Why the Irish Messed up in the World Cup
Genesis report initiates IRFU shake-up
Monday, 17 December 2007 23:48
RTÉ Sport: Genesis report initiates IRFU shake-up
by Brendan Cole
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has responded to the Genesis report into Ireland's Rugby World Cup 2007 underperformance, which they received today, by creating three new posts in the coaching setup of the national team, while a 'strategic' shake-up of Irish rugby is also on the cards.
The report was presented to the IRFU's Review Group, chaired by IRFU President Der Healy, and also including chief executive Philip Browne and the IRFU Committee and was undertaken by Brian Porteous of the Genesis consultancy group (Genesis Strategic Management Consultants : Genesis Strategic Management Consultants - New Beginnings).
The IRFU statement on the report into the failure in France, where Ireland were knocked out of the tournament at the end of the Pool stage after struggling against minnows Namibia and Georgia before losing to France and Argentina in Pool D, was delivered by Browne.
His statement on the report, which was undertaken after Ireland's worst ever Rugby World Cup, said that Genesis had highlighted a lack of match practice prior to the tournament as a key factor in the sustained underperformance.
He said that: ''In an effort to protect front line players from injury in advance of the World Cup, the findings are that they did not participate in a sufficient number of high intensity matches and thus they lacked the level of match practise required for them to perform to their optimal at the actual tournament.'
He also claimed that personality clashes had played no role in the on pitch under-performance.
He said: 'In relation to the players' reactions, which were sought through a confidential questionnaire in conjunction with IRUPA (Irish Rugby Union Players' Association), together with one on one interviews, the report clearly found that personal issues or rifts did not exist or play any role in the underperformance of the team.'
'Complex mix' of factors:
As well as lack of match practice, mental preparation and fitness and conditioning were also mentioned as being among the 'complex mix' of factors that were reviewed by Genesis.
In a move that will be welcomed by supporters, Browne also acknowledged that there had been a broad failure in the run-up to RWC 2007.
He said: 'The findings confirm that Management, Players and the IRFU alike accept that individually and collectively we underperformed at the World Cup and fell well short of our expectations and the expectations of our supporters'.
Based on the report, the IRFU is set to introduce major changes to how the national team is run, while several strategic areas requiring attention have also been put on the agenda.
The three posts to be created are a manager with international rugby experience, a dedicated backs coach, and a psychologist.
New manager: 'person, with international rugby experience'
The new manager is to be, according to IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne, whose comments on the report were released today by the IRFU, 'a person, with international rugby experience, as part of the Management Team, to play a support role for the National coach'.
The backs coach - a role that has up until now fallen directly under the remit of head coach Eddie O'Sullivan - will 'further strengthen the management team' according to Browne, while the third new man 'will provide ongoing psychological support for the team and management'.
The fourth 'operational' goal is to initiate more effective communication between 'players, coaches, management and support staff'.
Even more significant in the long-term could be the IRFU's response to the reports 'strategic' recommendations, which specifically mention the professional game's role in the national side, with the union set to strive for 'improved alignment' between the provinces and the national side.
'Greater critical mass of international standard players':
The Union also hopes to 'build a far greater critical mass of international standard players competing for places in every position on the Irish Team'.
The third 'strategic' goal is to create a more positive environment for younger players by increasing 'the opportunities for emerging players to perform competitively in an elite environment on a continuous basis'.
The report concluded by acknowledging that it would be not be possible to implement all the recommendations of the report in time for the next RBS Six Nations, although rugby fans can perhaps expect at least some new appointments to be made to the national side with only 'a number' of recommendations among those not expected in the short-term.
Full text of the IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne's statement of Monday 17 December:
The Committee of the IRFU today received a presentation from Management Consultants, Genesis, on their key findings from their review of the Irish Rugby Team's performance at RWC 2007.
Commenting on the process, Philip Browne, Chief Executive of the Irish Rugby Football Union said:
'These findings have been produced following extensive consultation by Genesis with the players, coaches, management and support staff who were involved with the Irish Squad's preparations for, and participation in, RWC 2007 and through detailed reviews of key technical areas including fitness and conditioning and mental and psychological preparation.
'The objective of the process is to consider all relevant aspects of the Rugby World Cup campaign, to identify areas of weakness as well of strength so that steps can be taken to build for the future.
'The findings confirm that Management, Players and the IRFU alike accept that individually and collectively we underperformed at the World Cup and fell well short of our expectations and the expectations of our supporters.
'The onus is on us to learn from the experience and take corrective action to ensure we are competitive and successful at the highest international levels.
'This presentation identified that there was a complex mix of factors involved in Ireland's under performance at Rugby World Cup 2007.
'In an effort to protect front line players from injury in advance of the World Cup, the findings are that they did not participate in a sufficient number of high intensity matches and thus they lacked the level of match practise required for them to perform to their optimal at the actual tournament.
'In relation to the players' reactions, which were sought through a confidential questionnaire in conjunction with IRUPA (Irish Rugby Union Players' Association), together with one on one interviews, the report clearly found that personal issues or rifts did not exist or play any role in the underperformance of the team.
'While there were some individuals who had specific complaints, the squad members, as a unit, were constructive in their comments and identified areas in which the team management could be strengthened.
'The IRFU views this report as a vital piece of research which it will use to introduce reforms in the specific areas highlighted and to guide its short, medium and long term planning for Ireland's elite teams.
'In saying this we acknowledge that it will not be practicable to implement a number of these recommendations pre the upcoming Six Nations Championship.'
'In response to the presentation the IRFU has agreed a number of key actions which include actions in the operational sphere to address those issues identified through the team management and player survey. It also identifies a number of actions in the strategic sphere that Irish Rugby must address to avoid underperformance in the future.'
These include:
Operational
1) The appointment of a person, with international rugby experience, as part of the Management Team, to play a support role for the National coach.
2) The appointment of a dedicated backs coach to further strengthen the management team.
3) The retention of a professional to provide ongoing psychological support for the team and management.
4) The development of more effective lines of communication between all those involved in the squad - players, coaches, management and support staff.
Strategic
1) Review Ireland's overall policy in relation to the Professional Game, clarifying the priorities and strategic goals as between the Provincial teams and the National team with a view to achieve improved alignment.
2) The development of a performance model and specific action plan to build a far greater critical mass of international standard players competing for places in every position on the Irish Team.
3) Identify routes to increase the opportunities for emerging players to perform competitively in an elite environment on a continuous basis.
