Farrell’s coaching backroom staff named last week includes one representative from Scotland, three from Ireland and one from England.
However, there is no room for a Welshman, something that could ultimately be replicated in the playing squad when it is announced in early May.
Leadership demands trust and that is the reason for Farrell selecting the likes of John Dalziel, John Fogarty and Andrew Goodman, even if they may not be familiar to all fans of the game.
Contemporary leadership seems to be a matter of aligning people toward common goals and empowering them to take the actions needed to reach them. Farrell has this ability to influence his team toward the achievement of specific common goals.
The rugby fraternity is salivating on the naming of the squad and the opening fifteen. There usually is one “bolter” and there is a lot of candidates - and surely an Ireland captain?
Elsewhere, the heat is very much increasing in the rugby world. The recently concluded men’s Six Nations has had its day for another year, and has been replaced by the women’s tournament equivalent, with England and France set to fight it out for top spot.
The England Red Roses are set to dominate the tournament as the 67-12 demolition of Wales last Saturday (Mar 29) indicates. Little is going right for Welsh rugby currently and the future looks bleak.
Over in the UK, the Gallagher Premiership is being dominated by teams based in the Southwest of England, with Bath, Bristol and Gloucester all in the top four. Leicester Tigers, with all players fit again, recently defeated last season’s winners Northampton by over 30 points, keeping them scoreless. However, Leicester’s loss to Saracens elevates Saracens closer to the play off places and dents Leicester’s confidence. The pre-game injury to Leicester’s Ollie Chesham may affect his chance of selection for the Lions. Some players just have bad luck.
In Super Rugby, the Queensland Reds head the table but the Kiwi teams are beginning to flex their muscles, while the improving South Pacific teams should not be overlooked either. Moana Pasifika scored a 45-29 win over the Crusaders in Canterbury last weekend and this coming Saturday entertain the Waratahs, who suffered a 57-point hammering at the hands of the Hurricanes.
Trouble is brewing over France’s tour of New Zealand in July with the visitors reportedly only sending a weak squad. The best should always play the best in my opinion as many countries depend on international fixtures to strengthen their financial resources.
Finally, the hugely-popular Hong Kong 7s rugby took place last weekend at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium, a 40,400-seat venue in Causeway Bay. Argentina and France contested the final with Argentina slender winners 12-7. The whole weekend was a great success, cementing the Hong Kong 7s as World Rugby’s premier 7s event.
The Global Rugby Coach, Mike Penistone, is a globally renowned professional rugby coach based in Phuket who is also an ambassador for the Asia Center Foundation, a charity for disadvantaged children. For more information visit: www.rugbycoachingconsultancy.com.