REACTION:LUKE FITZGERALD is a fullback. Despite the sluggishness of matters in front of him on Saturday, this was proved once again by the scraps of possession he managed to grasp.
“I love playing there,” he reiterated for the umpteenth time.
Not that it makes any difference.
Rob Kearney’s knee is healing nicely and that means Ireland’s established number 15 is almost certain to return (unless of course Declan Kidney throws the curve ball that is Geordan Murphy). Either way, it means the versatile Fitzgerald will return to the wing where possession has proved very difficult to come by these past few weeks.
Just talk to Ireland’s player of the year Tommy Bowe. Fitzgerald did just that after this hollow 20-10 victory as growing concerns over the absence of a discernible game plan, despite Ireland being in camp for three weeks now, was put to the 23-year-old.
“It is difficult especially given the conditions. There was always going to be a lot of split ball.
“I was talking to Tommy (Bowe) after the game and we always want to get our hands on the ball, it was frustrating that we didn’t. Look, we are really happy with the win against a pretty good team.”
If the grumblings from the 30,955 crowd is still considered an indication the watching public do not share Fitzgerald’s joy with the current state of Irish rugby.
So, next question. Is this team playing an acceptable style of rugby? “I think we are,” Fitzgerald replied in a positive manner. “We have had to adapt and that is a very important thing to do. You can’t play fancy rugby in those conditions. You just can’t do it. Opposition teams, you have to give them respect. You couldn’t be throwing the ball around out there. It just wasn’t the right thing to do. I think we did play clever rugby.”
But surely a more inventive, running game is still possible in conditions that are normal to the month of November in Ireland? “You can but you must be clever about it. We took a few quick taps in our own half that worked out quite well. We are well capable of doing the expansive stuff but I do think we have to play clever.
“We only have to look at the strike runners available to us and the play-makers on the inside. It is just a matter of getting one of those days where everything clicks and maybe youse will get off our backs then.”
The media will only cease criticising the national team when the public are sated. Fitzgerald was asked what weather he sought for next Saturday? “Please, dry weather.”
Only problem with that is Dan Carter, Ma Nonu, Mils Muliana, Sonny Bill Williams and Hosea Gear are also praying for something similar. The All Blacks arrived in town last night.
“I don’t think it’s a matter of playing a different type of game. I think we played the conditions quite well. But you always have to go up a notch against New Zealand.
“I think everyone is really excited about it. It is a big opportunity for us.”
Maybe a rain dance wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
