Declan Kidney's selections for next week will tell us much about his vision of how Ireland plan to develop, writes LIAM TOLAND
IT WAS a weekend of benchmarking, when the Fijian match was sandwiched between the challenge of current and former world champions. This weekend all three previous World Cup winners struggled to some degree: Australia lost to Scotland, England lost to New Zealand and South Africa slipped meekly past Italy.
Having had the pleasure of watching six matches this weekend, the fixture in Rome is the most significant to our development. The Springboks are a legitimate target and Ireland, with the RDS safely under their belt, have cause for confidence; but more of that later in the week.
So to the first of many benchmarks; the outhalves. Twenty minutes in and Johnny Sexton had accomplished everything. First, and most importantly, he displayed what South Africa failed to do against Italy in counter-attacking. He followed up with a chip-kick and then a cross-field kick, and when the Fijians ran down his channel he stood firm. He tackled.
Obviously his kicking was excellent, but the two most impressive aspects of his game on Saturday were centred on his physicality. He made four tackles, and when he carried he did so with an air of confidence that the ball was going to a better place. Deep inside his 22 he collected a loose ball while two 14st-plus Fijians, winger Nasoni Roko and fullback Norman Ligairi, circled. As he spliced through them, out popped his left hand to powerfully fend off the tackle from Ligairi and on he went to offload to Brian O’Driscoll with the field at his mercy.
On the basis of Saturday’s performance, there is no one obvious strength, in that he is comfortable doing it all. This is what separates him from others. Although he is still learning, he is clever enough not to rely on one aspect of his game. Instead, he is hungry to push the boundaries on all aspects of the 10 role, be it the deft touch, tough conversion, the clear-out or the defence of his channel. He is learning fast and I would not be slow to exposing him to more.
Next benchmark: inside centre. Here Declan Kidney must look at the trinity 10, 12 and 13, combined with the threat that will flow down the 10 channel. If Springbok Adrian Jacobs starts at 12, Ireland have a real opportunity. Gordon D’Arcy is very much on his way back to form. His line speed in defence was very aggressive and his work at the breakdown is very useful.
He was a little unfortunate to miss the offload for a certain Shane Horgan try that Sexton started from his 22, but his quick hands for the tries by Keith Earls and Horgan in the second half were excellent.
Instead of focusing on what he did, look at what he attempted to do. There was a huge amount of activity around him that in time will pay off.
In the horses for courses rule, I’m not convinced that Ronan O’Gara and Paddy Wallace are the best combination for South Africa. Both are great footballers, but neither threatens the line regularly.
Next benchmark: the backrow. Stephen Ferris was outstanding in the RDS. His aggression in all facets is a wonder. When he carries he has beautiful feet, always looking to attack weak shoulders. Combined with Jamie Heaslip, they are by far the best six and eight in the Home Nations. And with David Wallace they make the best backrow.
Springbok flanker Heinrich Brussow, who can play number six and openside, is a concern, but he has major weaknesses which I’ll talk about on Friday. With the right ball-carrying and placement he can be neutralised. Put it this way: I’d have Wallace way ahead of Brussow. And Seán O’Brien isn’t far behind.
Next benchmark: second-phase play. At times against Australia, Ireland resorted to slow fringe attack, which is a great tool but shouldn’t be the main thrust. Most impressively, Eoin Reddan had far more options from broken field in the RDS. Both wingers became much more involved, popping up from their blindside wings. Jerry Flannery broke from a lineout maul, passed to Sexton who was flat and, in turn, popped back into Earls off his wing.
Later, from a short lineout, Heaslip tapped down to Reddan who had Earls, D’Arcy and O’Driscoll all leading a potential attack.
As can be seen from O’Driscoll’s try against Australia and Earls’ on Saturday, options on the gainline create confusion among defenders. And when the confusion is in a narrow channel, space appears from nowhere. Clearly there has been work done in this area, and in terrible conditions Ireland made great inroads against Fiji.
Next benchmark: the scrum. Two weeks running Ireland’s scrum has suffered from the change of personnel. Although they’ll tell you differently, props are firstly rugby players and then scrummagers. Tony Buckley added real oomph around the RDS on his arrival, and Cian Healy was extraordinary in that regard last week. Their competitors for the starting slots look a little more comfortable in the scrum. However, neither contributes around the park to the same extent. Kidney therefore has a tough balancing act.
Healy must start for his rugby, with his scrummaging to follow along with the experience of Test matches. Hayes, too, must start. After two matches it is the area of concern. The object on our put-in is to gain an advantage. This clearly didn’t happen consistently over the 160 minutes. Let’s not fool ourselves: although the South African scrum is shaky, they will target ours.
Obviously Fiji provided a limited test for Ireland, but therein lay a massive improvement on Australia. The middle five of the team are interacting and changing the point of contact better six days on. The back three are also much more involved.
Both fixtures will have answered many questions for Kidney. He will now select his “Test” XV that will indicate his vision.
How he manages O’Gara and Sexton will be very, very interesting.
liamtoland@yahoo.com
