Learning lessons from Croke Park reality check

IF Declan Kidney’s adage that you learn more in defeat than in victory is correct, then Saturday’s reversal to Scotland could prove the greatest education of all for a side offered the ultimate reality check.

Wed, 24 Mar, 2010 - 00:00

Donal Lenihan

A rugby player, coach and manager during a glittering career with Munster, Ireland and the Lions and now a definitive voice in Irish rugby analysis and commentary.

It is always soul-destroying to end a campaign with a defeat at home to a side you would expect to beat. None of the Irish side on Saturday had ever experienced a defeat by the Scots in Dublin prior to the weekend. The last time such an event occurred was back in 1998. Maybe they began to believe in their own hype prior to this fixture.

After winning the Grand Slam last season, the Irish management sat down and conducted a full review of the campaign and identified areas that required improvement. No doubt Kidney will conduct a similar exercise this week after a disappointing tournament despite a second-place finish that was broadly anticipated prior to the championship.