RUGBY ANALYST:The partnership of John Hayes and Paul O'Connell is vital for Lions success

AS I departed Thomond Park last Sunday evening I did so with a warm glow. Leinster had just defeated Harlequins (as predicted!) and Munster found an altogether new level. What a weekend I had. The previous day I found myself in New Quay, west Clare, in a most beautiful spot, miles from pretty much everything, especially professional rugby. A long walk along the shore was followed by a visit to Linane’s where mussels and scallops were washed down by plenty of the black stuff.

So by Tuesday morning I was in a great mood. And on entering my office opposite the Clarion Hotel in Limerick a wry smile broke out on my face. This location is significant to Irish rugby as the Munster team locate here on match days so it brings with it a throng of players, families, supporters and ticket hunters. The reason for the wry smile is three floors above me dangles an unfurled Leinster flag. It has remained unnoticed and untouched for months now, through the thick and thin of the Leinster journey this season.

In all this time of Magners League and Heineken Cup activity I wonder has anyone else noticed the little piece of Leinster that exists in perfect harmony within touching distance? Both sides have deservedly arrived into the semi-final and deserve equal praise. So, too, the loyal supporters of both teams and especially the brave man who proudly advertises his persuasion here in Limerick.

However, I’ll try to resist the temptation of venturing into the semi-final debate when I prefer to open up the British and Irish Lions topic. This is somewhat timely as coach Ian McGeechan will announce his preference on Tuesday next.

You may have noticed while attending matches I have a habit of following individual players about regardless of their proximity to the ball. Three such players in Thomond Park last week were Alan Quinlan, John Hayes and Ryan Jones. For so many reasons I was giddy about the fixture but I really wanted to examine the value of 28-year-old Jones. Remember, he was touted as potential Lions captain a few short months ago. Suffice to say his Six Nations was forgettable and he needed a big one on Saturday. It never materialised.

Conversely Leinster’s 26-year-old Rocky Elsom has been a tower of strength regardless of his team’s position on the scoreboard or the pitch but is not Lions qualified. So for long periods I watched the elder statesman at blindside, Alan Quinlan. Both Elsom and Jones are in their 20s and have yet to reach their prime but Quinlan will be 35 this July. Jones, however, appears to be in his twilight. I love Quinlan’s approach to every match where he clings onto each passing rugby minute as if it’s his last.

I have another habit of judging players on the activity they create. A method I use is the blank A4 sheet, cut horizontally to capture both halves. As I look at players I fill in their activity while the minutes tick by. Tackles made, balls carried, lines run, counter rucks, etc, etc. Subsequently I will have a pen picture of the player’s performance. It’s not very scientific I know, but if you compared Ryan Jones’ sheet to Alan Quinlan’s there would be no debate over who’d be travelling to South Africa. He is an extraordinary contributor to the Munster machine.

With the Lions selection in mind I also wanted to focus in on the Paul O’Connell-John Hayes partnership and ask the question – can O’Connell survive without Hayes? And as a consequence can the Lions lineout survive without Hayes? And finally can the Lions Test series ambitions survive without Hayes?

We all know that the South Africans will target the scrum. Paul Wallace went from zero to hero in 1997 because of his ability to lower the height of the frontrow battle but with Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield the lineout will be key to the Lions success.

My seat in Thomond Park afforded me a bird’s eye view of Keith Earls’ magnificent try but it was the lineout that attracted my attention. Ireland’s victories over Scotland, England and Wales were by one score or less and by nine points over France. These are all very tight margins. Suffice to say that the lineout steals by O’Connell and scores generated by the Irish lineout have contributed most handsomely to those narrow victories.

It may sound obvious but at the heart of these wins can be found the lineout lifter, John Hayes. I think back to Brian O’Driscoll’s fantastic try against the French in Croke Park that resulted from a lineout win by O’Connell being lifted by Hayes.

So back to Thomond Park last weekend and the lineout. I noticed that on several occasions O’Connell started in the traditional slot at four in defence but on occasion Hayes stood behind him. When there, he focused totally on O’Connell. Without any apparent communication they’d switch in an instant with Hayes stepping out of the lineout allowing O’Connell to speedily step back and without any loss of motion Hayes would lift him from the front. It’s a little nerdy but the speed at which O’Connell gets in the air to challenge is extraordinary. I’m convinced he will not accomplish this in South Africa without Hayes. Neither Scotland’s Euan Murray 6ft 1in nor Wales’ Adam Jones’ 6ft are small but at 6ft 4ins John Hayes has both the physique and symbiotic relationship to maximise the lineout performance.

Remember in the last round of the Six Nations the average number of scrums per match was 10 versus 26 lineouts per match. Both are incredible sources of possession but there wasn’t one ball lost against the head at scrum time in the last round. Of the 12 lineouts conceded in the last weekend Ireland contributed one where Wales conceded six. Wales lost the game by two points! Had Hayes not been in the lineout would O’Connell have stolen that ball and would Ireland have subsequently lost out on the great quest for the Grand Slam?

To all the Irish in contention I wish them luck on Tuesday and hope that McGeechan doesn’t opt for the 35 obvious stars.