Dominic Crotty: Positive steps taken

Former Ireland and Munster full-back Dominic Crotty casts his eye over Ireland's clash with Scotland this weekend in the 2008 RBS 6 Nations.

What a difference a few weeks make.

For a long while they played like Scotland’s sparring partner in a boxing ring: Absorbing punch after punch from a second rate opponent they knew they could dispatch with a few well placed punches.

Talk about role reversal from a fortnight ago in Paris.

Bruised and brave Scottish players must have woken up Sunday morning just wondering how they had so little to show for all the grunt and grind they had shown the day before. Maybe therein lies the problem for Scotland because it was all grunt and grind and very little penetration – Ireland held all the aces, all the class and finally, after many frustrating matches, all the Irish game winners turned up to play on Saturday.

There were many so positives for Ireland that it’s hard to fit them all into one piece. Ronan O'Gara and David Wallace were their usual world class selves.

Wally, for the umpteenth time in his career, put in a stealthy but enormous defensive performance which only caught the eye because of his embarrassingly easy try in the first half. He puts in such a vast amount of work around the park that, like many other unsung players, he won’t be truly missed until Ireland is forced to find a replacement for him.

Ronan pushed and pulled, ran, kicked and passed like the consummate artiste he is. His top class skills even allowed Marcus Horan to come out of the closet and be the winger he has always wanted to be when he broke the back of Scottish resistance with his wonderful try early in the second half.

Marcus was another bright spark for Ireland on Saturday, easily checking all the boxes in set piece play and adding that little bit extra in the loose.

The real Brian O’Driscoll showed up, ran as hard and as often as a player of his immense stature should and made game changing bursts; the three youngsters in the backline – Trimble, Kearney and Bowe - just get better with every minute and, after finally being allowed out to stay out and play, are obviously enjoying stamping their own mark in the team.

Most praise of all has to be reserved for Geordan Murphy whose mind must have run the full gamut of emotions during the week. His embodied a player who was at last comfortable in his surroundings, who played instinctively and who trusted in the power of that instinct. His rugby skills are a joy to behold and, unshackled from the wing, he showed them well last Saturday.

Unfortunately, the lineout remains an enormous and ever growing problem. Though it may be easy to say this from the vantage point of the cheap seats in front of the TV and from the comfort of the slow motion replay button, the lineout routine from preparation to throw-in looks laboured and disjointed; it will have to be much better against a resurgent Wales in two week’s time.

Ireland simply cannot afford to concede so much possession from first phase, hope to absorb the punishment they absorbed against Scotland and still come out on top against as in-form a side as Wales right now.

Even the excellent fringe defence displayed by Ireland during the game began to tire at times after countless carries by the Scottish forwards in Croke Park. With threats like those possessed by Wales, Ireland must own the ball and control the pace of the game if they hope to win.

That’s getting ahead of ourselves, though.

For now, Ireland and Eddie O’Sullivan can take enormous pleasure in this performance. To be honest, Scotland is a rugby nation in turmoil and so any win against them should be seen in that light. However, if last weekend’s performance is to be believed, the Irish team and backroom are collectively on the road to recovery and Saturday was an important stepping stone in that journey.

A much larger boulder stands in their way next time round but at least now they can face that challenge with renewed vigour – in fact, given the personal stakes embedded within the next game next, this performance could not have come at a better time.

Well done all round!