Ireland's World Cup hopes just got a massive boost
Irish rugby is in a strange place at the moment.
The national side has fallen off where it was a couple of years ago, appearing uncertain in style and selection and with core players looking like their best years may be behind them. Finlay Bealham and Peter O'Mahony celebrate victory over New Zealand on the 2022 tour where Ireland made history with a series win. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Between November 2021 and November 2023, it is no exaggeration to say that Ireland were setting the standards in world rugby and the rest were following.
They have been caught. Lions selection notwithstanding, the likes of Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki, James Lowe and Tadhg Furlong (battling persistent injury issues) have not been as effective as in the past and, with all headed for their mid-30s, it creates considerable doubt around Ireland's prospects of ending their quarter-final curse at Australia 2027.
Ireland stars Bundee Aki, James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park are now well into their mid-30s. INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Added to this have been the struggles at provincial level. Ulster, Munster and Connacht are in the doldrums while Leinster, despite intoxicating resources, are lacking clear direction and seem riddled by insecurity.
The good news is: there is time to put it right. The next World Cup is still over two years away and Ireland has had enough of being top of the pile midway between tournaments only to flop when it actually matters. Stuart Lancaster had a difficult time as head Coach of Racing 92. Pic: Getty Images
So, the news that Stuart Lancaster is to take over Connacht rugby could not have come at a better time.
Though he never sought it, Lancaster has become something of a messiah within the game here, a wisdom-dispensing guru with the ability to elevate the ordinary to the exceptional.
Casual observers might see the 55-year-old's move from senior coach at Leinster, one of Europe's elite sides for more than a decade, to head coach at Top14 strugglers Racing 92 to Connacht as something of a downward spiral – it is far from it. Leinster's Senior Coach Stuart Lancaster and Head Coach Leo Cullen enjoyed huge success. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
True, the western province has traditionally lagged behind the 'big three' of Leinster, Munster and Ulster but Pat Lam (and to a lesser extent Andy Friend) proved that, with the right man in charge, Connacht can have a serious impact.
And Lancaster is the right man. Not only a superb on-field coach and tactician, the Englishman also has a proven record of creating the right culture. That includes his time with England, which is often dismissed because of how it ended at the 2015 World Cup but prior to that, Lancaster had forged an excellent environment out of the ashes of ill-discipline at the 2011 World Cup. Connacht's former head coach Pat Lam and Bundee Aki with the Pro12 trophy in 2016. Pic:INPHO/James Crombie
When Leo Cullen brought him to Leinster in 2016, they were in a poor state after the tricky Matt O'Connor reign and, freed from front of house scrutiny by Cullen, Lancaster transformed the Blues into a trophy-winning machine.
He will not have the resources to the do the same with Connacht but he is guaranteed to get them humming again.
However, it is the wider context that makes this development so encouraging. The likes of Josh van der Flier developed hugely under Lancaster at Leinster.
Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Lancaster's influence during his 2016-2023 spell with Leinster had far-reaching repercussions. The players who came through under his tutelage brought world-class quality onto the interna-tional stage and, when Ireland also began to mirror the style of play fostered by Lancaster at Leinster, they really hit their straps.
When Ireland were excelling in that 2021-23 period, Lancaster's fingerprints were over all of it.
If there is Connacht talent that can help the national cause, Lancaster will develop it and his presence alone will attract better players out west. Cian Prendergast is one of Connacht's brightest talents. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
With only four professional franchises, the IRFU need all of them funnelling a steady stream of quality options onto the national stage and that has not been the case for Munster, Ulster or Connacht in recent seasons.
Lancaster will be embraced and adored by the defiantly optimistic Connacht faithful and his style of expansive, have a crack, 'comfortable in chaos' rugby suits the mentality out west and was something Lam and Friend tapped into successfully.
It is unclear how much an influence IRFU high performance director David Humphreys had in this appointment but it had to be signed off on and there is no doubt Irish rugby stands to benefit hugely from it.
IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady
Lancaster's arrival may make some in the unconvincing Ireland coaching roles shift uneasily in their seats because he is a lot of voltage on the Irish rugby ticket and, depending on how he goes with Connacht, there may be a desire to bring him onboard for the World Cup.
But if that is what needs to happen, so be it. Forty years of World Cup failure means everything is on the table and no-one is safe, or ruled out.
It is going to be fascinating to see how this all plays out, but one thing is certain – having Stuart Lancaster back in the Irish system is a massive step in the right direction.
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