Irish problems run far deeper than a change of coach

Just over four hours separated the full time whistles in Dublin and Edinburgh on Saturday, on an afternoon of wildly contrasting emotions for Irish rugby.

At the Aviva Stadium, Leinster demolished Toulouse with their usual ruthless efficiency to book their place in the final of the Heineken Champions Cup for the fourth time in six years, the latest great day in a year that's already had several of them in the Irish men’s game.

Later that evening in the shadows of Murrayfield, the women’s game fell to a new low, something we didn’t think was possible after the World Cup qualification disaster of 2021. A first Six Nations wooden spoon since 2004 is enough to reconsider that though.

This was meant to be "Year 1" of the fightback. Professional contracts, the recruitment of an experienced senior coach in John McKee, an expansion of the support staff and the commitment to creating provincial centres of excellence have brought the IRFU’s annual spend on the women’s game to above €5.5m.

Those big headlines and exciting numbers all came before the Six Nations though, a championship that has seen Ireland’s senior team disconnected further from the pack, while the expected departure of head coach Greg McWilliams after less than 18 months in charge means that next year we’ll be doing "Year 1" all over again.

Aside from a brave second half showing against champions England, Ireland’s inexperience at this level was woefully exposed, and it’s hard to see that gap bridged by a change in the coaching team.

Even with a record of just three wins from 12 games, it’s hard to pin much of the blame for Ireland’s disastrous campaign on McWilliams. The lack of access to any of Ireland’s Sevens players left him with one hand tied behind his back this