With the Magners League set for kick-off this Friday, the impression is that rugby seasons ruck and roll into one another. It is certainly a marathon, not a sprint, with the Heineken Cup, autumn Tests, Six Nations to follow before a Lions tour to South Africa at the end of May. As for Irish rugby, many have said it is heading down into a valley following a few seasons scaling heights that had their supporters frothing at the mouth.  New Ireland coach Declan Kidney has all the provinces singing from the same hymn sheet |
But with Munster defending the Heineken Cup and Leinster the Magners League title, and the men in green relishing the chance to lift Ireland out of the doldrums, the doom-mongers may be left to eat their words. At international level there is a blank canvas now that Declan Kidney has taken over the reins, although there will undoubtedly be a familiar landscape when he finalises the squad to face the visiting All Blacks on 15 November. Kidney takes over after Eddie O'Sullivan's six-year tenure ended with a tired and weary Six Nations campaign. That, of course, followed a disastrous World Cup which many had hoped would bring success to a squad that had reached its prime. Kidney, of course, is a different operator from his predecessor - a bit of chalk and cheese. The Munsterman is more a man-manager with a psychological and philosophical approach to the game who allows his backroom staff to prove their worth. He was also quick to visit the provinces and hopes to see the four coaches all singing from the same hymn sheet with the collective intent proving its worth at international level. Some of the more experienced Ireland players may be getting on and feel they might have missed out on something other than Triple Crowns. But not too many are looking to walk away, or have even slipped below the radar after the trauma of last season. In other words there will be little change. New players did emerge last season with Rob Kearney, Tony Buckley and Jamie Heaslip cutting the mustard while Eoin Reddan added a different impetus at scrum-half.  | 606: DEBATE |
New faces this season, well, there will not be many but watch out for Munster's Keith Earl, a right bundle of mischief, just like Leinster's Luke Fitzgerald, in the three-quarters. Both may get their chance, but much depends on the mental and physical shape of Brian O'Driscoll. With the burden of the Leinster captaincy removed from his shoulders, O'Driscoll has a chance to rekindle the lost art of scoring tries and leading by example which he used to do better than most. He has three months to whet his appetite again in the Magners League and prove to Kidney that he is still the man to lead his country come the autumn Tests. It should be an interesting season for the men in green, particularly with a rankings war to determine seedings for the 2011 World Cup. Ireland are hanging on to eighth slot, ahead of Scotland by a miserly 0.16 of a point. With the seedings finalised in December, Ireland must at least see off Canada on 8 November at Munster's newly-renovated Thomond Park, and then their old adversary Argentina a fortnight later.  New Zealander Isa Nacewa adds to Leinster's sparkling back line |
Beating the All Blacks for the first time when they make their debut at Croke Park is another thing. New Zealand have had a year to sample the 13 ELVs being introduced to the northern hemisphere this season and they will be as cute as a fox in playing to them. Home games against France and England should give Ireland a bit of a lift in the Six Nations which will be a completely open affair this season, although try and tell that to the Welsh and English. Munster players will again be the mainstay of the Ireland side with Leinster maybe adding a bit more than they did last season. The Dublin-based province appear to have spent well and wise as they aim to be the first team to retain the Celtic League crown. Coach Michael Cheika has brought in Wallaby beef in flanker Rocky Elsom, Springbok muscle in prop CJ Van Der Linde, and a classy and versatile back in New Zealander Isa Nacewa. With Jonno Gibbes as forwards' coach, the often soft underbelly of Leinster looks decidedly granite-like now. European kingpins Munster, on the other hand, have virtually left well alone with only a short-term signing in South African flanker Justin Melck, who will cover for Denis Leamy while he recovers from a reconstructed shoulder, and scrum-half Mike Prendergast returning from Gloucester. There is a new coach on board after Kidney's elevation, with Tony McGahan taking over one of Europe's plum jobs, having previously assisted Kidney since his arrival from Australia via Japan a couple of years ago.  BJ Botha will add a lot of grunt to the Ulster front row |
Connacht also appear to have delved expertly into the marketplace, giving coach Michael Bradley a more realistic chance of finally moving away from bottom spot in the Magners League and a chance to see four Irish teams in the premier competition. As for Ulster, there will not be too many, bar hooker Rory Best, at the forefront of Kidney's mind for an Ireland starting spot, at least initially. Coming off a dismal run last season, Ulster have cleared their cupboard and despite financial restraints, brought in a cluster of new faces as coach Matt Williams prepares for his first full year in charge. Williams has seen the cobwebs knocked off the squad with three pre-season friendlies where he has given players a chance to put their hands up. Some have, others have kept them in their pockets. Their biggest hitter is BJ Botha, the Springboks tight-head who signed a three-year deal last month. If Ulster manage to break into the top four they will be doing well. As far as the Lions are concerned there is an awful lot of rugby to be played before names can be pencilled in. That's for another day.
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