By Graham Thomas
Mike Ruddock is backing the land of his fathers to overcome the team of his son.
The former Wales coach – who left his job a Grand Slam winner exactly 10 years ago next week in circumstances still shrouded by mists of uncertainty – believes Wales will beat Ireland in Dublin on Sunday.
The presence of his son Rhys, the Leinster flanker, in a green jersey may tip his emotional leaning towards Joe Schmidt’s team but his coaching instincts tell him Warren Gatland’s side will come out on top. More than that, he thinks it could be the catalyst towards another Six Nations title.
“I am edging towards Wales,” says Ruddock who lives in Dublin, where he coaches the club side Lansdowne and works as development director for Acorn Global Recruitment.
“Wales have already gone through transition, in particular the leaders in their team, while Ireland are further behind in that process. The key senior players for Wales had a positive World Cup, whilst we saw what happened to Ireland when they lost their leaders against Argentina.
“I expect Wales to be the stronger team, to win narrowly rather than comfortably, but then to have the tournament open up for them. If they beat Ireland, then I can see Wales going on to win the championship and possibly even achieving another Grand Slam.”
It was against France back in the autumn that Paul O’Connell, for so long Ireland’s iron-willed warrior, shredded his hamstring muscle – denying him a formal farewell to his Test career and leaving a gaping void which the courageous Ulster hooker Rory Best has now been asked to fill as his country’s new captain.
Ruddock says his son Rhys speaks highly of Best and both were present when Best spoke at the memorial service three years ago following the death of Ulster centre Nevin Spence in a farming accident.
“Rory was hugely impressive that day in the most difficult and trying circumstances you can imagine. He had lost his friend, but he was focused, dignified, calm, and just a strong character in a crisis.
“I am sure those personal qualities will serve him well now as Ireland captain but because of injuries he now has a lot of inexperienced players around him compared to Wales.
“Without Paul O’Connell, Cian Healy, Mike Ross, Tommy Bowe and others there is a big loss of leadership. There is a lot of responsibility on Johnny Sexton. He’ll be more than fine with that because whatever recent stick Sexton may have had over his Pro12 form, he’s a guy who does it at Test level.
“But Wales look the more settled side to me. Ireland beat Wales quite comfortably just before the World Cup, but three weeks later Wales had got the combinations they wanted and I thought their fitness came to the fore.
“The selection headaches Joe Schmidt has are about who will replace established players and do a job, while Warren Gatland’s headaches are good ones – which blend to start with in the back row and who to have on the bench to bring on.
“I have been impressed with Dan Biggar this season. He has proven he is now a world class player and it’s wonderful to see the progression of a kid I can remember from Swansea Under 15s. Given quality ball from that strong Welsh pack, he can control the game.”
Ruddock has an interesting take on the debate over Wales’ attacking game. While many former internationals have blamed a lack of flexibility in their back line game – and an over-reliance on the straight running of players such as Jamie Roberts and George North – Ruddock reckons the failure to score tries against 13-man Australia in the World Cup was a front row issue.
The man Ruddock thinks could have sparked tries against the Wallabies – and perhaps put Wales on the road to the semi-finals – was Adam Jones.
“I thought Wales should have kept Adam Jones for the World Cup. Tom Francis was a little unproven.
“When Australia were down to 13, I think the experience of Adam Jones in the scrums would have produced a penalty try. Wales lacked that scrum power.
“Even against South Africa in the late stages of the quarter-final, the thing that ultimately cost Wales was their scrum. The Springboks got a nudge on and if Wales had kept that last scrum straight I think they would have defended.”
Ruddock admits he is still an admirer of big, powerful forwards who do their jobs at scrum and line-out. Only then, he says, can Welsh backs be given the stability from which to show their creativity.
“Look at Toulon in Europe. That is how they have dominated. I think Wales need forwards who provide the basics for others to attack from.
“Scotland don’t have them, so I think talk of their revival is premature. It’s a good time to play England and France because they are still in transition and good coach though Eddie Jones is, two weeks is not enough to get a squad up to speed on the way he wants things.
“So, for me, the winner of the tournament will come from that first Ireland-Wales game. And I think Wales will just have enough to win it and build from there.”
