A chara, - The second round of matches in the Five Nations Championship did nothing to undermine the argument for the importance of goal-kicking. Logan lost the match for Scotland by wayward goal-kicking and Wilkinson won it for England by accurate goal-kicking. Jenkins kept Wales in the match against Ireland by the excellence of his goalkicking (it was churlish of me to wish upon him an off-day). He contributed six points in the first half which Wales did absolutely nothing to deserve, and his conversion of the second Welsh try to bring Wales in sight of winning a game they should have lost by 20 points or more was a wonderful effort in the circumstances.
David Humphreys had a brilliant game, especially in his running and in his kicking from hand, and his two well-executed dropped goals effectively won the match for Ireland in the end. By then our magnificent forwards had done enough to win 10 matches, and it might seem unkind of me to point out that Humphreys failed to convert a straightforward penalty opportunity in the first half that in another game could have proved decisive.
Rugby at international level is a hard school, and we have to insist on the highest standards in every department of the game. Humphreys is undoubtedly our best out-half, but he has yet to prove that he is our best goal-kicker. If he can do that he will become one of our truly great players. But in a 15- or 22-man game it is asking a lot to burden one man with such a heavy responsibility.
As for the Irish team itself, a truer test will be whether we can as we should) beat England at Lansdowne Road. To judge from the Scottish match at Twickenham, England are short of intelligence and imagination - and even of competence in key positions, such as out-half and fullback. If we can exploit these weaknesses at the same time as playing to our own strengths, we can beat England by 10 points or more. But it will take nerve and good judgment. I hope to be present to join in the celebrations at Lansdowne Road on March 6th. - Is mise, Gerald Morgan, FTCD,
Arts Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2.