Across The Gain Line . . . with Colm Kinsella

THE deafening noise which greeted the arrival of Irish lock Paul O’Connell back to his old school Ardscoil Ris on Monday was only surpassed by the incredible din which followed when the Munster skipper asked whether the pupils should get a half day from school this Friday!
Less than 24 hours after helping Ireland secure their first Grand Slam success in 61 years, O’Connell honoured a promise he had made to his old school some months ago to drop in for a visit.
The school’s Director of Rugby Des Harty said many other players would have opted out of the visit given the exceptional circumstances, but the Munster skipper had lived up to his word by turning up. Paul O’Connell told the captivated students that the two reasons he had gone so far in his rugby career were Ardscoi l Ris and Young Munster RFC.
The captains of Ardsoil’s Ris various school’s rugby teams then got an opportunity to ask the Irish lock some questions about the sport.
O’Connell was asked whether he felt the British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa this summer would prove to be a success?

Taking nothing for granted
Although he is taking anything for granted himself, 29-year-old O’Connell looks a certainty to be named in Ian McGeechan’s squad for the tour when it is unveiled next month.
Indeed, the second row is second favourite- behind his Irish team mate Brian O’Driscolll- with most bookies’ to be named as the Lions skipper.
O’Connell told his enthralled audience that he firmly believed the Lions tour could prove successful because of the expertise head coach Ian McGeechan would bring with him from his time managing a successful Lions Tour in the past.
O’Connell said he felt it had been easier for Lions squads in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s to bond as a team. This was in the pre-professional era and more of an emphasis was placed on bonding and the social aspect of things. There had not been much of an emphasis on team bonding during the tour to New Zealand in 2005.
O’Connell felt Ian McGeechan would place a bigger emphasis on the importance of team bonding during the course of this Tour.
In relation to Ireland’s win in the Six Nations championship O’Connell said the side had not played the most glamorous rugby at times, but it was winning rugby.
The Young Munster clubman said the greatest memories he would take from his time playing school’s rugby was of the friends he had made there.
“Most of the guys I played with then are still good friends of mine. I have made friends for life from those days,” Paul O’Connell said.
O’Connell’s schoolmates at Ardscoil Ris at time included former Munster and current London Wasps star Mossie Lawler, Garryowen captain Paul Neville and Young Munster centre Clem Casey.
Paul O’Connell played for the Irish school’s team in the 1997-98 season.
Asked what advice he would give to any schoolboy playing rugby today, O’Connell said physical fitness was a massive part. The 6’ 6” second row said an average player could become a good player by getting fitter and faster than the guy beside him.
O’Connell also advised the budding young rugby players to work on their ball skills and to bring a rugby ball with them wherever they went.

Lions selection
Since the final whistle sounded at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday night, newspapers, radio, TV shows and websites have been inundated with possible Lions selections for the First Test against South Africa in June. Guessing the make-up of the team to face the Springbok is an interesting past time, but the reality is that several players who are seen as ‘certain’ starters right now, will not be in the XV for the Durban clash.
Some players will lose form or get injured and several more who are seen as most likely to be involved in the mid-week games (dirt-trackers as they are referred to in some quarters) will succeed in forcing their way into the Test side.
One respected rugby man with a proven track record, who offered his views on the possible make-up of the Lions Test team, was Gareth Edwards.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Edwards’ team consisted of six Irishmen, six Welshmen, two Englishmen and a Scot.
He opted for Paul O’Connell as team captain, adding: “It just feels right. Willie John McBride in ‘74, Martin Johnson in ‘97. The successful template is there. (Brian) O’Driscoll would then be freed up to concentrate on his game and getting the best out of the Lions back division, which he will effectively run.”
Gareth Edwards’ Lions XV: Lee Byrne (Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ireland), Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), Riki Flutey (England), Shane Williams (Wales), Stephen Jones (Wales), Dwayne Peel (Wales), Gethin Jenkins (Wales), Jerry Flannery (Ireland), Euan Murray (Scotland), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Paul O’Connell (Ireland, capt.), Tom Croft (England), David Wallace (Ireland), Jamie Heaslip (Ireland).

Munster jerseys
One question which occupied the minds of many Irish rugby fans in Cardiff last weekend was why Munster fans persist with wearing their Munster jerseys at international games? Sure they are proud of where they come from, sure they are proud of their team’s achievements.
But on Saturday, at the Millennium Stadium in TV shots, decked out in their red jerseys, several Munster supporters were mistakes for Welsh fans.
Is the current recession a contributing factor? Are fans who have a Munster jersey in their wardrobe unable to find the disposable income necessary to buy an Irish shirt? But then again if they can afford to travel to Cardiff to watch Ireland play surely they can find the money to buy a jersey. The intrigue continues.

Colm Kinsella