Review identifies need for stronger defensive structures

THE IRELAND squad yesterday completed their review of the defeat to Wales on Sunday and, not surprisingly, have resolved to improve their line speed in defence for Saturday night’s game in Stade de France after the curiously passive defensive effort last Sunday at the Aviva Stadium.

“We spent a long time yesterday as coaches reviewing the game,” said kicking coach Mark Tainton, who is also working with Les Kiss on Ireland’s attacking game.

“We just sat down with the players and did our review session. There are things we brought up that can strengthen our defence and the players have bought into that and they are going to take ownership of it. Obviously it’s something we’ll be working at this afternoon in a light session, and tomorrow and Thursday.

Asked specifically if line speed had been an issue, Tainton said; “We’ve all seen the game and our line speed could have been quicker closer to the breakdown, allowing our outside backs or forwards to come up and jam quicker.

“It is not just our defence,” added Tainton. “When we get the ball we need to use it properly, play in the right areas of the pitch and when we keep the ball, keep it for more phases to try and put more pressure on the opposition.

“There were some very good situations in attack and there are some things we can improve on. I was very pleased with the two tries, we maintained our depth in the wide channels and we played with a little bit of patience. We stretched the Welsh defence a couple of times and the two opportunities we had, we took.”

The French will assuredly ask different questions of the Irish attack.

“They fill their line very quickly,” said Tainton, who envisaged that Ireland will thus have to be even sharper in ensuring quick ruck ball and in exploiting any hints of an opening.

“They are very athletic as a team so there are very small windows of opportunity. We need to react very, very quickly. If the opportunity comes, you have a split second and then it’s gone in Test rugby.

“It’s part of our review, reading things very quickly in front of us and trying to adjust, and making inroads into whatever gaps appear because we know those gaps won’t be there for long. Their defence is solid. Watching them against Italy, they contest the breakdown very physically but because they are so athletic they then get out and fill their line very quickly as well.

“They come up quite aggressively. We’ll have to prepare to accommodate that.”

Tainton also confirmed there had been an acknowledgement within the squad that they had perhaps played too much rugby in their own half, particularly in the first period.

“While it is great to keep ball in hand there are times when we need to relieve pressure,” he said.

“When our lineout was going as well as it was against Wales, perhaps we could have played a little bit more field position in those areas – whether that is finding grass and going for touch or putting up contestables (high kicks),” Tainton conceded.

He also interpreted the recall for Imanol Harinordoquy as a sign that France were mindful of how well Ireland’s lineout worked, and Seán Cronin concurred that even though this was at the expense of Julien Bonnaire, if anything it would make the French threat to the Irish throw even sharper.

“I think he’s just as strong if not stronger,” said Cronin. “He’s been noted down through the years of being extremely capable in the lineout. Paulie (O’Connell) always talks about him and the danger and the threat that he poses.”

All that said and done, Tainton stressed Ireland would not be tearing up their playbook.

“You’ve got to change the game-plan slightly because you’re playing against different personnel and the way their defensive and attack structures work. But we’re not going to have knee-jerk reactions. We’ve worked with the squad now for the last few weeks and we’re confident we have the best players in the camp.

“We’re happy with what we’ve got and we’ll take that forward,” added Tainton. “We’ll train appropriately; we will change certain things on the field. We’re playing France and they’ll bring a different threat to what the Welsh did and different opportunities.”