calming riskier players – In Scottish colours, the flair of Finn Russell is matched with the consistency of Greig Laidlaw, or the selection of guys like Chris Fusaro and Rob Harley around Ryan Wilson (back in his earlier days, fierier days) in the Glasgow teams of Gregor Townsend.
But why do this when you have solid other options? Take the case of Cipriani and England as an example. Not only would I argue that Farrell is one of England’s best players, but he has also grown into a key leader and less of the petulant, ill-tempered nuisance that he used to be. Yes, Cipriani would bring some flair and no-doubt some exceptional plays. But he could well also bring some disastrous ideas.
Farrell and understudy Ford are fairly consistent and have very clean track records, which will also subconsciously be on the mind of the referee too. At International level, these are the fine margins which win games. Whilst at club level you may be willing to risk it, international rugby is a different ball game. An integrated system facilitates that judgement, and allows it to be made and shared by multiple individuals.
How character builds in to selection
Having a fully integrated system gives consistency into player accounts and ultimately means that, in the case of the All Blacks for example, Steve Hansen knows exactly what he’s getting. The physios, the doctors, the press officers, the coaches, everyone knows one another- they talk and have a very clear picture of not only what each individual can bring to a game, but crucially, what they won’t. The same goes for Ireland.
Statistical Integration
Another benefit of an integrated system is having the statistics brought together centrally and immediately. In a system where these stats are readily available to all teams involved with a player, it allows decisions and analysis to be done continuously and rapidly, ensuring no time is wasted collating the data. Again, this may be a small detail, but it’s these details that give sides the edge internationally.
Efficiency, transparency, consistency within staff. It’s not what you’ve got it’s how you use it. England and New Zealand are prime examples of contrasting financial fortunes and relatively contrasting success.
“All of their programmes are monitored – they have a very good system. They are seeing the fruits of that with their national team” – Eddie Jones, England Head Coach
Club level
At club level, it’s different. Game management does mean players appear less for their clubs. There have been many comparisons between the game time per-season of Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell, the latter being utilised far more frequently by club and country. However, as I’ve argued before, this allows for great windows of opportunity.
This has allowed understudies such as Joey Carberry to Sexton, Adam Hastings to Finn Russell, amongst others, to flourish. Anyone who watched regular PRO14 rugby last season shouldn’t be too surprised at the curve of Adam Hastings; every appearance he made last season, he took his opportunity. He may have experienced a dip in form of late, but the league has allowed his talent to flourish and make him a real future contender for the Scotland ten jersey.
Personally, this game management doesn’t devalue a competition, but enriches it. International rugby should be the top level of the sport and until rugby has a global reach and audience, the strength of Unions and the systems they use are always going to be the most efficient ways to develop players ready to contend in the international arena.
Conclusion
Whilst it would be ideal to have a system where clubs and national teams are independent of one another and in which we saw the best players week-in week-out, this is just not viable in rugby’s current state.
Player welfare combined with finances and the comparatively small footprint of the sport are just some of the obstacles in the way. Ultimately, it is possible to have quality international sides and quality club sides, it’s all about perception.
As it stands, the best way for success at club and certainly at international level, is through an integrated system such as the ones employed throughout Northern Ireland and Ireland and New Zealand.
The Scribbler, 30th January, 2019
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