Ireland’s depth and resolve will be tested massively in the knockout stage of the Rugby World Cup, after they suffered serious injuries to three key players in their 24-6 win over France in Cardiff.
They may also lose another one to a citing.
The win confirmed Ireland’s place atop Pool D and pitched them into a quarter final against Argentina, back at the Millennium Stadium next Sunday.
France, as Pool D runners-up, will now take on Pool C winners New Zealand in a delicious and slightly ironic quarter final clash in Cardiff on Saturday; a repeat of the infamous 2007 match. No word yet on whether referee Wayne Barnes has volunteered his services, as the rest of the rugby world reaches for the popcorn.
In the space of half an hour, Ireland were dealt the triple blow of losing playmaking lynchpin Jonny Sexton to a groin strain, and inspirational skipper Paul O’Connell to what looks to be a nasty and possibly career-ending hamstring injury before halftime, and then lost vastly underrated blindside flanker Peter O’Mahony to a knee injury after halftime.
O’Connell and O’Mahony had to be stretchered from the field, while the pain and anguish on Sexton’s face was obvious as he gingerly walked off.
Brilliant Irish opensider, Sean O’Brien, could find himself in judicial trouble too, after he delivered a short right to the midriff of French lock Pascal Pape early in the match. The punch was being reviewed globally on social media before halftime, and if social media is strong enough to influence man of the match awards, it’s hard to see how O’Brien escapes scrutiny for his moment of madness.
Of all the players Ireland could afford to lose the least, they fell in the very same order of importance in this game.
Sexton was just beginning to direct his team around nicely when he copped two heavy tackles in quick succession, the second one keeping him down and in need of attention.
O’Connell had been typically prominent in the first half, and leads this Irish team as much by presence as by action.
And O’Mahony’s numbers over 55 minutes read very comparably against forward colleagues who played out the full 80. In my view, he’s as crucial to the Ireland side as Scott Fardy is to the Wallabies.
The shot to the Pape solar plexus aside, O’Brien had an outstanding match – he took out the popular vote MotM, despite his indiscretion – and his combination and workrate with O’Mahony and no.8 Jamie Heaslip was a major reason why Ireland were able to lay down their breakdown dominance as a foundation for this remarkable win.
Ian Madigan had a strong game at flyhalf once he came on for Sexton, kicking three from four including two important penalties, steering the Ireland team around superbly. He also combined very well with Robbie Henshaw in midfield, as Henshaw came alive in the second half when his team needed him most.
Iain Henderson came on for O’Connell, and was a major reason for the Irish forwards lifting as they did in the second half. Henderson’s ball-carrying was excellent, going very close himself to scoring the try that scrumhalf Conor Murray would cleverly score three phases later against the sizeable goalpost pad. Henderson completed as many tackles and lineout steals in the second half as lock partner Devon Toner did for the match.
Murray, Heaslip, Henshaw, hooker Rory Best, and fullback Rob Kearney – class players, all of them – all lifted in the second half, as Ireland posted an early try and then put an underwhelming French side to the sword.
Though they had their moments in the first half, and often looked dangerous attacking wider through their centres Wesley Fofana and Mathieu Bastareaud, France lost all their attacking impact in the second half as they lost the breakdown and conceded three-quarters of possession for the half. Ireland also enjoyed 80% of territory in the second 40, as they acquired the taste of French blood.
Coming into this match, Ireland had been ticking along nicely in the World Cup, and to little fanfare, despite getting something of a scare against Italy last weekend in London. They had been enjoying a blessed run with injuries compared to several other contenders in the tournament, and the belief in their chances going forward in the tournament was beginning to grow.
I had Ireland as something of a dark horse for the semis pre-tournament, and my thoughts that things were aligning nicely for Ireland’s best chance at lifting the Webb Ellis trophy were certainly not mine alone.
How they can emerge from this sudden injury crisis over the next week or so will certainly give cause for those thoughts to be reassessed, however.
But Ireland do have the game to go forward, and their improvement under Joe Schmidt to claim successive Six Nations titles is being mirrored by Michael Cheika’s Wallabies in 2015. For one thing, Ireland under Schmidt remain unbeaten against France in three encounters now, while their record against quarter final opponent Argentina is also unblemished in two starts.
And France? Well, they’ve been characteristically brilliant and disappointing in this tournament, yet no-one’s game to write them off against an All Blacks side that hasn’t been quite as clinical as expected in the less-than-taxing Pool C during this Rugby World Cup.
And if Ireland’s internal resolve and current form line is strong enough to carry them onwards, there’s no reason why France’s typical ‘Frenchness’ can’t do the same for Les Bleus.
But they do have a lot of work to do over the next week if they are to progress.
Muzzo
Guest
Yeh Jibba, I did speak with Piney years ago, as that particular incident came up, & his explanation, was that if he hadn't have dragged Catchpole out of the way, he would have been spat out of the ruck, like woodchips. As it must be remembered, the rucks of old, especially if someone, was lying on the wrong side killing the play. As Far as Tana goes, we actually socialized with him, Radike Samo & a few others, pre the Hong Kong seven's last year, whilst Tana was involved as coach of a 12 a side team in a knockout competition. He was pretty stoked, as his team was the eventual winners. His answer to what I put to him was " It was something that went terribly wrong, & the video footage made it look worse than what had happened". Tana, was not a dirty player, as was Piney, they played the game hard, but fair, & I can't imagine either of them, going out, to injure another person with intent. Both great men to talk with, & socialize. Sorry mate, about not being able to come up your tickets. lol. Cheers.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Tana's was just a tip tackle unfortunately resulting in injury - obviously i am not as old as you - my recollections of reading about Meads was he grabbed catchpolies leg and walked around a ruck or maul and split him like a chicken... ... what are the facts you allude to? I mentioned it cos i saw a fenchman grab O'Connells leg and pull it around the ruck at ground level - and assumed that is where injury occurred. Must point out i am not bothered by meads or tata stuff cos history...... Bit hard to talk to anyone face to face cos we are all in different parts of the world but happy to do so if you arrange and supply tickets. .
Muzzo
Guest
Hey ScotlandProud, & Jibba Jabba, both those incidents you have brought up regarding Piney & Tana, were milked, so far to the extreme that media outlets, never ran out of milk for years. Both of you, should try speaking, to those concerned on these issues, face to face, as I'm sure they will explain what really happened. Fact.
Muzzo
Guest
I would agree that Iain Henderson made a massive impact, when he came on Jibba Jabba.
the french
Roar Rookie
Parra confirmed as starting SH with Michalak at FH. Bastareau on ze bench. Rory Kocott a possible option as replacement for either. Logical choices all in all.
Nobrain
Guest
Argentina has a big problem with Bosch citing not because there is no depth to replace him but because he is very good in the long range field goals that I think that from now own is an important weapon. Sanchez is an accurate kicker till 40 yards but then his precision declines when he has has to kick above the 40 s.
RobC
Roar Guru
This may be the first time ever IRE exits the quarters. This RWC has had a few RWC norms broken already
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Brett. I think after AB: - Pumas wins were confidence and momentum building. - But they were against softer, less consistent opponents. - So they looked really good Ireland, looked good against the minnows, then less so vs 6N competitors. We've seen a Pumas team who's form has surge since TRC. But I think Ireland has been v good also.I think IRE has a better chance to win. Just like Pumas, they will have a specific plan for them. Basically,. I think the IRE players are better than Pumas. Its a matter of whether they can be unleashed.
ThugbyFan
Guest
P.O'Connell out of RWC confirmed by Irish Rugby. Really hard luck for the man. As for Sean O'Brien citing, have a look at the photo to show how desperate they are to get him off. Looks a pathetic attempt at photoshop. http://www.balls.ie/rugby/bernard-jackman-offers-a-questionable-defence-of-sean-obrien/312329 Compare the photo put up by the lawyer with the movie shown a little further below in the article where Pape's hand is around O'Brien's waist, nowhere near his buttocks.
Dublin Dave
Guest
O'Connell now confirmed as being out of the tournament. His hamstring will not mend on time. A sad end to a great international career. He's off now to Toulon to get some sun on his back. Don't spare the Factor 50 big fella. The south of France is not the natural habitat of pasty-faced Irish red heads.
RobC
Roar Guru
I do. PETT PARAKA TRY vs CANBERRA.... AWESOME!!!!!
Eoin Brennan
Guest
if you dont know who Michael Collins is then you dont know about the IRA. They aren't subversives either. Only in the eyes of the Brits. The GAA is the most corrupt bunch of reprobates on the Island in recent times. Money talks with them and they'd sell their soul these days while their players clubs and patrons get paid with boxes of kit kats. Now that most of the old guard are dying off the big business of making cash takes precedent with Croke pk. Could be international skipping comp there and they'd do it if the residents and Dublin Council passed it. The whole GAA dont like Rugby is old and outdated now. They are addicted to Money whilst keeping the Amateur status in tact.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
It's actually one of the greatest games in the world . The co ordination and skills involved are unbelievable !
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Who is Michael Collins ? Yes, a few IRA members and other subversive types. Yes, the relaxing of Rule 42 extended and further allowed non Gaelic participation at Croke Park. My point is, the Gaelic faithful and its administrators aren't rugby protagonists !
Dublin Dave
Guest
Ireland v Argentina is one of the great World Cup rivalries. Three times now they have faced each other in what was effectively a make or break match for at least one, if not both of them. In 1999 they met at the Quarter Final play off stage, a weird interim matchup caused by the now discarded tournament organisation system of the time. That match at Lens, was dominated by the referee Stuart Dickenson who whistled both teams off the park. In the last few minutes, with Ireland leading by six or seven kicks to four or five, Argentina managed to fashion a try and took the lead. Despite frantic Irish attacks in the dying seconds, including the Warrenball special of a 14 man 5m lineout (Gatland was Ireland coach then) Argentina held out and went on to play France in the semi final. Which had been scheduled for Dublin in anticipation of a predictable Irish win! Four years later, with Argentina having already lost to Australia in the opening pool match, the two teams met again. This time it was Ireland who scored the game's only try and held on to win by a single point. In 2007, when Argentina stunned the world by beating hosts France in the opening game, Ireland's stuttering performance led to their needing to beat Argentina in the last pool match, earn a bonus point themselves and prevent Argentina from getting one. A superb Argentinian side containing the likes of Hernandez, the Contepomi brothers, Corleto and Pichot plus the usual rogue's gallery of assorted Bond villains in their pack, was too much for the Irish who were completely tactically outplayed and crashed out of the tournament, failing to get even a loser's bonus point. So the stage is set for another memorable encounter. In reality, the two teams are evenly matched and have a pretty balanced head to head record against each other. Each will fancy their chances. The bookies make this the tightest call of the round, although they do favour an Irish win. At the time of writing. Can't wait.
Bakkies
Guest
I think the real reason is that he played two seasons under a coach at Leinster, Matt O'Connor who clearly didn't rate him. Madigan at the MOC's first season had a dig at the turgid Rugby that was being served up. MOC during a tv interview said he didn't know where to play him and the player didn't know where his best position is. He even had him at fullback.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Yeah, i watched the Dublin Gangsters program the other night :)
Eoin Brennan
Guest
Howd you guess haha! one of the oldest and fastest and toughest grass sports on this planet. great to come from a country that has so much history........
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
barnes ??? hahahahahahah hahahahhahah The man is blind - people think he lets the game flow - he does - cos he misses everything....hahahahah
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
"Hurling" is that what the Irish play after a big night out ?