RUGBY:The counter-ruck was crucial for Ireland, forcing the Boks into the breakdown which dictated a kicking game from Morne Steyn, writes LIAM TOLAND
AT THE end colossus Bismarck du Plessis fell to his knees, fists pumping above his head. Fullback Gio Aplon, overjoyed with victory, threw himself on to his back like a newly-crowned Wimbledon champion. The Springboks were very happy to have won this battle. The five points missed from a Jonathan Sexton penalty and a desperately-unlucky conversion from Ronan O’Gara, added to the Juan Smith-gifted try puts Ireland’s performance in perspective.
We lost by two which could so easily have been a win by eight. For me the score was never important, it was the “autumn” performance that grabbed my attention. First-match blues and the conditions led to many errors. But there was no lack of effort from a totally committed Irish 15.
As discussed on Friday, the counter-ruck was a crucial force multiplier for Ireland, forcing the Boks into the breakdown which dictated a kicking game from Morne Steyn.
For all the fancy GPS systems and nerd monitors available to professional rugby players it remains impossible to measure the drain on energy from the Irish pack who time and again pummelled the Springboks at the breakdown.
This is of great significance from an Irish rugby development perspective. In the opening salvos the frontrow, Donncha O’Callaghan, his partner Mick O’Driscoll, Jamie Heaslip, who was extraordinary, Stephen Ferris and David Wallace forced enormous pressure on Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar.
The significance is crucial as the Irish derived dividends from this tactic they drifted away from forcing their game on the Boks. Add in 122 tackles versus 65, 15 turnovers, 50 per cent lineout and 66 per cent scrum success into that matrix.
Early on, Ferris carried into midfield, asking Jean de Villiers some questions, so too did Wallace and Heaslip but then the platform waned, the flow slowed and it became a slug fest.
Pre-match I walked pitchside to get a look at the size of the Boks. I was no more than 15 metres from them practising lineouts. They are huge. As they went through their lineout rehearsal it was obvious they don’t jump. Traditionally the jumper steps forward or back and then plants before being hoisted into the air. They skip this process and simply glide effortlessly into the air. But such beasts can’t be mobile so I watched Bakkies Botha, who, to my surprise, casually went through the gears as he supported the ball.
A deep Steyn kick-off from Sexton’s penalty landed to Wallace. He fielded and easily brushed aside speedster Bjorn Basson but Botha simply engulfed him into touch. As London Irish can testify, Wallace is no easy target.
The Springboks have respect for this Ireland team. Their world-class lineout was very quickly shortened in an effort to combat the conditions but also to neutralise Mick O’Driscoll in the air. I counted three short lineouts in a row, the Irish followed suit. Maybe it was their lack of a back line but the Springboks played the conditions as if they were Irish.
Coach Peter de Villiers’ decision to change outhalves was a sound one but swapping Steyn for novice Patrick Lambie to encourage attacking rugby was bizarre.
To that point the Boks had a very simple game plan – if the ruck ball took over five seconds to reach Steyn he kicked. If it was under five he passed. Due to the Ireland counter-ruck battle Steyn kicked an awful lot. In the meantime Pienaar had his fatties fighting on several fronts where for the first time I’ve seen a double wedge set up off the breakdown.
A frontrow wedge with Du Plessis would set up 10 metres from the breakdown and a backrow further out. Wherever freak athlete Pierre Spies appeared Heaslip was right on queue to hammer.
Regardless of results this autumn series must point Irish rugby in a direction. What remains our policy? The modern game is still a balancing act. The opposition, the conditions, the referee and the value of the fixture dictate policy.
A platform is crucial and Tom Court’s arrival gave Ireland a scrum and a penalty from it. In finding that balance Ireland are on a difficult journey of discovery.
Scotland at Croke Park was too polar. Saturday was heavy on the counter-ruck and light on set-piece. As I watched Aplon lying on his back celebrating I wondered why did it take O’Gara free-kick in the 75th minute to launch a bomb on the fledgling fullback? Why was he not welcomed to wet Dublin from the skies?
In finding the balance there is a difference between cranking up the tempo and Cian Healy casually tapping the ball to himself in an effort to speed up the game. My point is a tad harsh on Healy, but when has he done that before? Has he, in fact, practised it in training? If not, then why execute a very unnatural skill in a game of such magnitude.
On 65 minutes the score stood at 9-23 and I wondered how can Ireland create momentum. Clearly Declan Kidney was asking the same question as Peter Stringer and O’Gara soon arrived. O’Gara’s role for Tommy Bowe’s try was crucial but it was Stringer’s passing that cranked it up.
Minutes earlier Aplon cantered in for a terrible try from an Irish perspective. A simple deep switch from Zane Kirchner out wide confused the Ireland defence. This was particularly annoying and even more so when it was Kirchner’s third touch of the ball.
The Ireland front five worked themselves into the ground. Their counter-ruck and defence was relentless and did huge damage to the Springboks.
With the weeks ahead balance is required and in carrying the ball for nine metres in 80 minutes, the front five were a long way off the Springboks’ five who carried for 40 metres. Without abandoning their core roles this must improve.
PS: No doubt the IRFU were very pleased/relieved with the last 12 minutes of rugby. The crowd were very slow to return to their seats post half-time and may not have come at all next week but for the late tries. It was an excellent end to a very, very tough day and I also had the pleasure of experiencing some delightful company at the after-match function.
