We have tested and tasted too much, lover –
Through a chink too wide there comes in no wonder
Advent is around the corner and Patrick Kavanagh would have us give up them old sins, but we can’t give this up; can we?
Sport, like nothing in life is cruel. Ireland 22, New Zealand 24, Quelle Différence? It was a sensational performance from both sides, but what a difference intensity, emotion, physicality, a plan, and crucially a bunch of players that were not ready to go gently into the night, made to Ireland.
Gordon D’Arcy was without doubt the most magnificent I’ve seen him in his long history in Ireland’s number 12 jersey. Of course he was not alone, with his partner in crime Brian O’Driscoll as competitive and competent as ever.
It was O’Driscoll who turned over All Black ball to set Ireland into a flurry of circle passes, interplays and running lines to put his old warrior Rory Best over on 11 minutes.
With 35 minutes and 35 seconds on the clock Aaron Cruden kicked deep into Ireland territory. The peerless Rob Kearney fielded and cleared as he’s done thousands of times before.
When the ball came back to terra firma, Kieran Read was in the tram tracks to gobble up. My eyes lifted to notice Read had six All Blacks filling the field to counter-attack and my heart sank.
Quelle Différence?
Cruden is an interesting insight into the Irish defensive system. Ironically as his influence began to grow, his outside backs began to diminish.
For those detractors of the old school, O'Driscoll and D'Arcy, the key to Julian Savea's lack (scoring only one try) of influence was based on many aspects.
Led the way
The Irish midfield worked together as we are accustomed but yesterday it was against the All Blacks going for a 2013 clean sweep. O'Driscoll led the way, cutting off the All Blacks in midfield.
Inside him others were working too.
On Friday I hoped that Ireland would pour through into All Black scrumhalf Aaron Smith’s world and it was D’Arcy who did it on the Read counter-attack just before half-time.
But D’Arcy wasn’t alone in the hunger to make Smith’s world miserable. The advantage to the Irish defensive line in spoiling Smith was an obvious impact on the All Black accuracy affecting the timing of the ball, the pass and the line runner but with an Irish side figuring their way from last week it gave a very hungry green line time to eat the space and hunt for hits.
This they very much did with gay abandon.
Cian Healy completely abandoned his own safety in bouncing and bashing his way around the park. At one stage Raging Bull, like he is, stood up, the heart of the fixture (ball in his hands) and three All Blacks battering him before Ma’a Nonu arrived to weigh in; nothing fazed him.
Then the moment of Healy's match as he set off once more ball in hand bumping Richie McCaw back on his rear; "get off the bus"; beautiful.
Stood tall
As the All Blacks outran Ireland ball in hand by double metres (261-554), Ireland's defence was asked a million more questions and stood tall, with both sides scoring three tries each.
The perennial question lingered among the crowd as I left the stadium; what went wrong? Nothing went wrong as this Irish team did everything it could in managing the tempo, tactics and territory.
This is no easy feat considering the opposition. What I did notice was the development of individual and collective roles of positions and policies.
This sounds like an assumed outcome that each team strives for, but if I was to take a major positive beyond the intensity of the occasion, it was that Joe Schmidt appears to be getting the best out of each player in adding value to the ball.
Mike Ross was magnificent in managing the pressure at scrum time where Ireland gained enormously. The men slotting in behind him were equally so but the added value was Ross, facing the best team in the world, he made the best out of the ball when it came his way.
Use of the ball
I've been banging on about the Australians and All Blacks front five use of the ball and yesterday Irish players were doing likewise.
Paul O’Connell and “lesser” ball carriers arrived dynamically on the ball sometimes passing, sometimes not. Far from perfect but vastly improved.
Conor Murray managed much more than previously asked of him, crisp and physical, getting huge value from his options.
I’m particularly happy for Seán Cronin whose arrival coincided with an Irish lineout. He found Devin Toner and the Irish mauled inside their half; as the seconds ticked by Nigel Owen’s right arm raised for an Irish penalty; intensity, interplay and accuracy; well done Cronin.
Add to Cronin, Declan Fitzpatrick, Kevin McLaughlin, Mike McCarthy, Jack McGrath, Luke Fitzgerald and Ian Madigan; the bench and the value contained therein is apparent. Ireland is more than 15 players, with Cronin being the star off the bench but Fitzpatrick added huge value so too McCarthy, McLaughlin and Fitzgerald around the breakdown and heavy traffic.
For too long the Irish bench has been a “break glass in emergency” option; not yesterday.
PS. The All Blacks are unreal but I’m pretty proud to be Irish, especially proud of the crowd who hushed for the haka but I’m completely proud of the Irish performance.
Advent? Quelle Différence!
liamtoland@yahoo.com
