Ford a driving force in defence

HE MAY be a member of the backroom staff of Irish rugby's international travelling circus but there is no shortage of people willing to let the work Mike Ford does go forgotten in this moment of triumph.

For Ford, a former rugby league star recruited by Eddie O'Sullivan as Ireland's defensive coach at the start of his tenure last December, keeping the world champion Wallabies tryless for almost 87 minutes constitutes a very good day at the office indeed. Ireland's rookie captain Brian O'Driscoll put aside his own elation to make special mention of Ford's work with the players over the last 11 months, while Ronan O'Gara brushed aside his own stellar performance to say defence was the key factor in turning over the Australians so successfully.

And after a stint in the commentary box, Welsh wizard and former Great Britain rugby league hero Jonathan Davies made much of Ireland's unsung coaching hero.