Ex-Ireland prop: 'We don't have enough competent fatties to compete'

Retired Ireland front row Nick Popplewell has questioned the IRFU’s development system for props, claiming too many youths coaches select “slow wing forwards” ahead of specialist loose and tightheads.

The 60-year-old, who was a 1993 British and Irish Lions Test team pick in New Zealand, won 48 caps for his country in a career that also included winning the English league with Newcastle.

Now working in property sales, he has taken to LinkedIn to share his thoughts on the state of the props in Ireland following last Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations trouncing by France.

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It is widely claimed that the Irish have an excellent conveyor belt of talent frequently emerging from the Leinster schools system, but Popplewell has argued that this development doesn’t extend to props.

Rather than hailing the existing system, he claimed that the desire to win at youths level had instead resulted in coaches not placing enough emphasis on properly developing specialist props.

Six Nations

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

France

4

3

1

0

16

2

England

4

3

1

0

15

3

Ireland

4

3

1

0

14

4

Scotland

4

2

2

0

11

5

Italy

4

1

3

0

4

6

Wales

4

0

4

0

3

Focusing on the debate ignited by the French selecting seven forwards and just one back on their Six Nations bench in Dublin, Popplewell pondered: “The 7-1 split yea or nay? Unfortunately the reality is there are countries who have been ignoring the importance of the scrum and want a rule change as they feel they are at a disadvantage.

“Why our opposition to the 7-1? We don’t have enough competent fatties to compete. Why? We have been assuming that those selected to represent the country at U20s level are best placed to do so at senior level.

“Maybe this assumption is incorrect? Maybe for the last five, six years those in charge in selecting and binning young hopefuls have been making incorrect choices and we are now counting the cost at national level. (Don’t forget I am talking fatties here: props = chaps that from birth are built like a Hereford bull and talk about all things scrum-related at the bar).

“Maybe our U20s props are being selected for speed and agility (heaven forbid) rather than grunt and strength. Coaches are human and like to be seen as successful so short-term optics and silverware are important for their egos and young bulls are being overlooked and replaced by ‘slow wing forwards’.

“Unfortunately there is no quick fix. It takes time to strengthen and fatten up young props (even more time with young wing forwards). But we need to acknowledge that we need change.

“The harsh reality is: For the last four years our Irish U20s have been stuffed at scrum time, especially against English and French sides, and yet year on year the four, five props included in the squad are rewarded with three-year academy contracts. Why?

“How can we improve this? We need a greater pool of kids brought in from a wider catchment area and let a FAIR culling process evolve over a period where those not progressing are moved on and or maybe replaced by someone showing promise in the All-Ireland League.

“We need a greater involvement of props in the decision making and culling. Why? Because only a prop has the sixth sense of true ability. We have all seen young, promising bulls disappear and wonder why? The powers that be respond that they didn’t have the mental stamina or will to put in the hard work.

“Maybe if they had been offered the same opportunities as their ‘blue blooded peers’ they could be out there wearing the green jersey and Ireland would be leading the charge in the 7-1 split!”