We’ve become so predictable

IF IRISH nerves were jangling after the very disappointing August warm-up phase, the performances of underdogs Tonga, Japan and Romania against the technically superior outfits of New Zealand, France and Scotland in their opening World Cup contests on Saturday had the squad on red alert.

After what 14 of the squad went through against Namibia and Georgia four years ago, the one thing you could take for granted was the USA challenge last night would not be taken lightly.

Factor in the additional 9/11 emotions and you really got the sense that the Americans would be super-charged for this one.

Therefore, it was no surprise America hit Ireland with everything they had in the contact area and in defence. What was a surprise, however, was that Ireland — with such total dominance in the scrum, lineout and maul — took so long to register a try.

The worrying aspects of Ireland’s August warm-up tests for me was the complete lack of structure in attack, our wingers’ inability to involve themselves as support runners up the middle of the field and the number of unforced handling errors. Yesterday, sadly, in a very poor opening half performance, they all resurfaced.

In addition, Ireland’s decision-making in that period was questionable. With the thundering set piece dominance they enjoyed, it should have been utilised to build a score and suck the energy out of an American side that started with just four full-time professionals That would have enabled them to expand their attacking platform out wide and generate the necessary confidence crucial for the Australian game in Eden Park next Saturday.

The conditions were poor but by no means impossible, yet the number of spilled balls by experienced players like Tommy Bowe and Geordan Murphy was incredible. That had a knock-on (excuse the pun) effect on the players around them. The biggest worry of all was the inability of Ireland to compete with the American back-row of Louis Stanfill, Todd Clever and Nic Johnson at the breakdown.

If anyone was in any doubt as to what the loss of David Wallace means, it was underlined in this performance in terms of Ireland’s ball-carrying ability and competition for turnovers. For whatever reason, Jamie Heaslip has been way off the pace and failed to make the type of impact Ireland have come to expect. Off a scrum as dominant as Ireland, he should have been rampant. Shane Jennings also struggled and only for the impact of Stephen Ferris, Ireland would have been under even greater pressure.

Ireland have lost the ability to produce any semblance of quick ball at the breakdown and the half-backs are suffering. Things are unlikely to get any better in the immediate short term given Rocky Elsom and David Pocock are now lying in wait.

Consequently, it was a difficult day for Conor Murray and Jonny Sexton, with the latter’s confidence not helped by a return of just one penalty from five attempts. Goal kicking in this World Cup has gone to pot, with so many of the game’s best experiencing major difficulties. In addition, Sexton’s kicking out of hand was poor and he seemed to have great difficulty in holding his feet.

What Ireland badly need to rediscover is the level of controlled aggression and manic physicality that has teams wondering just who these guys are. That is exactly what the Welsh did in last night’s magnificent contest against South Africa, which deserved so much more than a one-point defeat. That is the type of performance this Irish team is capable of producing.

On far too many occasions recently Ireland have been on the receiving end in the physical stakes. Ireland have become predictable and opposition teams seem to know exactly what is coming even before it happens. That was certainly a factor in the recent defeat to England in Dublin and also played a part in Paul Emerick’s intercept try right at the death.

When it comes to analysing opposition, nobody does it better than the Australians, who have led the way in this area dating back to the amateur days. In order to compete with any level of parity Ireland will have to bring something different to the table but that may be difficult to achieve with just a six-day turnaround.

It is a serious concern now that the game-management skills, the decision-making strategies and belief that propelled Leinster to Heineken Cup success and Munster to a Magners League triumph only a few short months ago seems to have evaporated.

Earlier in the day Australia accounted for a game Italian side that showed enough in the opening 40 minutes to confirm they will be as awkward as ever when they meet Ireland in Dunedin in three weeks’ time. By suffocating Australia in that opening half and offering them space to launch their riveting offloading game they even managed to reach the break on level terms.

However, in the space of 20 minutes, Australia showed just how lethal they are from turnovers and when offered gaps to exploit. Quade Cooper was given a licence to run and Australia bagged four tries and the bonus point that eluded Ireland.

By winning the Tri-Nations for the first time in ten years, this young Australian outfit have now added a new layer of confidence and assurance that has not always been evident in recent seasons. That will make them even harder to beat. At no stage in that opening period did the Wallabies look ruffled despite the fact that Italy were doing to them what they normally reserve for sides visiting the Stadio Flaminio in Rome.

Ireland must somehow work on a strategy to dent that confidence. Not easy.