Misfiring Irish stars due ‘big match’, insists coach O’Donovan

NIALL O’Donovan predicts Ireland have the potential to produce one big World Cup performance - and he’s confident tomorrow is the day.

Thousands of Irish fans have travelled to Bordeaux and Paris for Ireland’s pool fixtures against Namibia, Georgia and France but left despondent at three under-par performances in a horror tournament for Brian O’Driscoll’s men.

Moreover, the travelling support and those in Ireland are puzzled as to malaise within the team, one that was tipped to reach at least a semi-final but now is likely to face elimination — barring a miracle — against Argentina tomorrow.

But the Ireland assistant coach stressed that the players “owe themselves” a big performance and feels “there’s a big one” in the side.

“We don’t become a bad team over night,” said O’Donovan. “We’ve proved ourselves over the last couple of years that we’ve quality players and we’re a quality team. I think we need to get that (quality) out of ourselves and stop playing within ourselves.

“I think there is a big one in this team. I’ve seen the build-up this week.”

He added: “I’m impressed with the way the lads have gone about their business; they’ve rolled up their sleeves and worked. They’ve worked very hard throughout the whole tournament. I feel they owe themselves one as well. They owe themselves to go out and play to their ability. If they do that, then anything can happen.”

O’Donovan revealed that his favoured methodology during a game where Ireland must score at least four tries would be to concentrate on keeping the scoreboard ticking over by taking any early penalties and, by doing that, the tries would follow.

An area of concern following the France match was the implosion of the Ireland lineout.

Suddenly Ireland’s greatest strength has become a weakness.

“Of course it’s (lineout) a problem,” he said. “But I don’t want to make a huge problem out of something that happened against one team. Our average has been much better than last week and the more you highlight a problem, it will become a problem. We worked away as normal this week just getting ourselves right and making sure we don’t fall into the same mistakes we made last week.

“We did make individual mistakes when it came to the line-out — there’s no doubt about that and when it comes to a lineout, lots of things can go wrong from the throw, to the lift, to the jumper, to timing. All sorts of things.

“But you have to look at the French and they were very athletic in defence and competed very well in defence. A lot of credit must go to them. We’ve worked on getting it right this week and hopefully we’ll be back on track.”

Much of the build up this week has centred on the strength of the Argentinean defence — which has yet to concede a try at RWC — and Ireland defence coach Graham Steadman admits there is method and good coaching to what sometimes appears as harum-scarum, scramble defence from ‘Los Pumas’.

“No, they’re very well drilled and very well coached,” said Steadman. “I’ve looked at the way they defended to see as well how it could help our defensive systems. They are very smart in transition.

“If they lose possession they then plug the passing channels and will look for an interception. We’ve got to be very careful in transition. We’ve got to be selective in our passing. Games with Argentina are always tight as they were in the summer. We know we’re looking for the four tries — but we’ve got to be patient and controlled. I’m looking forward to it, there’s a lot of pressure but that comes with the territory we’re in.

“But bring it on, I say!”