Everyone is starting to Believe! Believe in this Irish team and the amazing journey that they are undertaking at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. They shocked the World when they disposed of the Tri Nations Champions Australia in the group stages a fortnight ago and threw the whole draw for the knockout stages wide open. We then completely dominated Italy in a high-pressure game last weekend
That Italian team was a grizzled bunch with over 350 caps amongst their starting front row and replacements alone. Many of this Italian team have been responsible changing the impression of Italy as a soccer country that played a bit of rugby to been able to hold their head up high in both codes. They were in the same situation as Ireland with a significant percentage of their players taking part in what will be there last world cup. It was also the last campaign of their South African coach Nick Mallet whose contract hasn’t being renewed. Mallet was very popular amongst the players and they really wanted to send him out on a high.
We all wondered could Ireland repeat the heroics of Australia but given the pressure involved the 36-6 defeat must rank as one of Irelands finest performances ever. We implemented exactly the right game plan to target the Italians two critical weaknesses. 1) We were fitter than them and 2) their defence out wide was much weaker than that around the ruck. Attacking them out wide aided testing their fitness as we moved their heavy pack around the field consistently throughout the game. Ronan O’Gara should take great credit and the plaudits for his contribution as I felt apart from his assured kicking, which we take for, granted at this stage of his career. The accuracy and variation on his passing was superb. It was also great to see Johnny Sexton come on and contribute and most importantly kick his goals, which will boost his confidence levels, no end.
There wasn’t an Irish player who didn’t play well and it really seems that there is great morale amongst the whole squad and even the non-22 are contributing on and off the pitch, which is vital. Much had been spoken during the build up about the Scrum and whether we could match up to the Italians. Credit must go again to the Front row who refused to take a backwards step in this area which demoralized the Italians and they started to get dirty and distracted. Cian Healy because of his youth was certainly targeted but despite nearly boiling over a few times kept his nerve and had another cracking game. For me the back row where the main reason why we won the match. Sean O Brien was man of the match but it could have quite easily gone to Stephen Ferris or Jamie Heaslip. With the sheer power and destruction that O’Brien and Ferris bring to their ball carrying Jamie Heaslip has slipped into the backround and he despite being a world class ball carrier himself is now doing a lot of the work that doesn’t get a huge amount of attention in the media like tidying up loose ball and scavenging at ruck time but it is a critical area in any team.
Brent Pope said on the RTE panel after the match that O’Brien is now the talk of New Zealand. Well its not just New Zealand, after Sundays match “Seanobrienfacts” was trending on twitter worldwide. Interesting facts that it included where 1) Chuck Norris checks under his bed for Sean O’Brien before going to bed. 2) Sean won 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the ploughing championship, but without a tractor. 3) When Superman goes to bed he wears Sean O ‘Brien pajamas!
Wales this weekend is probably our semi final as they are in better form that both France and England. They look incredibly fit but I really feel our experience in winning Knock out rugby from the Heineken cup will stand to us. Their players have tried to make an issue of the baggage that our team is carrying from underperforming at previous World Cups and how their Youth and Exuberance means that they have no fear. I think that it’s the opposite and it’s their players who will have the baggage from not being able to beat Irish teams when it counts for their regional sides. Irelands greater experience means that they know what to expect from the occasion whereas for most of the Welsh players it will be the biggest game that they have ever played in.
The Welsh certainly are playing an exciting brand of Rugby and have completed the most carries and passes of any team in the competition. They scored 62 points in their last outing against Fiji and their back three of Williams, Halfpenny and North are exciting runners. They can crash up the middle to with Jamie Roberts back to his pre Lions tour of 2009 form again and the Scarlet’s center Jonathon Davies impressing. They will obviously target ROG in defense but there is nothing new there and I expect that Kidney will earmark Murray and O’Brien to cover the 10 channels. To stop them playing the brand of rugby that they want I think Ireland will set a trap for Mike Phillips. It’s a tactic that we used in Leinster in the past when playing the Ospreys and it works because Phillips generally runs from the base before he passes. The defender opposite their out half Rhys Priestland shoots out of the line when the ball is out of the ruck and when Phillip sees that he cant pass clearly to his playmaker he then turns back inside and has a run himself. Ireland must then hit him hard and try and counter ruck as the wide-wide pattern that they play means that they don’t have a lot of support in this zone.
The Set piece is another area that we should dominate and Rory Bests return to fitness is crucial. He plays a huge role in our scrum and for a bloke who isn’t that big he is deceptively strong and has very good technique. Also our lineout stats at 91% are the best in the competition so far although Wales’s lineout has been solid so far I believe that we can really disrupt the quality of the delivery if not steal the ball.
France may pull off a surprise against England as the latest rumors coming from the French camp is that Dimitri Yachvili and Imanol Harinordoquy have taken control of the team and shown some leadership. Marc Lievremont had never coached an adult team apart from Dax in the Pro D 2 for a short period and its all gone pear shaped for him.
Whatever about his bizarre selections and tactics he committed the ultimate no-no for a coach, when he criticized his players in public rather than private after their defeat to Tonga last week. He then invited the players to drink some beers with him but they refused and instead watched the match video as a group without him. If the French players row in behind the two Biarritz men they have a chance but it’s hard to know what they might do to be honest!
I expect New Zealand and South Africa to win the other matches. For Ireland if we beat Wales tomorrow then we are there till the end regardless as there is a play off for 3 and 4th place. But this team can go the final.
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