Ireland, an anatomy of a Grand Slam
Roar Pro
By James Mortimer, 26 Mar 2009 James Mortimer is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- Ireland Rugby, Rugby Union, Six Nations
It had to happen. If this gifted generation of Irish rugby players did not win a major championship, they would have failed to live up to years of expectation.
Ironically, now that it has happened, can one imagine the pressure that will be on this Irish team when they host the superpowers of the South?
And again in twelve months time where they will bid to become only the second team in Irish rugby to defend a European title since Jack Kyle’s fabled team.
It was not the prettiest championship, with Ireland displaying a heady display of steel willed pragmatism to win the title. It was this impressive mental fortitude that saw Brian O’Driscoll’s men, with Coach Declan Kidney’s quiet influence, fulfil the promise of the last decade.
Five Six Nations runners up positions since 2001, three triple crowns since 2004, victories over the Wallabies in 2002 and 2006, the Springboks in 2004 and 2006.
This Ireland team had the results and the personal to hoist a championship title.
The genesis of the transformation came in December, in a training camp in Galway. There, the team had just come away from a mixed series of autumn internationals.
Two victories against Canada and Argentina did nothing to take away from the disappointment of being overrun 22-3 by the All Blacks.
Kidney has repeated stated that he was surprised by the lack of self-belief.
He believed though – somewhat incongruously – that this was what enabled the players to come back 0-6 down against a very good Welsh team.
But the reality is that it was this old lack of conviction that was conquered by Kidney, who instilled the right principles and mindsets to his team.
But Ireland was certainly not sparkling. This was a grinding Ireland team that only opened up the game if the hard work was already achieved.
O’Driscoll was inspirational, but it was the work of the forwards, led by the tireless John Hayes, Ireland’s most capped player and Munster’s hard-nosed open side, David Wallace.
With Paul O’Connell confirming himself as arguably the world’s best lock forward, it will no doubt be a heavily green tinged Lions pack that arrives in South Africa.
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Rowdy said | March 26th 2009 @ 1:02am | Report comment
POC arguably the world’s best lock ? Very arguably, I’d say. Botha and Matfield at the least are better, as I’m afraid we’ll find out this LIons tour.
Knives Out said | March 26th 2009 @ 2:44am | Report comment
It’s all very dependent upon form. During the 3N most people would have said that Horwill looked far superior to Botha.
pothale said | March 26th 2009 @ 5:14am | Report comment
He ain’t the world’s best lock. Yet. Let’s see how the Lions tour goes. No doubt Botha & Matfield will more than give him a run for his money. Horwill will have to wait until November.
Eh James – explain this to me in terms of your anatomy:
“Kidney has repeated (sic) stated that he was surprised by the lack of self-belief. (within the Ireland team presumably?) When did Kidney repeatedly state this about the team? After the NZ game? Argentina game? Before the 6 Nations? During it? Or afterwards? I don’t recall Kidney repeatedly stating anything like this in public – it just isn’t in his nature or style.
“He believed though – somewhat incongruously – that this was what enabled the players to come back 0-6 down against a very good Welsh team.”
What did? A lack of self-belief?
‘But the reality is that it was this old lack of conviction that was conquered by Kidney, who instilled the right principles and mindsets to his team.” What was the unreality? Who created it?
I await the stroke of your scalpel with interest.
Knives Out said | March 26th 2009 @ 5:31am | Report comment
Let’s not discount Nathan Hines, Pothale. Prior to the 6N he was a dead cert. Hines and Botha; two big men with an attitude and subtle hands. Rumble in the jungle! Personally I can see a handful of Irish forwards touring: Flannery, R. Best, O’Connell, Ferris, Wallace and Heaslip. Who knows what surprises await us, though?!
pothale said | March 26th 2009 @ 6:18am | Report comment
Oh God, KO, you’ve now joined the Stephen Jones camp in promoting Nathan Hines.
It may just be me, but isn’t Hines the one with a less than – how shall I put it – sterling disciplinary record – he gets carded/sent off for picking rows with daisies. Or, to stick with the gardening terminology, has he turned over a new leaf?
Knives Out said | March 26th 2009 @ 6:45am | Report comment
That is one camp I would never join.
His off-loading is sublime, however. It comes down to what game the Lions want to play, and if they want to shift the ball then he’s your man. Big guy too. His form pre-6N was really very good. I do agree about his past issues. Maybe his absence from the 6N has cleared those thoughts from some peoples minds? Ian Gough is an underrated player too. Some of his hits are kamikaze.
ohtani's jacket said | March 26th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
How about we not turn Ireland into the new Wales, with articles about how important it is to beat a SH side or winning back-to-back Grand Slams. Winning their first Grand Slam in 61 years is enough.
I remember when the Lakers won the NBA title in ’87 and Pat Riley claimed they’d do it again — something that hadn’t been accomplished since 1969. They won a second straight title, but it went all the way to Game 7. After the game, Kareem shoved a towel in Riley’s mouth.
pothale said | March 26th 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
Couldn’t agree more, OJ. And I’m pretty sick of the 61 years line as well at this point. Remaining games this year need to be more developmental to bring on some newbies cos we won’t win with that team again. So some losses plus useful competitive experience against SA/Aus this year would do nicely in prep for next year’s 6N. That’ll do me.
James Mortimer said | March 26th 2009 @ 10:46am | Report comment
First, I stand by my opinion regarding O’Connell. His work rate in the loose was superb and was effectively Irelands best loose forward. This gives him a huge advantage over Matfield.
But he is a magical lineout jumper. I don’t know how many 6N games you blokes watched, but I burned the midnight hour and watched everyone. I have never seen a jumper marshall his pods to start pinching opposition jumps so early in the game.
With the occassional exception of Ali Williams, I have not seen an international lock – Horwill, Botha, Hines and Matfield included – CONSISTENTLY put in such strong performances both in the loose, the set, and of course in the air.
Pothale, the article has been edited so it doesn’t quite flow as originally intended.
On the first total rugby show after the first round was a fascinating interview with Kidney where he talked about the lack of belief.
A large part of it was symtomatic of continued runners up “prizes” but also a significant mental bogey was their modern failure to beat the All Blacks, despite playing them plenty of times in recent years, and having opportunities through NZ recylcing their entire starting XV’s, rebuilding, etc.
In the post match of Ire V Eng, he stated again that he thought the only difference was their belief, which he pointed out had been lacking in the past.
When I talked about it being stated in the coming back after 0-6 down against Wales, it was the fact that Kidney pointed out that it was belief and mental toughness that got them through, despite pinpointing it as the only clear reason that Ireland had not won 6N or GS before. Hence incongrously….
As for your curious remark PH about who created the unreality you little verbal wizard, I was referring to the fact that the players themselves had created the lack of belief.
Worlds Biggest said | March 26th 2009 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Interesting when assessing the Home Nations teams particularly Ireland and Wales that 6 Nations performance seems to be the barometer when measuring greatness. Ireland have had a golden generation of players this decade and they achieved there summit last weekend. I was delighted for them after so many close calls. Triple Crowns are good but no one get’s too excited anymore. The same for Wales when they won the Grand Slam in 2005 and 2008. Why then are both teams not marked on World Cup performances when the discussion of ” Great ” teams are brought up. Both teams made the Quarter Finals in 2003 with Wales playing very well and nearly beating England. However these same teams failed to get out of there pools in 2007, disasterous campaigns. Maybe another Grand Slam and a good World Cup in 2011 for both teams will see the great tag being labelled.