Irish can triumph in war of attrition
After a series of largely average RBS Six Nations Championship games, riddled with juvenile errors, they find themselves in the surprisingly happy position of going in search of the Triple Crown and just possibly the title itself as well. By the time Ireland and England lock horns at 5.30, France, in all probability, will have beaten Wales in Cardiff and that means they will have already been crowned champions unless Ireland beat England by 30 points or more.
However, no matter what happens in Cardiff, the incentive for O'Sullivan's men could hardly be greater.
No Irish side has ever clinched the Triple Crown at Twickenham. We may never have a better chance given the improvement, however slight, that we have seen from them over the past four games and, more significantly, the apparent disarray in the English camp. The two teams failed dismally in Paris, although England's failure to mount any kind of second-half resistance was in stark contrast to the way Ireland were able to put a respectable appearance on the scoreboard.
O'Sullivan agrees that Andy Robinson's decision to make seven changes "has a risk element to it".
"You want to keep your side settled for a tournament although professionals are well able to adapt over a few days," he says.
Whether changing half the side was the wisest course of action remains to be seen, but in at least some positions, Robinson seems to have over-reacted. Josh Lewsey has looked a class act for Wasps, England and the Lions and while he may not have sparkled in recent times, I have little doubt that O'Sullivan is pleased he won't be involved today and that the number 15 jersey will be worn by Tom Voyce, who has had his moments on the wing without ever looking exceptional.
Ronan O'Gara is an expert with the 'Garryowen' and while some felt he underused the strategy against Scotland, you suspect that this time he won't hesitate to throw up a few early 'bombs'.
I believe Voyce will prove vulnerable in his primary role and you wonder, too, about Leicester pair Andy Goode and Harry Ellis.
Goode has a big boot and decent hands but not a whole lot more and with the possible exception of Mark Cueto on the wing, the rest of the English backs are hardly likely to instil too much fear in Brian O'Driscoll and co. That would hardly matter were the England pack to gain control, and while they will certainly be very physical and committed, it is difficult to see them holding any kind of edge over an Irish eight led by Paul O'Connell and containing a whole host of other players on top of their form, most notably Denis Leamy and David Wallace.
"Six Nations rugby has never been about the end-to-end, basketball rugby, 45 points to 38 stuff. If you want that, watch the Super 14s," said O'Sullivan last night.
"There have been one or two years when France and England dominated and it was left to the rest of us to hold the championship together. Before this one began, the general opinion was there would be no grand slam and it would be a very tight championship.
"There haven't been any classic games, more a case of very workmanlike performances, nobody firing on all cylinders but that has more to do with the opposition shutting people down and defending very well.
"What I can say for sure today is that we are where we want to be. Having not won in Paris, the next best place to be is going is into a Triple Crown game at Twickenham. Winning there has always been a very big deal for Ireland. Certainly the win two years ago was a big deal and gave us the platform for the Triple Crown. Our players have been to Twickenham and a lot of them have won there and that does help.
"There isn't a fear factor, it's a question of execution and that's the focal point for the team. We know what we want to do, we know our strategy, it's a question of going out and executing it. There will be a very physical element to the game. They'll come at us early on and see if we're up to the task or not. If they click, England can have a big day out and at Twickenham they're more likely to click than not click."
So the coach is in customary cautious mode and that's very understandable. He makes much of how England pushed the All Blacks to one score last November while craftily overlooking the salient point that they have been a long way off that level in the intervening weeks and months. He is happy that all his players know referee Nigel Whitehouse who ran the line in Dublin last week, travelled with them to Japan last summer and is a regular on the Celtic League and Heineken Cup roster. All in all, then, O'Sullivan surely believes it could hardly be set up better for an Irish victory?
"They do need a performance. If they come out and hit the ground running, they could exorcise a lot of demons after Paris. But it could go the other way and they mightn't click because they have a lot of changes.
"The test of a good team is how it responds in adversity. If anything, England are now more galvanised after Paris and it might have been a better deal for us had they won in Paris and we'd both be shooting for the championship with all to play for."
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