O’Sullivan facing biggest challenge of coaching career
Television match official Federico Cuesta had the task of deciding if another forward drive from the powerful Georgian pack had yielded a try that would have produced the biggest shock in World Cup history. The three minutes he took to decide must have been the longest of Eddie O’Sullivan’s life.
The only thing that separated Ireland from defeat in the end was the width of Denis Leamy’s chiselled torso. Somehow, the “Rock of Cashel” managed to get under replacement prop David Khinchagashvili’s drive for the line and avoid certain defeat. It was that close.
Moments earlier, outstanding No. 8 Georgi Chkhaidze ignored a huge overlap when seizing a loose ball from an Irish scrum. These Georgians only know one way, straight lines. Had he chosen to put the ball through the hands another try looked certain. At that stage Ireland’s quest for the all important bonus point was but a dream as they endeavoured to hang onto a victory that seemed a formality at the outset.
The performance of this Georgian side must be placed fully into context. With 10 changes from the side that played Argentina in Lyon last Tuesday, the Georgian coach, Malkhaz Tcheishvili selected a largely second string side in order to keep his front line troops fresh for their crunch tie against Namibia as they seek a first World Cup victory. Under those circumstances is there any wonder that the minnows won the hearts of every neutral supporter in Bordeaux.
While they performed well in the set piece there must now be a major concern with the manner in which Ireland’s much respected forward unit were once again bullied in the physical exchanges in the tight by a pack drawn exclusively from the lower leagues of French rugby.
Time and again, Georgia retained possession for countless phases as they pummelled Ireland at close quarters.
The tactical approach of the former Russian state would have sat well with many a Munster cup side in the 1970s and ‘80s. The manner in which they dominated both territory and possession must be a major concern for the Irish management. With only five days to go before the crucial test against France in Paris, time is running out.
The swagger that Ireland displayed in Croke Park last spring is now but a distant memory as Brian O’Driscoll’s men attempt to come to terms with the intensity of this competition.
Overnight the side has become hesitant and seem incapable of holding their patience under pressure.
In retrospect, Argentina’s opening night victory against France and the subsequent assumption that points difference could play a vital role in deciding who qualifies for the knockout stages has had a major psychological impact on the way Ireland have approached their opening two games.
The quest for tries has forced Ireland to play with a gun to the head and affected their composure.
Recognising the faults that characterised the opening performance against Namibia, Ireland kicked more often with a view to establishing field position. Unfortunately, Ronan O’Gara kicked poorly by his standard which gave the likes of Mareb Kvirkashvili far too much time to return the ball with interest.
In the second half it was the Georgian’s kicking game that kept Ireland held in a vice like grip deep in their own 22 metre area.
Ireland found it extremely difficult to break down the aggressive pressure defence of the Georgians with the only try of the opening half coming from a close range driving line out from Rory Best. The slender four point lead at half time was only marginally better than that achieved by the Pumas at the same stage in Lyon and the memory of how they pulled away in the second half was a potential source of comfort for Eddie O’Sullivan at the break.
However, the expectation that the minnows would succumb to the pace of the game in the final quarter never materialised.
Driven on by a fanatical neutral support and a judicial use of the bench, the Georgians’, like Namibia last week, got stronger as the game progressed. Their feel good factor received a major shot in the arm when flying winger Giorgi Shkinin intercepted a pass from Peter Stringer eight minutes after the restart to score only the second ever try in Georgia’s World Cup history. That had a big effect on the mindset of both teams.
While Ireland responded with a well worked try by Girvan Dempsey, the remainder of the game was spent in a dogfight to defend their line with the Georgians looking the more likely winners.
IT IS extremely difficult to rationalise exactly what has happened to this Irish team. The side which took the field on Saturday night was the most experienced that Ireland has ever produced with a cumulative 795 caps. For what ever reason they seem to have lost their way and now face the prospect of having to beat France to keep the World Cup dream alive.
Eddie O’Sullivan now faces the biggest challenge of his coaching career. He must reinvigorate a battered team to fashion a victory in a city where Irish wins are a rare commodity. Who would have thought that even before both France and Argentina have been engaged at the business end of this pool, soccer’s equivalent of Wimbledon’s crazy gang would inflict such misery on Ireland. O’Sullivan’s selection for the French game, to be announced later today, should be interesting.
The weekend also marked probably the last appearance of the greatest rugby league convert the game has seen. Jason Robinson pulled hamstring in England’s annihilation by South Africa suggests that he is unlikely to feature again in the competition accelerating his retirement a few weeks earlier than he would have wished. How fitting that he departed Stade de France to a standing ovation not only in recognition of a heroic performance where he was England’s standout player but also for a career characterised by some outstanding tries including his most important in the World Cup final four years ago. The game will be worse off for his departure.
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