SIX NATIONS:IN THE white corner, a team on a mission, unbeaten, high on confidence and with a huge carrot dangling in front of them. In the green corner, a malfunctioning outfit who have fallen short of their capabilities and have been wounded again by a second one that got away.
The English chariot will thus duly roll into Dublin next weekend seeking a first Grand Slam since completing their last title with that Slam-clinching 42-6 win at the old Lansdowne Road in 2003, en route to winning the World Cup later that year.
Admittedly, Martin Johnson’s remodelled team are far from the vintage force of eight years ago, which he captained, or even the one of two or three weeks ago, when eventually seeing off Scotland 22-16 at Twickenham yesterday.
But more to the point, Ireland are not four from four as well, as they were in ’03 for that winner-takes-all shoot-out.
In truth, Ireland were even in better nick in 2001, when – as now – England were effectively assured of the championship (Wales would have to beat France in Paris and Ireland overcome England next Saturday by a combined margin of 43 points for Wales to win the Six Nations).
Ten years ago, Ireland had come off a 36-6 win in Cardiff in the foot-and-mouth disrupted campaign to leave themselves with three wins from four, before derailing England 20-14.
“I know we are better than that,” admitted Kidney of their won two, lost two record thus far, “and I know that most of it is in our own control. That is both the frustrating side of it and the satisfying side of it because as long as it’s within your own control I know that we will get better. So, that’s what we need to do and work on and let the games keep rolling so people will get better as the games go on.”
There are compelling reasons for believing that but for crass errors by two of the match officials Ireland would be coming into this game on the back of another win in Wales on Saturday.
Both Peter Allan and Jonathan Kaplan should be demoted. Professional athletes, and coaching staffs, deserve much, much better. One IRFU official reckoned the defeat could cost the Union €400,000-€500,000 in prize money alone.
But even so this is an Ireland team with issues. Undoubted talent though he is, Luke Fitzgerald’s confidence under the high ball is one of those, and once again he was targeted here.
The counter-attacking is almost a token gesture, with the back three playing like individuals rather than as a unit. But Kidney rejected the notion that his full-back looks a little rattled.
“Ah no, that’s what I’m saying about people settling in. They put up a lot of ball to us and it’s been a while since he’s played fullback and it’s something he’s getting better at and I presume he will do so again next week.”
Kidney couldn’t clarify whether Eoin Reddan would be ruled out through concussion, but suggested Tomás O’Leary would come back into the equation. However, despite no silverware being on offer for Ireland next Saturday, the coach dropped a broad hint that this was unlikely to change his approach to selection.
“We always talk about taking one game at a time and it’s all about getting the opportunity to put on the green jersey and if you end up winning something at the end of that, then great.”
While Seán O’Brien and David Wallace again had big games, where has the world-class Jamie Heaslip gone? His performances have been below par by his very high standards, and it suggests he’s probably still troubled by his ankle injury.
The outhalf issue won’t go away either, and has become more muddled, with both players now seemingly suffering from the musical chairs at 10. For the second time Kidney again changed his chief tactician at outhalf, only earlier. Coming before the 50th minute, it looked hasty to withdraw Ronan O’Gara and introduce Jonathan Sexton.
The ripple effect has been a seemingly confused approach. Sexton was omitted after the defeat to France, when Ireland were credited with just 15 kicks in 80 minutes (there had been 21 in Rome). Against the Scots that figure rose to 24 but on Saturday it was 42 – much of it undistinguished as the Ireland players struggled with the greasy Webb Ellis pill used by the Welsh.
The most damning statistic is that Ireland won the ball 35 times in the Welsh 22 and came away with only 13 points in total, failing to score in the second half.
“I believe, without having looked at the video evidence yet, that it was no one thing,” said Kidney, “because it seemed that we turned it over in several different areas, sometimes it was the breakdown, sometimes it was spills, sometimes a kick through.”
Maybe it’s blind faith. Maybe it’s seeing things through green-tinted glasses. But for the fourth game running you were left with the undeniable feeling that this Irish team are capable of so much better. Roll on England then.
Last chance saloon in a way for this Irish team in this Six Nations.
