Things could even get worse

ONCE more Europe’s best huffed and puffed against the big three but never came even close to blowing down any houses. Even their picket fences looked safe.

England’s scrum against an injury ravaged Australian front row provided the only display of northern power on a day when even Grand Slam champions France were made look decidedly ordinary by a fired-up and very committed South African side.

Only Scotland, relying heavily on the boot of Dan Parks, registered anything positive with an impressive 16-24 win at the previously impregnable Tucuman stadium against an Argentina side continuing its rebuilding process since their heroics at the last World Cup.

For Ireland, Saturday’s test was like a journey back in time to the bad old days when we weren’t good enough to compete against the might of the southern hemisphere’s finest. Even before Jamie Heaslip was sent off for crass stupidity with reckless use of his knee, Ireland were in trouble. Heaslip’s moment of madness which was quickly followed by the sin binning of Ronan O’Gara signalled the end before the contest even began.

If you allow New Zealand dictate the tempo of the game and facilitate them in offloading out of the tackle then you can expect to be filleted. That is what happened.

After a poor season for the five New Zealand Super 14 franchises – the Crusaders the sole representatives in the semi-final where they were beaten – questions were beginning to be asked about the state of the game in a country where rugby dictates the mood of the populace.

Ironically, despite the fact that they overran Ireland by 38 points there was evidence to suggest that if Brian O’Driscoll’s men had any useful possession then they had sufficient fire power behind the scrum to punish a brittle New Zealand midfield defence.

The four tries Ireland scored off scraps was testament to that but the problem was they conceded nine against a rampant attacking force. New Zealand also took their foot off the gas.

To have any chance against the All Blacks the basics of the game must be rock solid. Unfortunately that is where Ireland were found wanting. In the opening 40 minutes alone, Ireland missed 16 tackles.

Their defensive organisation was torn to shreds. Their kicking game was also substandard with O’Gara guilty of missing two direct penalties to touch, both of which ultimately led to New Zealand tries.

The pity was that every time Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble were in possession they invariably beat the first tackle and looked capable of creating havoc. O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy looked equally menacing.

In perfect conditions for running rugby, New Zealand showed no appetite for engaging Ireland up front despite boasting a superior scrum but traded in the fact that once they generated four or more phases they looked certain to score. The hosts succeeded in turning this international test into a mirror image of the try fest that defines Super 14 rugby where the team in possession look destined to score.

It helps when even the most inexperienced of the All Blacks are very comfortable with ball in hand, proficient in executing overlaps and clinical in converting turnovers into scores.

While the multiple changes and the introduction of a further three new caps by Graham Henry in the second half along with the inevitable fall off in concentration eased the pressure on Ireland, the tourists nonetheless displayed admirable character and guts with the odds stacked against them.

At one stage it looked as if they would run out of forward cover to plug the holes. In the circumstances Ireland’s inexperienced crew of Tony Buckley, a late replacement for the ill John Hayes, Sean Cronin and substitute debutant Dan Tuohy fought to the bitter end, ably assisted by the hard working Donncha O’Callaghan and David Wallace.

It says everything that despite the facile margin of victory, Graham Henry looked less than pleased at the end. He knows improvement is necessary and will console himself with the fact that Ma’a Nonu, Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu will not only add to his attacking options but will also shore up a suspect defence before his side return to Ireland to celebrate the opening of the newAviva Stadium in November.

Before then Declan Kidney must set about repairing the damage of this defeat with just a six day turn around before a test of similar proportion against the Maoris on Friday.

They launched their centenary celebrations with an impressive 37-31 victory over the New Zealand Barbarians and will now be gunning for Ireland. Some of Ireland’s younger tourists will now be required to grow up fast over the next fortnight.

In addition the loss of Heaslip for the remaining games of the tour is a body blow of monumental proportions.

However, he has no one to blame but himself. To compound issues even further the Australian backline, operating off limited possession against England in Perth, look even more threatening than their New Zealand counterparts.

Things could get even worse before they get better.