Rugby:Dan Tuohy says Ireland are desperate to right the wrongs of the team's past two weeks in New Zealand and finish their season on a high by beating the world champions. The Ulster second-row combined effectively with Donnacha Ryan in the narrow second-test loss to the All Blacks on Saturday.
And he believes the squad are more than capable of elevating their performance for the second week in succession. Tuohy said: “We worked extremely hard to put ourselves in a position to win it. As a collective, we are disappointed that we didn’t close it out. The focus this week is on delivering another big performance at the weekend.”
The lock’s outing in the second test was much improved on the opening defeat by the All Blacks at Eden Park. He certainly ruffled Kiwi feathers on more than one occasion and drew the ire of Adam Thomson and Ali Williams as the Irish pressed for a first ever win against the world champions.
Tuohy said: “I was much more happy with my performance at the weekend than the one before. From myself and the other lads, there is more to come. We will be looking to go out on Saturday with all guns blazing.”
Tuohy toured New Zealand in 2010 but, despite a try-scoring debut, was out of the international reckoning for two years. A fine campaign with Heineken Cup finalists Ulster, though, ensured that Irish coach Declan Kidney gave him the nod after Paul O’Connell’s knee injury ended his season.
Tuohy said: “It is great to finally get a decent run in the team. I’ve only got four caps so I wouldn’t say I’m completely settled yet. I’m really enjoying this tour and, hopefully, there will be many more to come.”
Ireland must do without Jamie Heaslip and Gordon D’Arcy for the final match after they suffered tour-ending injuries in Saturday’s defeat. However, Ireland team manager Mick Kearney has said that Keith Earls, who missed the second Test, was doing well with his rehabilitation and he remains in contention for a recall to the Irish backline for this weekend’s game in Hamilton.
Heaslip’s absence opens the back-row door to Tuohy’s Ulster colleague, Chris Henry, to come into the side at number eight. “I can’t speak highly enough of Chris,” Tuohy said. “I’ve played with him for three years and think he is a fantastic player. He has had an incredible year this year. If he is selected I’m sure that he will do the job for us.”
Ireland had the chance to take the lead against New Zealand with seven minutes left on the clock but Jonathan Sexton’s penalty from 49 metres dropped agonisingly short. Assistant coach Mark Tainton has backed Sexton to land a similar kick if a similar opportunity arose in Hamilton.
“The kick was within Jonny’s range if he kicks it 100 per cent,” said Tainton. “He has kicked those distances many times in training but just caught the ball a little bit low at the weekend and got a very fast rotation. I have full confidence that if (the chance) is there again this weekend, he’ll step up and kick it.”
