IRELAND v ENGLAND REACTION: MANY FLEEING the Croke Park area on Saturday night were understandably frustrated, having just witnessed a game of rugby for the purist. More commonly known as the forward. Then again, the average punter rarely has to fork-lift an 18st Englishman who is sprawled over what should be quick, clean possession.
This contest immediately descended into the dirt, a place where England have traditionally excelled with their gargantuan packs.
The GAA headquarters is not for them, though. They were a poor visiting side, almost on a par with the group emptied by 30 points off the Jones’ Road two years back, and Paul O’Connell’s pack embraced the war of attrition – provoked it even – leading to all wagers on the eight-point Irish handicap being gratefully banked by the bookmakers.
If Ronan O’Gara had not experienced a nightmare evening with placed balls, a two-from-six return, then Ireland would have been out of sight. The gameplan would have been lauded, Munster-esque no doubt, but highly effective.
The match statistics are undeniable: clear dominance of possession and territory, with Martin Johnson’s unruly group racking up double the penalty count, eight to 16.
“You have to win up front and then try and play rugby,” said David Wallace matter-of-factly. “That’s just the way rugby is; a simple game. That’s the way it was going to go today.”
Frustrations were exacerbated by the sparks delivered in beating France at this same venue earlier in February. The management and players adopted a different approach, kicking ball deep into England’s 22 and forcing transgressions. The rhythm of this match had been decided in the video room.
“I suppose it always is,” Wallace continued. “I suppose, frustrate teams and tire them out. Bring them through the mill. If you create space out wide for the backs, well and good. If not, you just keep ploughing away. That’s the mentality we were just trying to hold on to, maintain and progress with.”
Tomás O’Leary was the closest witness to the vicious battle on the deck and carried out clear instructions to use the box-kick at every opportunity; to make the solid English defenders turn and await the inevitable penalties that relentless pressure will always deliver.
“Territory is key to any rugby game and it was difficult to gain that through the hands because the ball was so slow and because the tackle area was so fierce,” the scrumhalf said. “They were throwing fellas in and we were throwing fellas in left, right and centre, so the ball was pretty slow so there was no point trying shift that too wide. We’d just get nailed back again, so that’s why we did a bit more kicking, to get territory, and I felt we did that well.”
When O’Gara’s kicking return, for a change, failed to yield points, the team leaders sought to bludgeon a try that forced white defenders back into some admirable, yet ultimately flawed resistance. They brought their yellow card count up to 10 in four games, and Phil Vickery’s dismissal on 17 minutes eventually resulted in Brian O’Driscoll’s try.
It would be easy to remember O’Leary’s last kick of the game when it flew straight into touch, heaping pressure on Ireland and seemingly forcing the entrance of Peter Stringer (who had been warming up anyway). In fact, O’Leary continues to mature into a respectable Test scrumhalf and conducted affairs assuredly for the opening 40 minutes.
Without being overjoyed, the one-time Cork hurler was content.
“Obviously there are aspects that I can improve. In the game management. It was tough out there and I’m happy that I handled myself well enough. Yeah, I’m happy to be part of the squad. There is a good buzz within the camp. Every fella is not going to have an outstanding day every day. We just enjoyed getting the win.”
That’s allowed, but human nature dictates expectations will now soar. Men like Wallace and O’Leary seem unperturbed.
