Glory days, let’s bask in Ireland’s achievements

WHAT a day, what a way to end a championship! Two late, late tries, two late, late TMO calls that went against us, but sure what harm. We’re not the champions of Europe, didn’t win the Six-Nations championship – so what?

The real prize in the Six-Nations, the big prize, is the Grand Slam.

After that comes the championship itself, then the Triple Crown. We missed out on the former but got the latter, so we don’t end the season empty-handed.

Let’s not have any complaints.

France didn’t back into this championship, they won it fair and square, won it in the first 15 minutes in Croke Park when they tore into Ireland, established an early lead against the head, then won it again in the final minute, again against the head after Ireland had regained their composure and taken the lead. We can complain, with good reason, that France had a massive advantage on Saturday, knowing exactly what they needed to do to win the championship.

We can claim, with good reason, that had the games been played simultaneously we would have kicked the ball dead at the finish rather than playing on for another try, conceding in the process the try that ultimately cost us.

But think of what we’d all have missed, and when I say all, I mean all those who then sat enthralled through the France/Scotland match, all 80+ fantastic minutes of it. Television is now the major bankroller of sport; they gave and got their money’s worth on Saturday last.

You’ve got to take your hat off to the French; they knew exactly what they had to do, they went out against a fired-up Scottish side and did exactly that. The final try, the fact that an Irishman had the final say? There was a mistake made there alright, but not the mistake so many are getting incensed about; the mistake was putting an Irishman in that position at all.

Given the possibility that the whole championship could (and did) hinge on a TMO call, the IRB should have ensured that none of the countries who still had an interest were involved in the officiating.

In my humble opinion, Mr McDowell made the only call he could make, he gave the nod to France and in doing so, awarded them the championship. What if he had gone the other way? How would the French feel now? There would be talk of bias, of injustice, there would be a major sense of grievance. As it stands, they have their championship.

Anyway, they won the head-to-head, which should in fact be the first tie-breaker.

There’s a bigger prize on offer this season, a much bigger prize and Ireland and France will meet again in that one. After what has just happened, I have every confidence that Ireland will progress. Had we won this championship, there is a danger that some might feel a little satisfied with themselves, another monkey off the back of Irish rugby. Now there is no chance of that attitude.

After last weekend’s events, the edge will still be there, the hunger, amplified even.

I’ve been sensing it for a while, there’s something really good building in Irish rugby.

We have our faults, our weaknesses, on and off the pitch. The scrum, for example, needs its full complement of big names performing to the limits in every game, needs full concentration for every hit to stand up to the very best. (I know this may sound daft, but would consultation with a top tug-of-war coach pay dividends here? Different emphasis, certainly, pulling instead of pushing, but the principals are the same, and many a smaller tug-of-war team has outpowered bigger opposition on pure technique – just a thought). The backs/forwards must address the continuing problem of forward passes at key moments, a problem that cost us in at least two earlier games this year, though a problem with which we escaped on Saturday.

AND Eddie O’Sullivan? Our coach, worthy and all as he is, has a blind spot in team selection.

Changing three positions to accommodate one (as happened in the French game), not good. Other blind spot? Overseas players. Mick O’Driscoll — as we knew he would — gave it his all on Saturday, showed enormous courage and commitment. But there is another second-row available, one who is nearly as big, nearly as strong, nearly as mean, nearly as abrasive, nearly as good as Paul O’Connell himself, one who is also nearly as much a natural leader of men. Leo Cullen came to Thomond Park with Leicester not too long ago and went head to head with Munster’s finest, never gave an inch.

He should not have been ignored last Saturday.

Let’s enjoy what we got this year in a magnificent Six-Nations championship, from an outstanding Irish squad – players and management. Let’s bask in the fact that, even as our cricketers (imports and all) are doing us proud in the West Indies, our rugby team is now recognised as being up there with the best in the world, with more talent coming through (U20 Grand Slam – take note).

Glory days, glory days. Let’s bask a little.

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