Magners League duty for global stars

There may have been a few mixed emotions for among the huge contingent of Magners League stars as the international year drew to a close at the weekend, but the vast majority emerged with some success.

Dozens added to their tally of caps for their respective countries; almost as many excelled in one way or another but, while some tasted nothing but sweet success, a few were left to ponder what might have been.

Ireland's star that shone the brightest over the past month as two wins and a draw saw Declan Kidney's men go an entire calendar year unbeaten, their impressive record reading P10 W9 D1. No wonder the IRB Voted the former Munster and Leinster coach as their 'World Coach of the Year'.

A last-gasp Brian O'Driscoll try kept that record intact against Australia in the first of their three internationals, while a stunning victory over World Cup holders South Africa proved a fitting way to bring 2009 to a close.

Billed as the battle of the Six Nations champs against the Tri Nations kings, Ireland dominated the Springboks' much-heralded lineout as they secured a 15-10 triumph at Croke Park.

And they did so with an entire match day squad of Magners League players, as 10 Munstermen, eight Leinstermen, two Ulstermen, an Osprey and Sean Cronin of Connacht put the Springboks in their place.

In fact, only one player from outside the Magners League featured for Ireland throughout the entire year. The Emerald Isle's most-successful period in history was achieved thanks to the efforts of the stars of the Magners League, with Leicester's Geordan Murphy the only non-Magners League player to appear in either the Six Nations or the autumn internationals.

Similarly, Wales used a total of 28 players in their four internationals against New Zealand, Samoa, Argentina and Australia during November, with only one of those playing his rugby outside of the Magners League.

Head coach Warren Gatland selected 11 players from the Ospreys, 10 from the Blues, five from the Scarlets and two from the Dragons as Wales finished their autumn campaign with two wins and two losses.

James Hook, Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts, Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett, Paul James, Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris and Andy Powell featured in all four Tests in what was a topsy-turvy period for the Welsh.

Having moved up to sixth place in the IRB World Rankings earlier in the month, Wales slipped to eighth position by the close of November.

There were celebrations for Ospreys wing Shane Williams, who became only the fourth player in history to reach 50 international tries as his brace against Argentina took his tally to 48 for Wales and two more for the British & Irish Lions.

And while Williams was rewriting the record books in Cardiff, the entire Scottish national side was creating history in Edinburgh. Andy Robinson's reign as head coach began with a 23-10 win over Fiji, but it was the result of the following weekend's clash with Australia that will live long in the memory of Scottish fans.

A brace of Phil Godman penalties and a drop goal from Edinburgh team-mate Chris Paterson secured an heroic victory over the Wallabies as Scotland ended a dismal run against their antipodean opponents.

No Scottish side had recorded a victory over Australia since 1982 but, having cut his teeth in the Magners League with Edinburgh for the past two seasons, Robinson helped his adopted nation achieve that feat in just his second game in charge.

While Scotland may have been unable to back up that victory with a win over Argentina, and therefore clinch a first autumn clean sweep since 2002, there is little doubt that Robinson's reign had got off to a promising start.

Also enjoying an equally positive beginning to their international careers were seven Magners League players who now return to their respective teams having experienced rugby at the very highest level.

Scotland handed debuts to Edinburgh prop Kyle Traynor and openside Alan MacDonald, while Dragons back row Dan Lydiate made his first appearances for Wales. Ireland blooded Connacht's Cronin alongside Leinster trio Cian Healy, Sean O'Brien and Jonathan Sexton.

And it wasn't only the players from the Magners League who made a mark during the autumn.

Referees Nigel Owens, Alain Rolland, Alan Lewis, Peter Fitzgibbon and George Clancy all took charge of major autumn Tests, while James Jones and Peter Allan also got some international experience as they controlled Portugal v Tonga and Ireland A v Argentina A respectively.

And although injuries to the likes of Welsh trio Daffyd Jones, Matthew Rees, Shane Williams, Irish heroes Paddy Wallace, Stephen Ferris and Jonathan Sexton and Scottish skipper Mike Blair may have been disappointing news for their respective Magners League sides, the overall impact of the autumn internationals has to be viewed in a positive light.

All three Celtic nations will argue that progress has been made in one way or another, while the players themselves will return battle-hardened and ready to push their domestic teams onwards and upwards with the Magners League play-offs now very much in sight.