RUGBY ANALYST: Scotland tested this side in all aspects of play, lineout, scrum and defence. This augurs well for the challenge in Cardiff next weekend
WHAT A difference a coach makes. What a difference a Brian O’Driscoll try-saving tackle makes. What a difference a bouncing ball between Tommy Bowe and Chris Paterson makes and what a difference a Peter Stringer break makes. It was that close.
The bookies were spot on with a seven-point spread. And what a difference a Southern Hemisphere referee makes. Yes, Jonathan Kaplan was involved throughout, and by the 36th minute, 18 of the opening 21 points directly resulted in his interpretation of the breakdown.
So why is the Six Nations superior to the Tri-Nations? It’s easy to look at the old Championship through rose-tinted glasses, but it offers far more variety than is on show down below. For Ireland to win the Grand Slam they must come through very different challenges week on week, which requires adaptability. Scotland tested this side in all aspects of play, lineout, scrum and defence.
This augurs well for the challenge in Cardiff next weekend.
Ireland were too predictable in the opening 40 minutes. Scotland came out of the traps flying, cleverly shifting the point of contact and putting stress and strain on a slow Irish defensive line. The Scots controlled the pace, the ball and the tactics, so much so that after three minutes there was little comfort in reminding myself that Ireland were favourites.
Once again the analyst had telling influence on Scotland. The obvious target of the Ireland inside channel between David Wallace and Ronan O’Gara was spurned by Scotland to focus on Gordon D’Arcy. Clearly he’s earned his place for next week after Graeme Morrison asked several questions of him. Not just of him individually, but of the chain of three, O’Gara, D’Arcy and O’Driscoll. The defensive line survived the opening 40 and went on to dominate.
The practicalities for the Ireland front five are simple. The Scottish front five were allowed the luxury of stacking pillars either side of the ruck as the Ireland ball-carriers insisted on attacking as close to the breakdown as possible. If the defender is fatigued, it’s always much easier to make those close-in tackles. However, the Scots, by varying the point of contact, forced Ireland’s front five around much more. If fatigue sets in then, the players will become exposed. This was crucial in the opening 40 minutes and especially with the Welsh in mind.
Stephen Ferris has absolutely arrived and by the second minute he had made two monster hits on the Scots which have made his presence in the number six jersey essential. Certainly the ’Os are the living, breathing spine of the team, but Ferris has become the Schalk Burger of Irish rugby, and with so much more to come. I was really impressed by his reaction to the gamesmanship of Perpignan’s Nathan Hines, an experienced and effective player who trades on mental games. But Ferris remained focused and immune to Hines’ approaches.
Jamie Heaslip’s try was the result of a rejuvenated Peter Stringer maximising his lessons learned from times past. What strength of character he has displayed: being dropped by Declan Kidney at Munster and then watching Kidney take over at Ireland must have sent shivers down his spine. But he has more than earned a start next week through the knowledge of his role and the modern game.
The ELVs – or, should I say, Stringer’s knowledge of the ELVs – gave him the best break of his career. The modern lineout is no longer competitive on the ground, which encourages a speedy fanning out. Openside John Barclay left his post early but worse still, there was no Simon Taylor or scrumhalf (sweeper) to fill the gap inside. I wouldn’t blame Barclay, as that space was not available last season, pre ELVs, and it wasn’t his tackle to make.
The official statistics have five Ireland players leading the Top Carries, with D’Arcy on top with nine. Surely Paul O’Connell carried into double figures. I counted one specific passage of play where he carried four times.
His value to this team is immeasurable, as too is his time on the ball. But the team gain far more from him taking the ball off the first receiver rather than from a standing start from scrumhalf. Maybe it’s his 6ft 6in frame, but this would allow him to gather pace and force a big tackle, and allow him to get his hands free and look for an offload. He was immense.
Ireland have not played consistently well for the 80 minutes over the previous four matches but, crucially, they have been outstanding in the last three minutes, which was true again on Saturday. Therefore it is vital against Wales that they are ahead or at least within one score on the final track.
But I fear that the Welsh will bring their A game to Cardiff with the sole objective of stifling our Grand Slam ambitions. Wales are the bookies’ slight favourites to win the Triple Crown and therefore the match. Game on.
Regarding this week’s team selection. There have been so many over the years who’ve been part of Ireland’s journey to Cardiff next Saturday. Many will miss out on the greatest day of their generation as they have long since retired. But I think of Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Alan Quinlan and especially Malcom O’Kelly, who are all still playing but, alas, it looks like all will miss out. Spare them a thought this week.
And finally, I regularly watch several matches every weekend, but for the first time in about two years I had the opportunity to tog out. Not once but twice, where thankfully both were over 35s matches. Noel “Buddha” Healy was the brains behind a breast cancer charity match between the Limerick Leprechauns and a “Buddha” selection.
The first match, however, was for Old Crescent versus a touring side from Glasgow. What resulted was a mighty tussle of rucks and counter-rucks, which resulted in me being sinbinned by the 60-year-old Scottish referee.
My crime, he explained, was to have left Munster to play for Leinster.
