O’Driscoll steals Wallaby thunder

IRONIC that the scrum provided the platform to salvage an Irish draw from yesterday’s international test that Australia always seemed destined to win.

That it was Brian O’Driscoll who broke Wallaby hearts will hurt the tourists even more. Australia had all but snuffed out Ireland’s talisman but his brilliantly constructed try at the death now deprives the tourists of emulating the Grand Slam deeds of their illustrious predecessors of 1984.

The main worry for Ireland coming into this contest was the lack of collective game time at this level since that historic Grand Slam day in the Millennium Stadium last March.

It showed.

Australia, playing their third test in as many weeks, were always going to be that bit sharper. Yet the one thing that this group of Irish players have is an undying belief in their own ability. That is invaluable.

If Australia had the monopoly on that virtue in the past, most notably when rescuing that famous World Cup quarter-final against Ireland back in 1991, Declan Kidney’s side have progressed to the stage where they now refuse to believe they’re ever beaten. That is something you just can’t buy and will stand to this team for the challenges that lie ahead.

From Australia’s point of view, they will look back at this test and wonder how they failed to secure the victory that would have offered the incentive of finishing a long season on a Grand Slam high. They dominated possession and territory to such an extent in the second half that they should have had the game wrapped up long before Ireland’s last minute heroics. Matt Giteau, a constant threat throughout, missed two very kickable penalties and also was unlucky not to finish off a break in the opening half with a try. The visitors left at least 13 points behind them.

The problem for Ireland after the interval was that they were completely denied the lineout platform that had proved so effective in the opening half. It was 16 minutes into the second half before Jerry Flannery threw into a lineout and immediately Ireland produced a flowing movement that almost yielded a try for the excellent Tommy Bowe. Having completely dominated out of touch in the opening period – with Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan superb on their own throw – Ireland exerted massive pressure on the Wallaby throw, and they pilfered five in total.

Given the Irish scrum was under all kinds of pressure throughout, it says something of the mental strength of John Hayes that he was still on the field for that vital last attacking scrum. He produced such an amazing feat of endurance that an assault on Everest in his runners would seem easy by comparison. At one stage he could barely walk, yet he kept going. Even in that last scrum he was initially turned but managed to drop his right shoulder to steady the ship.

Alongside him, Flannery’s unerring accuracy with his throwing underlined the reason Kidney was so keen to see him start. It also says something about his reserves of stamina that he was still on board when the final whistle blew. A special word too for debutant Cian Healy who showed what an outstanding athlete he is. O’Driscoll produced the gold dust at the death but Healy provided the inspiration at a vital juncture (after the Wallabies scored) with a run that lifted all around him. While he experienced a difficult afternoon at times from Ben Alexander in the scrum, Healy worked his socks off in defence and with the ball in hand to suggest he will adorn this stage for a long time. Props mature in their late 20s. At just 22 years of age, he has the potential to emulate the deeds of O’Connell and O’Driscoll.

Australia will, nevertheless, reflect on Croke Park and wonder just how they failed to close it out. The significant difference between the sides was the experience of performing at this level. Ireland have that in abundance. It is very unusual in the modern game to be blown away at the breakdown and not lose the contest. The Wallabies were far more physical in this facet of play, simply blowing Ireland away at times. Up front, inspirational captain Rocky Elsom continued from where he left off on his last visit to GAA headquarters in the blue of Leinster.

Australia picked up the pace appreciably in the third quarter and once they succeeded in going beyond four phases, created the frightening prospect of their fleet-footed midfield backs running at Ireland’s exhausted front row with Hayes, in particular, the intended target. It was no wonder he was caught on a few occasions.

Credit also to Ronan O’Gara who displayed his customary resolve after seeing his opening pass rebound from O’Driscoll, leading directly to a try after only two minutes for Drew Mitchell. Given the pressure he was under coming into the game, he never once wavered. O’Gara will also benefit from the belief shown in him by his coach and will appreciate that he was still in a position to control matters when the game was decided in the final few minutes. I have no doubt that Kidney weighed up the effect that introducing Jonathan Sexton may have had on O’Gara when the game was still there to be rescued. Sexton will be given his opportunity against Fiji next Saturday.

There will be further changes for that game as a number of the younger brigade will be given their opportunity. Ireland will benefit from getting this test under their belts and from coming back at the death. With South Africa on the horizon in two weeks time, smarting from a disastrous start to their tour in France, Ireland will have to up their level of performance significantly. At least they will do so with the knowledge that they have so much more to offer.