Whiny Wales are still a threat
That is why Declan Kidney and his squad will be so pleased to erase the memory of Paris so quickly; lessons learned – move on. Nowhere was that mantra seen in greater evidence than in Ireland’s defensive performance and in their increased physicality at the breakdown in Twickenham on Saturday.
Ireland were found wanting in both of those key areas in the Stade de France and had the scars to prove it. Ireland’s commitment in the tackle, epitomised by the attitude and determination of players like Stephen Ferris and Jamie Heaslip, set the tone right from the kick-off last Saturday.
England just couldn’t cope with the resilience of this Irish team and to add insult to injury, gave Martin Johnson’s men a clinical lesson in the art of converting pressure into points. Given the physical nature of the close quarter combat, it said everything about the belief within the side that Ireland had the composure and presence of mind to unleash a clinical execution of their match-winning try after 75 minutes of trench warfare.
The throw from Rory Best, whose 80-minute contribution was phenomenal given his lack of top quality rugby, was inch perfect. The delivery off the top from Paul O’Connell was exquisite while Tomás O’Leary attracted the attention of two English defenders without any intervention from them. Tommy Bowe’s line and subsequent step left two additional defenders tackling fresh air as the flying Osprey touched down unopposed.
In all probability, France are likely to have the Championship sewn up even before the final round of games as they enjoy a +39 points differential on Ireland with the Italians next up in Paris. That would suggest that even if the English managed a shock and beat France in their last game Ireland, on the assumption they beat Wales, would have to beat Scotland by a massive margin.
Scotland have experienced a real roller-coaster campaign, performing well in defeat against the French, blowing what looked like an unassailable lead against Wales in Cardiff and then losing to an Italian side who have improved immeasurably since their opening effort in Croke Park. Andy Robinson’s side now badly need to beat England next up in Murrayfield to salvage something.
Which brings us nicely to a talented but flawed Welsh outfit who have somehow conspired to only play for an average of about 15 minutes in each of their three outings so far – but have managed to score seven tries, the same as table-toppers France and one more that Ireland. Yet they have only managed one win, and that came deep in stoppage time against an injury-ravaged 13-man Scottish outfit.
If the championship was decided on confidence alone, Wales would have won it hands down already. After every game they become slightly delusional and can immediately explain away their defeat on one reason or another. Even after Friday night they complained bitterly about the French kicking the restart on full time straight to touch. “Unsporting”, according to Stephen Jones? Get real: no side is ever going to repeat the mistake that Scotland made. It is time that Wales started to look at themselves.
One of the key issues is that their defence, despite the presence of the highly respected Shaun Edwards, is now being breached with increasing regularity, even if it is by interceptions. When they won the Grand Slam two years ago they conceded a measly two tries (Ireland conceded just three in last year’s tournament). So far in this championship they have shipped seven in three outings.
Wales were also hammered 12-33 last November, conceding four tries, by an Australian side that had previously lost to the Scots and drawn with Ireland on their tour. The Welsh public are beginning to grumble once again and it is time for their team to back up the verbals.
The one thing that will concern Kidney is that Wales must have an 80-minute performance in them somewhere and you can be sure that Warren Gatland would love to produce it in Dublin of all places and deprive Ireland of a potential Triple Crown.
One of the big plusses for Ireland on Saturday was the contribution of all five players introduced off the bench. While one would expect the likes of Ronan O’Gara, Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings to make a positive impact, arguably the most important contributor was Tony Buckley. Kidney gambled on putting him on the bench ahead of Tom Court on the basis that he knew John Hayes is finding it increasingly difficult to complete an 80-minute shift.
I have no doubt the coach suffered a dose of the jitters when Cian Healy went down early in the game, which would not have suited as Buckley would have had to play on the loose head side of the scrum and Hayes could not have been withdrawn. An extension of the Heineken Cup laws which facilitates two props in the match day squad (in order to reduce the prospect of uncontested scrums) would suit Ireland, as both Buckley and Court or indeed the rehabilitated Marcus Horan could be accommodated.
Keith Earls seems to be growing into the demands of the international game and his application in coping with the injury-enforced demands of having to fill in at full-back and outside centre in the last two internationals says everything about the strides he has made since making his debut only last season. Second season syndrome has not been a factor for Earls and he looks more assured with every outing.
When one considers Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney were out of the equation on Saturday, that Jonny Sexton did very well in his first championship start and outstanding young prospects Andrew Conway and Brendan Macken are making good progress with the Irish U-20’s, the future of Irish back play looks assured. The day will eventually come when the likes of O’Gara, Geordan Murphy, Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy will have to call it a day. But with that poignancy comes promise.
