Curious Ireland 'boys are frustrated getting bronze' Hong Kong verdict
Rags to riches and potentially an Olympic Games jackpot prize in 15 weeks is the inspiring story of Ireland this past decade on the men’s sevens circuit. Their team didn’t exist when David Nucifora pitched in Dublin in 2014 with a grand plan to get the Irish high performing across all levels of its programme.
That included the revival of a sevens team shelved some years earlier by the IRFU due to financial constraints. In the Australian’s mind, he understood the upside to sevens and the ability to harness a contingent of other professional players separate from the XVs game.
It’s been a lengthy climb up from the off-the-beaten-track foothills, a journey not lost on head coach James Topping, a sevens and Test veteran from the late 1990s/early noughties.
Standing in the Hong Kong Stadium tunnel with a second successive third-place finish secured on this season’s HSBC SVNS circuit, he allowed him a chuckle when RugbyPass put it to him that the raucous final day atmosphere in the Far East was a far cry from places such as Montenegro where the Irish commenced their sevens rebirth 10 years ago.
“When I was working for Ulster at the time, he [Nucifora] asked a few of us to come down and help out at the very start when Anthony Eddy started. I just came down and I sort of sold a way for the players to develop, sold that some players were missing out on getting into academies or provincial contracts.
“They have kept these guys in the game and it just shows you if you keep players in the game the sort of levels they can play at and the standard they can play at.”
When the final whistle blew in Hong Kong to confirm Ireland’s bronze final win over Australia, Topping turned to his left to share a celebratory handshake with Nucifora, who was in Hong Kong acting as manager for both the men’s and women’s teams just months before he finishes up as the high-performance boss in Dublin.
Nuicifora unfortunately isn’t a media interviews guy, not even when it comes to official World Rugby channels such as RugbyPass. A tunnel handshake in Hong Kong last Friday was as far as things went in terms of gaining an insight from him as to how Ireland have developed from nowhere to having genuine Olympic medal hopes.
The more genial Topping made amends for this Nucifora rebuff a couple of days later, intriguingly suggesting that third-place finishes are now a frustration for the high aspiring Irish who desperately desire a first title win on the circuit.
The thing is, a similar third-place finish in Paris would mean an Olympic medal, success that would leave Irish sports fans ecstatic given how traditionally rare it is for the country to bring home any type of reward from the Games.
A medal finish would be a fine achievement as Ireland were a poor 10th at the previous Olympiad but for now, a second successive SVNS semi-final loss was still fresh in Topping’s mind when he spoke just as the New Zealand and USA women’s teams were running out to the pitch to massive cheers for their Hong Kong cup final fixture.
“That’s the thing, it’s frustrating to get put out in semis and by France both times as well, but it’s a good development for us. The boys are frustrated getting bronze. At the start of last season they would have been delighted with a bronze or to get to a semi even, so it just shows the sort of level we are now trying to compete at.
“We want to push ourselves. The last Olympics was very disappointing. We qualified a bit late and the guys never came down from that high at the Olympics and it was a disappointment, so really now we would see ourselves as competitors. We’re sitting second on this SVNS table so there is we bit of pressure for us to perform as well, but that just shows the standard we are at now.”
The reaction from the Ireland bench as the clock counts down their 14-5, 3rd place play-off win over Australia in Hong Kong. #HSBCSVNS @SVNSSeries @OfficialHK7s @Ireland7s #IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/TU63LD7NEN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 7, 2024
It was back in November when RugbyPass previously touched base with Topping on a cold afternoon at the IRFU training centre in Blanchardstown.
That was before the start of a campaign that has delivered finishes of fifth, fourth, third, fifth and now two successive thirds to leave Ireland on 86 points, second only to the 94-point Argentina with one more regular-season leg remaining in Singapore in early May before the Grand Final in Madrid.
What is the Topping verdict on Ireland six tournaments deep? “Pleasing enough. It was disappointing our semi against France. We have failed to reach a final so far this year but to bounce back and get a bronze is good for us.
“We had a poor year here in Hong Kong last year and this season has been pretty good, we have been making quarter-finals pretty much all the way through the competition. It would be nice to push ourselves on but it’s just a fair reflection of where we are at.
“We were poor at times but the guys are developing well. We just want to build now hopefully up to the Olympics. The pressure has been off relegation-wise, so we are just looking forward to Singapore, put the season to bed, enjoy Madrid and then building towards the Olympics.
“We got a few players back this season including Terry who has boosted us quite a bit. We have got Zac McConnell, a guy from Australia, playing his debut this week, so we are very lucky that now I have a squad where I have no qualms about putting any player on the pitch or bringing in anybody from the squad who is back home.
“We really know what we are trying to do and what our focus is, and that proves we are a good team. We are not individually blessed with any great size or speed but the work that we do for each other is our strength.”
Epitomising that approach in Hong Kong was Gavin Mullin, the son of former British and Irish Lions midfielder Brendan. It was his first time playing at the iconic Far East tournament and so enthused was he by the post-bronze medal stadium walkabout for Ireland, he was even persuaded to gift his No99 jersey to one of the supporters in the South Stand.
“I gave it to someone; they deserve it,” he giddily revealed to RugbyPass. “It’s my first time playing here. It’s a really special place, the South Stand is going absolutely nuts, so it’s not too hard to get up for a game when you have got them screaming with a full house here.”
Mullin was very efficient across the six-game programme which began with a Friday morning defeat to South Africa followed by wins over Samoa, Spain and then an epic extra time quarter-final success over the USA before Sunday’s semi-final loss to the French and the bronze win over the Aussies.
“The margins are tiny in this league,” he continued. “We know how hard it is to keep coming third, it’s our third or fourth time this year. We just need that next step and get into a final. We all appreciate how hard it is to get into a semi-final and it is disappointing we are not getting past that stage.
“But it’s tough, the margins are so small. France are playing well and they just had the better of us again but look, we will be back again in Singapore. Two more tournaments for us to get going… We are happy enough going into Singapore.”
His interview was the first time Mullin had been spotted minus the white bandage he wore across the weekend to prevent some blood from oozing. “I just picked up a knock,” he explained with the wounding damage in full view. “I have a load of scar tissue on my forehead so any small knocks, it seems to just cut open.”
FAN CLUB: Terry Kennedy was a hero in demand after his extra-time winner sent Ireland to the Hong Kong semi-finals with a 24-19 victory over USA 🕺🎉❤️ #HK7s #HSBCSVNS @SVNSSeries @OfficialHK7s @Ireland7s #IrishRugby
Catch all the action live on RugbyPass TV… pic.twitter.com/jmLf6OaFAm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2024
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
54 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
54 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
54 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
54 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
54 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
54 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
54 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
54 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
54 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
54 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
54 Go to comments