Flair and pace yield record rewards

While recognising the limitations of the teams that Ireland defeated in the two most recent matches in the Six Nations Championship, we must equally be conscious of the considerable transformation that has been brought about by the national side. The new team after Twickenham has embraced fresh tactics, flair and pace.

The victories over Scotland and Italy were both welcome and overdue, but what has added significantly to the level of satisfaction has been the manner in which the wins were attained. Who would have believed a month ago that, in the space of a fortnight, over two matches, Ireland would be setting records of achievement? And that coming after a record defeat by England at Twickenham adds to the warm glow of satisfaction, not complacency, that now pervades the scene in Irish rugby.

Scoring 104 points in two matches, including 11 tries, is a striking tribute to the quality of rugby played, even allowing for the quality of the opposition. But let us not forget that Italy did beat Scotland, the reigning Five Nations champions, and Ireland took Italy apart in a much more clinical fashion than Wales had done a fortnight earlier.

Over recent years the Ireland Schools, under-19 and under-21 teams have enjoyed a considerable degree of success. I have always believed that the under-age scene was crucial to the development of the Irish players. It is true that up to this year that level of success has not been repeated at senior level. But is the investment in the Irish Academy and the under-age system now beginning to bear fruit? I would like to think so.

The current team includes 11 who have played for Ireland at under-21 level, as did five of the seven replacements. Indeed Brian O'Driscoll is still eligible for that sphere of international activity. And on the subject of O'Driscoll, I sincerely hope he does not fall for the lure of the English league, not least in his own interests. I hope he looks and learns from the experiences of so many of his Ireland teammates, and many others who took that route.

O'Driscoll has blossomed into a top-class player in the Irish system and learned and honed his considerable skills in the under-age sphere, and was good enough to play for Ireland at senior level even before he played at senior provincial level for Leinster.

Peter Stringer, whose performances have been so important to the manner in which the Ireland back line has played, was the under-21 scrumhalf last season and O'Driscoll was also in the side. So, too, was Robert Casey, who played against England, as were Geordan Murphy, Marcus Horan, Leo Cullen and Mick O'Driscoll, all of whom played on the Ireland A side which beat Italy last Friday - and the A team is in the running for a Grand Slam. Ireland reserve hooker Frankie Sheahan and Ronan O'Gara were on the under-21 team in 1998.

That is rapid promotion, and the indications are that it is paying a handsome dividend. One thing that has unquestionably hastened the development of those players is the experience they are gaining in the European Cup, including Murphy, whose European appearances have, granted, been with Leicester.

The Stringer-O'Gara combination could well blossom into one of the most potent half-back combinations Ireland has had for many years. The back line is very young, and at last there is the vital qualities of pace and creativity embraced in it. O'Gara had already set or equalled records on five different fronts - 30 points last Saturday is six more than the previous best by an Ireland player in an international, set by Paul Burke, also against Italy in 1996. It is also the highest score recorded by any player from any country in a championship match.

O'Gara's 12 successful kicks out of 12 attempts is by some way a record for an Ireland player: by kicking six penalties he equalled the best in a championship match, set by Ollie Campbell against Scotland in 1982. His six conversions also represents a record. David Humphreys, last year against Wales, Robin Gregg against Scotland in 1953 and Paul Murray against Scotland in 1932, all kicked four in a match in the championship.

By amassing 60 points last Saturday Ireland equalled the highest score by a team in a championship match, the 60-26 win gained by England over Wales in 1998. The 47-point winning margin over Italy is the second highest in the history of the championship, exceeded only by the 51-point difference France had over Wales in 1988.

On a broader front, after the 44-22 win by Ireland over Scotland there was, naturally, a considerable level of expectation prior to the match against Italy. Through the years Irish teams have not always been noted for matching expectation with realisation. Nobody was more aware of that than the Ireland captain Keith Wood. Last Saturday night, when he was able to relax after leading his team so splendidly to a victory of record proportions, he was not in any way wallowing in self-satisfaction - realism and honesty prevailed.

"Obviously I was delighted after we beat Scotland and the manner in which we beat them," said Wood. "Coming as it did on the back of the match in Twickenham, it was a great relief. But quite honestly, I was worried before we played Italy. I knew the team was capable of repeating the kind of form we had shown against Scotland, but afraid something would go wrong. But we made a great start and my worries subsided. "This win will add considerably to our level of confidence. But we have had enough hardship and disappointment to keep our feet firmly on the ground. "We can now look forward to going to Paris. But we are well aware of the challenge embraced in that. The two wins have taken pressure off the team - and indeed the management - and nothing builds confidence like winning," he said. Some wise words there from a player who has matured considerably as a captain. He has put the turbulence and controversy in which he was involved early last season firmly behind him. That is to his great credit.

His contribution on and off the field, both to Munster and to Ireland this season, has been immense and deserves to be acknowledged.