THE main rugby talking point over coffee or in the pub of late has centred around the big changes in the game.

The days of ‘solid football’, as Frankie O’Flynn called it, are long gone, and with the introduction of the ELVs, the game has speeded up even more.

The players have to adapt to the change and with professionalism now firmly in place they have become fitter, bigger and stronger.

The half-backs, once the aristocrats on the field, now have to tackle.

Barry John of Wales and the Lions was a brilliant out-half but he seldom tackled.

“Tackling is for donkeys,” he told prop Ray McLoughlin on the successful ’71 Lions tour of New Zealand, “and all forwards are donkeys.”

These days, I don’t think you would call Paul O’Connell a donkey and get away with it…

I caught up with Paul in the foyer of the Castletroy Park Hotel last week and I had to hold up my radio mike at arm’s length to talk to him. I’m six foot tall but Paul just towers above me.

The position of second row, or lock as they are now called, has evolved massively over the past thirty years.

The Irish locks, Paul and Donncha O’Callaghan, both stand around the 6ft 7in mark, but they are also lean machines, bulging with muscle.

I’m sure the Munster locks of 30 years ago, Brendan Foley and Moss Keane, most have a wry smile when they see the lads pack down wearing the Number 4 and 5 red jerseys which they proudly wore the day they beat the All Blacks.

Paul wasn’t even born in 1978 but he has heard all about that famous All Black game.

“It was a tremendous achievement,” he said, “and I have met most of the guys who played that day.”

“The All Blacks are still the team to beat and Ireland have yet to achieve that,” he said.

“They are a very good side but so are we and with our new coaching team in place there is a great buzz in the camp,” Paul added.

“Their coach Graham Henry is a very experienced and shrewd man and I’m looking forward to hear Steve Hanson and himself speak at the Young Munster ‘Questions and Answer’ function at the South Court Hotel on Monday November 17, the eve of the Munster and All Blacks match,” he said.

Paul went on to say that Ireland’s forward coach, South African Gert Small, is very enthusiastic.

“Gert has brought a few new ideas with him and we welcome that, but it is also gratifying to see that we have been doing a lot of the stuff that the Southern Hemisphere sides are familiar with.”

“The ELVs have taken a bit of getting used to,” continued Paul, “and we needed to adjust our line-out technique but we are getting there”.

“We are looking forward to the game against Canada at Thomond Park on Saturday. You can do as much training as you like but you have to get into a game to see how the team is performing and work from there,” Paul concluded.

All-Blacks on a mission

THE All Blacks will arrive on these shores with one aim; they will want to go through the tour unbeaten.

When Graham Mourie’s All Blacks came over in 1978 they had the same intentions. The only game they lost was the one in Thomond Park to Munster and I know they will be out to rectify that on November 18th.

Unfortunately the main players on both sides will not be playing that day as they will be required for International duty, but this All Blacks party have a very strong squad and it will be fascinating to see how Doug Howlett, Rua Tipoki and Lifimi Mafi perform against their countrymen.

The All Blacks have over the years brought new ideas into the game and shrewd coach Graham Henry has introduced the 22 man team to International rugby.

When you play the All Blacks now you are up against the whole squad, as Henry brings on his replacements early in the second half and not as we so often do in the last five or ten minutes.

Henry is also experimenting with playing two out halves by moving Dan Carter to centre and playing Donald at ten.

He moved Carter back to 10 in the second half against the Australians in Hong Kong last Saturday but the pitch cut up badly and was not conducive to running rugby. He will play Carter in the centre again.

Paul O’Connell and the Irish team will have to be on top form if they are to create a little bit of history and beat the men who wear the silver fern.

The second row battle between Paul and Donncha and Ali Williams and Brad Thorn promises to be some contest.

Hopefully the weather will be kind to us for both matches in Croke Park and Thomond Park.

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