Irish to learn from late, late show

WHEN big Rocky Elsom touched down last Sunday in the same corner of Croke Park where he had denied Munster’s Ian Dowling an early try in that epic Heineken Cup semi-final earlier this year, you feared the game was up for Ireland.

On the receiving end for most of the second-half, it would require a mighty effort to rescue this test. That is exactly what they produced.

Having the facility to draw on moments like that will stand to this squad in the future. One can envisage a scenario with the team in a huddle behind the posts; trailing with time running out, when Brian O’Driscoll will be able to reassure his troops – remember Australia – we will go up the other end and score. That is the type of belief that this team has and last Sunday’s brilliantly-constructed try at the death will only reinforce that feeling within the group.