By James Mortimer -
March 26th 2009 @ 12:57am
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Ireland, an anatomy of a Grand Slam
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.
sheek said | March 26th 2009 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
Elsewhere, I asked Roar contributor Dublin Dave if he would be willing to submit to me his best Irish 22 of the decade 2000-09. I’m sure he won’t mind me reprinting his team here. It’s worth noting prior to the unbeaten run of 2009, Ireland had been runners-up in 2001, 03-04, 06-07.
Here’s David’s 22, which he went to great lengths to explain each selection & alternatives, but I’ll just give you the selections. Rest assured, his team was well thought out, including choice of skipper.
15 – Rob Kearney
14 – Shane Horgan
13 – Brian O’Driscoll
12 – Gordon D’Arcy
11 – Dennis Hickie
10 – Ronan O’Gara
9 – Peter Stringer
8 – Anthony Foley (c)
7 – Keith Gleeson
6 – David Wallace
5 – Malcolm O’Kelly
4 – Paul O’Connell
3 – John Hayes
2 – Keith Wood
1 – Peter Clohessy
22 – Geordan Murphy
21 – David Humphreys
20 – Tomas O’Leary
19 – Eric Miller
18 – Mick Galway
17 – Reggie Corrigan
16 – Jerry Flannery
James B said | March 26th 2009 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
The Irish national team have never beaten the AB’s and this team won’t either.
chris, syd Aust said | March 26th 2009 @ 2:47pm | Report comment
Paul O’Connell world’s best lock – nice try.
he’s lucky if he has about 60mins of a game left in him these days.
PastHisBest said | March 26th 2009 @ 6:11pm | Report comment
Have to agree Chris, although as a one off game it was good as has been seen this year from anyone in the ‘row.
Guy Smiley said | March 26th 2009 @ 6:15pm | Report comment
Chris, your second line is ridiculous, turn your brain back on.
Matfield is the one who is hardly getting any game time, not quite sure if de Villiers has some secret contract with Frans Ludeke to keep him fresh for the Lions tour but he is warming the pine far too much for my liking. Not that SA are short of quality locks however.
Ireland under Eddie O’Sullivan almost beat the Blacks in NZ twice – under Kidney this now looks more likely. Nothing wrong with a bit of ambition.
Sheek almost agree with your XV but I think O’Kelly has to go at the expense of the mongrel O’Callaghan. Otherwise it’s pitch perfect (pardon the pun!)
Knives Out said | March 26th 2009 @ 8:56pm | Report comment
“Paul O’Connell world’s best lock – nice try.
he’s lucky if he has about 60mins of a game left in him these days.”
Why is that? Because he’s so old, or so unfit, Chris? Watch a lot of his games do you? Damn.. these Australians really know their world rugby!
Completely disagree with you James. Stephen Ferris and David Wallace were comfortably Ireland’s best backrowers, and the best lineout performance in the 6N came from Tom Croft. O’Connell had one very good day against a very mediocre thrower. It wasn’t unexpected, I recall detailing it pre-game. He is undoubtedly an excellent player, nonetheless.
Sheek, Eric Miller. What a player. I miss him (sob).
WorkingClassRugger said | March 27th 2009 @ 12:20am | Report comment
Depends on what aspects of the game you are referring too. In the sense of providing a stable platform for his team then yes, securing and stealing lineout possession so far well yes. So far this year O’Connell has been the standout Lock in World Rugby. However this status will be rigorously tested against the likes of Matfield one of the games finest locks. Probably the most consistently thought to be the best. They both play a similar style.
I’m interested to see the mix of the Lions side. I suspect a heavy Anglo-Welsh influence. I believe the Irish will be ignored in some positions. This feeling comes from the predictions of the British media. Some may say they don’t select the team but they are definitely trying to influence the process. The Scots. won’t get many but that not exactly surprising.
pothale said | March 27th 2009 @ 12:23am | Report comment
Oooh, so many topics, so many thoughts, nibble, nibble – where do I start?
Ok the easy ones. Chris in Sydney – O’Connell has 60 minutes at best in him. Complete and utter uninformed horseshit – you clearly do not watch any Heineken games featuring Munster whatever about the 6N. O’Connell is very much in his prime. I said above already that I don’t believe he’s the world’s best lock. He actually got a similar tag a few years ago as the form lock in the world. He has work to do – still.
James B – you make an assertion – that’s easy to make given history. Unfortunately, Ireland won’t get to play ABs in the next 12 months – so you’re right, this team won’t beat them. If two or three key players are developed in he meantime, then I think they have a good chance, but that’s as far as I’m willing to go. ABs have history and track record on their side, but there’s always a first time.
James M – your explanation leaves me somewhat confused. If you’re saying that the team suffered from a lack of belief in their ability – evidenced by their poor performance against ABs – fine. However, we know Kidney said it after the AIs, and I suspect thousands of others prior to that. The key intervention he made at the Athenry get-together was to get the senior members of the team to talk through that, and address the issues underlying the lack of belief. As a result of that, the team gained belief in themselves, and the results followed. So it’s not incongruous, if Kidney identified the key problem, found a solution, and following victories said that was the key difference for the team – built around principles of trust, honesty and integrity. That’s logical, not out of place or mis-matched at all. Maybe your editing threw this out of whack.
I like Dublin Dave’s selection, but I’d nitpick with one or two.
I’d have Girvan Dempsey in there. Kearney is a newbie compared to him, and Dempsey was there consistently and rock-solid for most of the decade, and kept Murphy out of the 15 jersey a lot of the times.
Horgan at 14 is a tough one. He had some fine performance with the Leinster boys as well as with Ireland, but I’d go for Fitzgerald if I have speedy Hickie on the other wing.
Given O’Driscoll played 12 in his earlier years, I’d half be tempted to put him in there as he had some of his best performances in that position. But that would disrespect what Darcy achieved in partnership with him.
Agree about having Axel Foley as captain – the team would follow him through the Gates of Hell and back.
pothale said | March 27th 2009 @ 12:29am | Report comment
Working Class Rugger – am curious – what sections of the British media have been pushing/predicting that leads you to suspect a heavy Anglo-Welsh influence in the Lions? Not in the Times, Independent, Telegraph, Scrum.com, skysports, bbc or other mainstream media outlet. The Bulldog Homeshire Weekly Times perhaps?
Knives Out said | March 27th 2009 @ 2:01am | Report comment
WorkingClassRugger, it depends on form. Matfield was utter pants during the 3N but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a fine player. Likewise O’Connell had a good tournament, as did A.W. Jones, but that doesn’t mean they’re are the current world leaders. The finest lineout performance of this year was Tom Croft’s versus France. The whole process is subjective, in any case.
I would say that O’Connell plays a completely type of game to Matfield. O’Connell is utilised heavily as a ball carrier, Matfield isn’t. Matfield jumps in the middle and O’Connell jumps at the front.
Pothale, IMO Shane Horgan was a fine servant for Ireland. Good hands, great under the high ball, very clever but only a little slow.
Jerry said | March 27th 2009 @ 4:51am | Report comment
Guy – Ireland “almost beat the Blacks in NZ twice”
That’s a bit of revisionist history right there, considering it was an understrength All Black team (with a bunch of first stringers already in Argentina) and also that Ireland only lead for about 15 minutes in the first half of one match. Ireland competed well, but were a long way from winning either match.
Knives Out said | March 27th 2009 @ 5:18am | Report comment
Ireland certainly let the 21-11 game slip, Jerry. That was a good opportunity. Also, you can only beat what’s in front of you.
Jerry said | March 27th 2009 @ 5:40am | Report comment
The game last year? I was talking about the 2 matches in 06 which is what I assume Guy was talking about.
The 2008 match was close, but I don’t think you could say Ireland let it slip. They didn’t lead at any point in the second half – the match was still up for grabs in the final 1/4 but to say Ireland let it slip would indicate they were on top and let the AB’s back into the match. Ireland had opportunities to win but the AB’s took the initiative – I’d say there’s a difference between “were competetive” and “almost won”.
Knives Out said | March 27th 2009 @ 5:56am | Report comment
Actually Jerry, for pure accuracy Ireland did lead 8-11 in the 2nd half, albeit for a short period. I agree with what you’re saying, but traditionally – over the past few years anyway – New Zealand have never put Ireland away in the manner that they have England. The games have often been quite close.
Jerry said | March 27th 2009 @ 6:03am | Report comment
In NZ, I’d agree with you. Funnily enough, the recent matches played in Ireland have been much more complete victories for the All Blacks. There was the 22-3 win last year obviously and in 2005 the AB’s won by a 38 point margin (the Irish were missing O’Driscoll & O’Connell from memory).
Ireland does tend to compete better than other NH teams in NZ, they always send a full strength squad (unlike say France) and tend to have less players injured (as always seems to plague England – I’m not sure why this would be the case, perhaps the Magners League is less of a grind than the Premiership or perhaps the Irish clubs are more co-operative and don’t schedule player surgeries or procedures for June).
James B said | March 27th 2009 @ 6:19am | Report comment
Pothale – this Irish team played the AB’s as recently as 4 months ago, and weren’t even in the game.
van der Merwe said | March 27th 2009 @ 6:28am | Report comment
“Matfield is the one who is hardly getting any game time, not quite sure if de Villiers has some secret contract with Frans Ludeke to keep him fresh for the Lions tour but he is warming the pine far too much for my liking.”
I suppose that’s what happens when you land from 7 or 8 feet directly on your shoulder.
Knives Out said | March 27th 2009 @ 6:34am | Report comment
“Funnily enough, the recent matches played in Ireland have been much more complete victories for the All Blacks.”
True. I do recall reading something, somewhere that NZ always felt slightly more comfortable against Ireland than against England, and so have always kept their gears down. Plus, Ireland always catch them early doors.
Re: your 2nd para. The ML is shorter than the GP and prior to the current EPS agreement the Irish provinces have very much been geared toward the national team. A bit like NZ, but without the NPC.
pothale said | March 27th 2009 @ 8:15am | Report comment
James B. Little tip for you. Quit while you’re ahead.
I already agreed with your point that this team won’t beat them. I said that in a year’s time, it may be different for some of the reasons stated above by others. But it ain’t guaranteed.
Enough already.
Guy Smiley said | March 27th 2009 @ 9:06pm | Report comment
Jerry what I said isn’t revisionist but the wording is perhaps a little clumsy and it makes no difference who the ABs pick on the day, they still have the best 2 teams in the world. You are right in saying that Ireland perform better away against them than at home – weird. Anyway, moving on…
van der Merwe – Matfield is no different to any other lock and those rules apply to them too – I think he is being kept in cotton wool for the Lions tour. As is John Smit (surely the best captain a team could wish for, up there with Johnson, but for different reasons).
pothale said | March 27th 2009 @ 9:46pm | Report comment
I suspect the reason Ireland do better away against NZ than at home is down to the relative freshness of each team at the time they play.
In Ireland’s case, playing NZ at home is happening at the beginning of the season, it’s their first real test at the start of the season. The ABs, are completing the end of their season. Ireland compete with NZ for the first half and concede a penalty try to finish 10-3 for the half. They concede two more tries in the second half. O’Gara is off-form and O’Connell goes off injured.
When NZ play Ireland on their home turf earlier in the year, Ireland are coming to the end of a long season but they have been paying together for a while and are more battle-hardened and consistent. NZ are finding their feet with their first tests of the season. It’s a more closely-fought game, but NZ still win. And some of the recent results have been close. But NZ have still won them.
With the Grand Slam bogey finally nailed by Ireland in the modern professional era, there’s only one bogey left for any Ireland team, now or in the future. Beating New Zealand – whether at home or away. It doesn’t matter. By one bloody point. It doesn’t matter. By a penalty kick to nil, it doesn’t matter. Just win. That’s all that matters.
Oh – and get it done before the next World Cup, please, Deccie……
ohtani's jacket said | March 28th 2009 @ 12:46am | Report comment
They’ve only played each other 22 times in 104 years. If they keep playing each other once a year, I’m sure Ireland will knock them off.
Rowdy said | March 28th 2009 @ 1:40am | Report comment
“it makes no difference who the ABs pick on the day, they still have the best 2 teams in the world”
God Alimighty, here we go. One thing you can for SA rugby writers and fans – they don’t have this burning need to boast and gloat like some attention-starved pre-teen or Australian journalist.
pothale said | March 28th 2009 @ 3:03am | Report comment
What’s more, Rowdy – the statement is not accurate – the ABs do not have the best 2 teams in the world. That’s fanciful, misplaced arrogance. There’s one very good AB team, and there’s another not so good. If Guy Smiley thinks they have the squad talent – then perhaps he’d like to name the two separate teams of ABs that he believes are the best in the world. Then we can pass judgement on them – or not.
Knives Out said | March 28th 2009 @ 3:10am | Report comment
Does that include non-S14 players? I am inclined to say that any team that could lose the amount and quality of players that NZ did and win the 3N with comparative ease, and then complete a Grand Slam is a pretty good team.
pothale said | March 28th 2009 @ 3:15am | Report comment
Team – singular. Not two teams.
Knives Out said | March 28th 2009 @ 3:17am | Report comment
Hayman, Rawlinson, Jack, Flavell, Holah, Moses T, Kelleher, Marshall, Howlett, Tuitopou, Gear.. That’s nigh on another team. Anyway, pretty good squad then.
Knives Out said | March 28th 2009 @ 3:25am | Report comment
Oops.. Nick Evans, also.
pothale said | March 28th 2009 @ 3:30am | Report comment
Hang on a minute KO. Let’s play fair. Howlett is regarded as a pariah – he took the Queen’s Shilling, so to speak. Well, the Irish cent anyway. Nick Evans also. The assertion was made on the basis of the existing AB qualified squad.
Besides that, are you really saying the above team would be better than anything another country could throw at them?
Knives Out said | March 28th 2009 @ 3:46am | Report comment
I do follow, Pothale, hence I asserted that the current squad must be very good if it could have such a winning season despite such large losses BUT the only reason in naming the missing is to highlight the strength in depth of NZ. Thus, theoretically, there could be two squads as Henry produced during his original Grand Slam tour. I’m not suggesting that the current bunch – minus the stars – has that 05/06 quality, but they’re undoubtedly a good crew.
I do, however, believe that a team containing Somerville, Hayman, Jack, Collins, Holah, Kelleher, Evans, Howlett, Mauger, McAlister and Gear would have a head start on most teams, especially when we consider how easily the NZ B/C team destroyed Scotland.
pothale said | March 28th 2009 @ 4:08am | Report comment
Hmmmm…….mmmmmm…….nnnnhhhhhh…….errrrrrrrrr………..aaaaaaahhhhhh…….. okay then.
pothale said | March 28th 2009 @ 4:08am | Report comment
This moment of due consideration was brought to you by…….Pothale.
Guy Smiley said | March 29th 2009 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Rowdy and pothale you guys are getting too carried away with specifics, this isn’t an empirical science experiment. The fact is that player depth in NZ is the strongest in the world, SA included, and their second string would beat most other teams. For the record Rowdy I’m Irish not Aus/NZ.