Inept Irish exposed by ruthless All Blacks

Ireland 7 New Zealand 45

With the All Blacks striding mercilessly towards a northern hemisphere Grand Slam, Ireland are left to reflect on their weaknesses in the week leading up to a game against Australia.

And lest anyone view the recent demise of the Wallabies, whose defeat against England was their seventh loss in succession, guarantees anything, better think again.

Australia’s defeats have come at the hands of South Africa (3), New Zealand (2), France and England, and they have not been shamefully outplayed in any.

On Saturday, Ireland were swept aside as New Zealand turned it on with a combination of silken skills and ruthless efficiency. They were clinical in just about everything they did, while Ireland’s lack of similar skill and their tactical frailties forced them into the impossible situation of trying to play catch-up rugby.

It won’t have gone unnoticed by Australian coaches Eddie Jones and Alan Gaffney that Ireland had a creaky scrum; that the back row struggled to win quick, clean, ruck ball (enter Phil Waugh and George Smith), and that handling ability was not up to required international levels. At least not against this quality of opposition.

Why, after vowing not to fall into the same trap as Wales, Ireland insisted on going down the entertainment rather than the sensible route in the first half is a question coach Eddie O’Sullivan must ask himself.

With the wind at their backs, Ireland tried to run from deep position against an uncompromising but far more talented All Blacks back division. Okay, Geordan Murphy’s brilliant early break might well have unlocked the New Zealand defence, but the outcome was generally inevitable; they were forced into errors and compounded matters by making a host of their own. By half-time, at 25-0, the game was over.

Sure, there were gasps of admiration from the crowd at some amazing All Black ball-juggling, not least when Sitiveni Sivivatu went in for a 10th minute try Nick Evans converted. The timing of the pass from Evans, the timing of Sivivatu’s run and his explosive power provided an impossible task for any defence.

But Ireland’s first-half display was also littered with mistakes, highlighted by an uncharacteristic but sloppy clearance from Murphy, and a dreadful failed attempt to find touch from a penalty by Ronan O’Gara.

In between, there were dropped passes and forward passes as Ireland swung the ball laterally, usually losing lots of hard earned yardage.

Poor tactics weren’t the only problem; selection was too, particularly in relation to Shane Byrne and Malcolm O’Kelly, neither of whom have had the required games time this season. It showed, although neither will be unhappy with Ireland’s decent line-out display.

But the errors were Ireland’s greatest failing as they manifested themselves into lost opportunities and the concession of scores. Leon McDonald got a second try after Ireland turned over possession in midfield, again when Evans took advantage of mistakes to kick two penalties, and yet again when O’Gara kicked the ball dead to allow the All Blacks come rampaging back for a third try from Sivivatu that Evans converted.

O’Sullivan admitted there was some soul-searching at the interval and said Ireland used the ball “more wisely” in the second half.

Yet, there was little respite and New Zealand did the sensible thing by opting to kick two early second-half penalties. It was a question of taking any score rather than risking failure.

At 31-0 up, New Zealand remained in control, despite the sporadic flurry from Ireland, who were fortunate to see two tries disallowed after video examination. Anthony Horgan managed to knock Doug Howlett into the corner flag and Ma’a Nonu, the villain of a spear tackle on Gordon D’Arcy, knocked on over the line.

But Howlett was not to be denied, and either side of drama on the All Blacks line (Shane Horgan and Murphy were both denied scores), he went over twice for tries that Evans inevitably converted.

Not wanting to go home barefoot, Ireland launched one last assault and Marcus Horan got the try that substitute David Humphreys converted.

It was a long hard slog; it left less well-toned bodies battered and bruised, never mind the egos.

And so, it’s back to the drawing board for O’Sullivan and his team. The coach admitted that the gulf in skill levels was huge.

Injury-hit Australia won’t be as powerful; they won’t be as good, but like all southern hemisphere teams they do have superior skills. Ireland will have to find a miraculous way of overcoming that.

O’Sullivan must look at selection, at the possibility of rewarding Ireland’s brightest young centre Andrew Trimble, he must look at the hooking and tight head prop positions, at O’Kelly’s form in the second row and at replacement possibilities such as young Matt McCullough or, form player Mick O’Driscoll.

He will sweat on the fitness of Simon Easterby and must consider the opportunity to switch Denis Leamy to six and recall Anthony Foley.

And what of David Wallace, the forgotten tough as teak ball carrying flanker? He’s worth consideration.

Then, the coach must pray for a miracle.

IRELAND: G. Murphy, T. Bowe, G. D’Arcy, S. Horgan, A. Horgan, R. O’Gara, P. Stringer, M. Horan, S. Byrne, J. Hayes, D. O’Callaghan, M. O’Kelly, S. Easterby, D. Leamy, J. O’Connor. Replacements. S. Best for Hayes, M. McCullough for O’Kelly (both 65), R. Best for Byrne, D. Humphreys for O’Gara (both 75), N. Best for Easterby (75, injured), G. Dempsey for Murphy (78)

NEW ZEALAND: L. McDonald, D. Howlett, M. Nonu, A. Mauger, S. Sivivatu, N. Evans, P. Weepu, T. Woodcock, K. Mealamu, J. Afoa, A. Williams, J. Eaton, S. Lauaki, M. Tuiali’i, R. McCaw (captain).

Replacements. A. Hore for Mealamu, T. Taumoepeau for Woodcock, J. Cowan for Weepu (all 65), R. So’oiaio for McCaw (75)

Referee: J. Kaplan (South Africa).