Ireland’s bitter sweet campaign sours in the end

IN THE END, a season that delivered so much couldn’t provide the fitting finale. Saturday’s test against Australia proved a game too far for this group of players.

With 14 of the Irish side playing their third consecutive tour test, the physical demands of meeting New Zealand on consecutive Saturdays had taken their toll. Ireland were nothing if not brave. Their final defiant stand took place in the opening 10 minutes of the second half when they succeeded in turning an eight-point deficit into a four-point lead after two excellent tries from Ronan O’Gara and Neil Best.

The pity was that — having orchestrated and controlled the period after the restart to such devastating effect — Ireland lacked the composure to hold the lead for less than four minutes.

Australia are clinical given any half chance. Mark Gerrard identified a mismatch when faced by the ever-willing John Hayes in midfield and left the prop for dead. It’s the worst nightmare for any front row forward to find yourself defending in that area. When Wallaby prop Greg Holmes showed remarkable pace to score from 50 metres minutes later, the result and the tour were consigned to history.

Those two tries within a four-minute period broke the hearts of Brian O’Driscoll’s men. Eddie O’Sullivan sent on early replacements in Brian Young and Mick O’Driscoll, but the game was finished as a contest.

Remarkably, one of the deciding factors in handing the initiative to Australia was the complete failure of Ireland’s line out in the second half. Ireland lost four line outs during that period and conceded a scrum for a crooked throw. Given the importance of this phase to the manner in which Ireland play, the final result was inevitable.

For Ireland to have any chance of winning this game they had to dominate up front. Australia’s much-maligned scrum had a test front row in Greg Holmes, Tai McIsaac and Guy Shepherdson, who could boast only five caps between them. Yet from the start, they were rock solid. The excellence of the Wallaby line out — with Dan Vickerman back in the side along with a rejuvenated Nathan Sharpe — produced a quality of ball that George Gregan and Stephen Larkham thrive on.

The inventiveness the Australian back line produced was a joy to behold and was the difference between the sides. While Gordon D’Arcy was outstanding for the second week in a row, Ireland lacked the creativity of their opponents behind the scrum.

If the minimum expectation from this tour was one test victory, then Eddie O’Sullivan will be disappointed with the outcome. With the exception of Malcolm O’Kelly and Simon Easterby, Ireland played with a full deck. At a time when all the other touring parties from this side of the world chose to rest key players with a view to blooding reserve talent for the World Cup, Ireland went for broke. One can only hope that decision will not prove costly over the next 14 months.

On the plus side, the performance of the back row at the breakdown in the past three tests has been world class. Once again, Denis Leamy was outstanding on Saturday and saved two certain tries when turning over opposition ball within yards of the try line. Having just completed his first full season in international rugby, Leamy is set to become the standard bearer for both Munster and Ireland teams in the years ahead. Alongside him, Ulster’s Neil Best also proved he’s more than capable of performing at international level.

What the tour failed to provide was further information in respect of cover for Ireland at half back and tight head prop. Given 20 minutes on Saturday, Bryan Young looked capable — in time — of performing at this level. Unfortunately he’s more at home on the loose head side of the scrum. Isaac Boss got more game time on this occasion and no doubt will be disappointed with his defensive effort for George Gregan’s try. However, he shouldn’t be judged on that cameo alone.

At least France rescued northern hemisphere pride with an outstanding 36-26 victory over South Africa in Capetown. It provided Europe’s only victory in the 10 games played between the respective sides from north and south this month. That victory shows France — despite their stuttering form in the Six Nations — will still be a force to be reckoned with, particularly when hosting the World Cup next year.

Given France is in Ireland’s World Cup group, along with Argentina, it also provided a timely reminder that while significant progress has been made, the road ahead will be as demanding as ever.

What the papers said:

“IRELAND were, as expected, top-shelf opposition, irritating the Wallabies with their pugnacious and often frenetic play, which saw them take the lead during the second half.

In the end, the Wallabies had to rely on several amazing plays to ensure that the Lansdowne Cup remained in Australia.” - Sydney Morning Herald

“GREG Holmes, the Wallabies loose-head prop who hails from a Queensland potato and onion farm, was carrying on as if he was William Webb Ellis.

And to give it an added touch, Holmes, with some egging on from his teammates, admitted surprise that anyone would think he wasn’t going to score.

“I knew I was going to get there from the time I picked up the ball,” Holmes said.

“I had another gear to go to if I needed it.”

If that is what Holmes is thinking now, imagine the tale he will weave at Wallabies team reunions in 20 or 30 years’ time. By then, the yarn-spinning would involve Holmes picking up the ball in his own in-goal, leaping over the cross bar, breaking through 20 Irish tacklers, performing a Riverdance on the halfway line, and then finishing off the 110-metre manoeuvre by running the last section backwards.” - The Australian.