Sir, – The rugby commentarial has fed us a steady diet of nuance and justification regarding Ireland’s selections in this year’s Six Nations Championship. We are told confidence must be protected and continuity preserved. Yet the selections themselves suggest something less coherent.
How does a player move from indispensable to omitted in a matter of weeks? Why is replacement so often equated with removal rather than movement to the bench?
If continuity is a virtue, it appears unevenly applied. If confidence is paramount, it seems selectively so. Perhaps the issue is not individual players, but a selection philosophy that feels reactive rather than strategic.
Supporters can accept defeat; what is harder to accept is the sense that management has only one way of knowing – and that it is not working. – Yours, etc,
RM Block
DIARMUID O’CINNEIDE,
Garryowen,
Limerick.
Sir, – I wish to compliment Owen Doyle once again for highlighting what was happening with the Ireland scrum versus Italy (“World Rugby have the scrum on death row”, Sport, February 19th).
He is the first analyst or correspondent that I read or heard referring to the illegal scrummaging by Italy. It was obvious even to my untrained eye that the only way they achieved their success was by lifting up the front row while pushing forward.
As Doyle states in his article, I hope that the referee on Saturday implements the rule as it is stated in therule book. – Yours, etc,
JOE CLANCY,
Circular Road,
Galway.
Sir, – Fortunately the creased page syndrome has healed. But worse has surfaced: Johnny Watterson (“More questions than answers as Ireland squad struggle to pinpoint the malaise”, Sport, February 20th) is smudged into illegibility and poor Andy Farrell looks terrified of the English XV. I never knew that he indulged in drooping cigarettes. Let’s hope that the weekend game will be clearly reported. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GLEESON,
Killarney,
Co Kerry.
