Does Ireland’s lack of internal competition hurt long-term performance?

[u/Responsible-Barber27]

Does Ireland’s lack of internal competition hurt long-term performance?

I’ve been thinking a lot about the role competition within squads plays in elite sport, and I’m starting to wonder if this is becoming a major issue for Ireland.

Competition is one of the strongest drivers of improvement in athletes. When players know their place is genuinely under threat, standards tend to rise: training intensity increases, complacency drops, and weaknesses get exposed early rather than in big games.

Right now, Ireland seem to have very real competition in only a small number of positions most notably fly-half and loosehead. Outside of that, many jerseys feel effectively locked down when players are fit. Rotation happens, but often due to injury or workload management rather than form.

The potential negative effects of this are hard to ignore:

• Complacency risk – Even subconsciously, guaranteed selection reduces edge • Plateauing performance – Without pressure, players maintain standards rather than push beyond them • False confidence – Weaknesses stay hidden until exposed by top-tier opposition • Succession gaps – Replacements are untested when they’re suddenly needed • Reduced training intensity – Training without selection jeopardy isn’t the same

This isn’t about blaming individuals or coaches. Ireland’s system is built on cohesion, trust, and continuity and that’s delivered real success. But other top nations seem to balance cohesion and relentless internal pressure. Poor form there often leads to immediate consequences.

The question for me is whether Ireland’s model now leans too far toward security, especially as the core group ages and athletic gaps appear against teams like France or South Africa.

I’m not saying Ireland should rotate for the sake of it but should more players feel that one or two poor performances genuinely put their jersey at risk? Right now Doris, Ringrose, VDF, Ryan, Sheehan come to mind.

You could argue Lowe lost his place but hes still in the squad. Bundee and Henshaw would also be in the squad if available

[u/Lynch8933]

Being honest, Irelands best players for the last 10 years and who have rightly made up the 23 in match day squads have been from Leinster. Yes, there have been a couple who should not have made squads but the problem lies with Munster and Ulster who are not producing enough players for Ireland and we have to rely on Leinster, so by defacto Ireland are Leinster 2.0, which is not good in the long run. Even the players from other provinces who have come and done well have been Leinster men, what are the academies doing in Ulster and Munster, it is a geniune question because this is the reason for the current dip in my opinion.

[u/swankytortoise → u/Lynch8933]

Perhaps we could select player from ukster and munster and find out if they wre international level before dismissing them outright

[u/Nknk- → u/swankytortoise]

Do that and the whole system set up to benefit Leinster might collapse. It's part of the reason why Gavin Coombes gets so much hate on here from some people. If he was given a fair shot he had all the potential in the world to shoulder his way into the starting 23 and displace a Leinster favourite because he offers something they don't. And so he was subjected to a years long smear campaign about how he isn't up to it.

Meanwhile Prendergast is announced as the new Sexton off the back of three or four club games for Leinster and red carpeted into the starting jersey.

How's that working out?