Connacht star Gavin enhances reputation
These two test defeats cannot be forgotten nor can how Ireland failed to register a score in Buenos Aires on Saturday, but out of the disappointment of defeat came the spark and versatility of Duffy, who didn’t look uncomfortable at either full back (first Test) or at inside centre in the second.
Hands in suit pocket, looking despondent — as most Irish players were in the bowels of Velez Sarsfield soccer stadium after the game — Duffy can at least look back on this tour with a great degree of satisfaction.
“I was just delighted to get two chances of playing,” said Duffy. “Some lads only got one chance. Last week I got chance at full back and wanted to have a solid game. It was the same this week — I was just hoping to get through and have another solid game. Hopefully I did that, but I’ll have to scrutinise the video.
“But there’s no disguising the fact that there’s an overwhelming sense of disappointment at the way we got beaten well in the end.”
He looked for guidance and inspiration in preparation for life at number 12. His lines of running, ability to offload in the tackle and leg-pumping strength in making every last inch of ground before being hauled to the ground by two to three tacklers had all the hallmarks of Gordon D’Arcy.
“I asked Eddie what he was looking for at 12 and he said the same as every time – to go out and make the tackles, make sure to be accurate in the pass and just look after the ball.
“When he said that I thought 12 would be quite easy!” smiled Duffy momentarily. “I looked around at other centres like Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy when they play 12 and study the way they play the game. That’s where Mervyn Murphy, video analysis, has been a great help as has Graham Steadman, the defence coach. I felt I’d prepared well. When you go out and try and keep it simple, you can’t go to far wrong.”
Duffy made few if any errors in a reliable and level-headed performance, but admitted that a collective lack of accuracy in the back line proved costly.
“It was pretty much the same game-plan as last week because we caused them trouble out wide last week. Unfortunately we made a few mistakes, the last pass was either forward or behind or not going to hand so it was frustrating but we kept at it. You can’t fault anyone for trying. Unfortunately the execution let us down at times.”
Rob Kearney was another to emerge with credit in his first Ireland start. He did what was expected of him well, but, starved of possession, like right wing Brian Carney, the Leinster man had little opportunity to run directly at his opponents. But how will the 21-year-old Leinster man remember his first Irish cap?
“The whole occasion will be overshadowed by the defeat,” he said. “But from an individual standpoint, I didn’t have a shocker which is always an important thing. If you can show you can come through days like today, that’s always going to be a positive.”
Though the backline can be criticised for a multitude of handling errors, it could be argued that this three quarter line only trained together for the first time as a group last week.
“That’s just making excuses,” countered Kearney. “We work on handling every day of the week, and not to be able to produce on a test series is not good enough. We have to take the blame for that ourselves.”
Kearney also pointed out how good the Pumas were at the breakdown, noting their expertise at “spoiling” the ball. Though this aspect of their game verges on the side of illegal, they appear to escape censure from referees.
“Another very important aspect of their game is their scramble (defence). You think you have them and then they appear out of nowhere. That’s linked into competitiveness and a will to win.”
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