RUGBY: Ireland's chances of a first Six Nations title in 21 years receded yesterday when France registered their biggest win over England in two decades by 31-6 in the Stade de France.
The net effect is that Ireland probably require a Welsh victory over France in the second leg of next Saturday's climactic treble header to then have a chance of emulating Mick Doyle's boys of '85 by beating England in the tournament's finale at 5.30pm in Twickenham.
If two sides finish level, positions are decided by points difference and France's victory leaves them with an aggregate of +58 as against Ireland's +30. Thus, even were France to win by one point in Cardiff, Ireland would have to beat England by 30 to snatch the title.
Anything less than a French win would leave the door ajar for Ireland and admittedly there has only been one away win so far (by England in Rome) out of a dozen matches. But Wales couldn't beat Italy last Saturday at the Millennium Stadium, and their extraordinary injury jinx has now seen them lose influential scrumhalf Dwayne Peel.
Ireland at least have a Triple Crown still in their sights, and little about England's performance yesterday against an unexceptional French side will have dissuaded the huge Irish invasion at the end of Cheltenham that victory is within reach.
England have lost seven of their last 14 Six Nations games and their one-dimensional running strategy has seen them go tryless for two games in succession. Tired, listless and demotivated, as Brent Pope described them - and that was one of the more complimentary comments.
"We were awful," conceded coach Andy Robinson, reflecting an honest in-house assessment that suggests a vengeful, redemptory mood in the coming week.
At yesterday morning's follow-up with the Irish coaching staff, Eddie O'Sullivan had expressed the hope that the game would end in a draw, but in the eventuality of a French win commented: "We could still win a Triple Crown next weekend, and I wouldn't cry any tears over that.
"We've improved in certain areas. Our setpiece has been good and getting better. I think our continuity is improving and our ruck ball is improving. If you're taking a broad view of it, I'd like to think that as the championship has gone on we're inching forward in terms of our performances."
O'Sullivan did admit Ireland's back play hadn't really clicked, and as to why Ireland didn't kick to the corners more, especially in the first half, he countered that the breeze Ireland played into was stiffer than appeared and the Scots were "playing with three fullbacks".
In the second half, Ronan O'Gara pinged the corners more, and Ireland had little reason to fear the touchline.
Ireland won all 15 of their own throws and either won or denied Scotland eight of their 29 lineouts a reward for the players' studious preparation according to forwards coach Niall O'Donovan.
"I was thrilled with the quality of our ball. It's going to be very hard to follow it, but the work ethic of the lads is such that they'll go about trying to get 100 per cent again next week."
O'Donovan praised the professionalism of Jerry Flannery. Ireland's find of the season also took one of the hits of the championship - Jason White's 52nd-minute rib-tickler, a high pass having exposed the hooker's torso. Everybody in the ground winced, yet typical of Flannery's sheer force of will, he rose to his feet, exchanged a joke with White and packed down for the next scrum.
"I got knocked into next week but I got up. You can't stay down." Reflecting whimsically on the moment, he revealed: "I just said 'good hit'. They told us not to run down White's channel before the game and I took the runner so wide I said to myself, 'There's no effing way he's going to be able to get me.' And next second just as I grabbed the ball I saw him coming through the air.
"I could hear one of the Scots say, 'Are you still alive?'" added Flannery, smiling. "So I said, 'Eff you, we still have the ball'."
Citing O'Donovan's "obscene amount of work on the opposition" and "so many brilliant secondrows", Flannery described John Hayes as "probably the best lifter in world rugby and Marcus Horan's not far behind him, which makes my job easier."
Flannery was not particularly concerned about the English challenge. "I've played against their players before. I'm confident in my ability and the ability of the pack I'm playing with. If anything I think they should be looking at us and what we can do.
"They're good players but you've got to remember . . . they're the same as you and me, skin and bone; just get stuck into them."
Scottish lock Scott Murray,was suitably impressed: "The one thing Ireland are really good at is the one-man lift and it creates an extra man at the lineout.
"There were occasions today where we had two guys lifting, they had one and they were still managing to get hands on the ball."
Asked who would win in Twickenham, Murray smiled: "Needless to say all my hopes go with Ireland but it will be a tough day at the office for both teams."
He's a good Celt, is our Scott.
SIX NATIONS RUGBY: pages 2-3
