Frank Quinn looks back on another All Blacks win

BY FRANK QUINN
BEFORE last weeks’ game against the All Blacks I was not happy at all about the short sighted selection. After a tour to South Africa- and an Emerging Tour there to play international games., Munster’s game again a New Zealand selection that is a huge number of players fit and well for selection for the upcoming 6N period. We got a selection of the usual 10 from Leinster 3 from Connacht and 2 from Ulster (and usual replacements) All experienced players according to damned statistics but some had played little football. The coaches knew we were playing the All Blacks
WE were left with a team of usual players in the squad. Peter O’Mahony had not played a full game either had Mack Hansen, Tadhg Beirne was also rumoured to be an injury suspect after playing for Munster.
It was a dreadful loss in the opener against the All Blacks, poor game, No atmosphere, no X factor , nothing for the crowd to get excited about . When the referee blew final whistle it looked life relief all round for the players who walked away, the attendance, there were no hangers on to see the players – It was dreadful stuff. The game was full of penalties, nearly 20 and the slowest scrums w have witnessed for ages and Damian McKenzie the AB kicker had a wonderful day dropping the balls over the bar for 3 pointers, why bother getting into a flap – to go to the corner flag for tries – give the players a rest – He won the game for them with his boot, it was like his birthday.
The serious side is you want experienced players – you want to win, But there is a balance that we have not found in the mix with new players with playing form and “the golden oldies” settlers. (this amid all the tours and squad get together at the training centres). So its November 2024 – its a “friendly game” time – Win or lose – for the money, really does it matter, it matters in the 6N in 2025 It matters in 2027 in the RWC. It should be trials time – we are always looking to the future – no different in 2024 For the attendance there is no value for money in these expensive night outs at €145 per ticket for 80 minutes entertainment – twenty penalties – “for ages scrums” – TMO’s, No X factor , we lack personalities with a bit of class to liven up hum drum test matches. Flashy lights and drums don’t make up for solid rugby and the grand stand finishes that we saw in the two England games so far – that is excitement , X factor, great TV. We are missing the  Irish Rugby Show.
We need a thoughtfully produced squad for the next three games – we need the thoughts of the coaches on how the squad was put together, we need to hear more about about the emerging group and the URC players and shortly the EPCR players.
We will get the usual reply “the players will not be as bad again” so same selection again for the team “Do not disturb” tags at training , But a a game against the all Blacks has passed them by – they did not recognise it – – they do now ” too late. The rugby followers deserve better value and better recognition for turning up as a 50,000 block at 8 pm at the Aviva. If you don’t play the All Blacks in the glorified atmosphere of the Haka – the lights The Army and Garda bans – How are they going to experience it. These are “friendly games” to produce financial turnover for the Unions and the big sponsors. So treat them as explorations and develop the game and the players in these periods. We all know that the 6N is the place to make money to run the unions and pay for all the Union expenses – and they do a great job at that, their financial management is known and we are the envy of many international Unions. Do the players appreciate that.
The IRFU has got to think of the knock on. The attendance will not be saying “I was at the All Blacks match”, they will want to forget it. The attendance need something to remember from their outings.

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