Ireland backs to plot way forward

ON RUGBY/Edmund Van Esbeck:  There always has been something special about the annual matches between Ireland and England, something special, too, about beating "the old enemy". That has its roots, at least to a degree, in our political and social history, but the rugby connection has its roots in over 125 years of rivalry on the field of international competition. They are our oldest rivals, and indeed England versus Ireland matches represent the second oldest pairing in international rugby.

There is certainly something extra special about the match tomorrow at Twickenham. Both teams go into the second series in the Six Nations against the background of good performances a fortnight ago. England's win over Scotland at Murrayfield was comprehensive both in execution and statistically.

Yet it was not a demonstration of awesome power and clinical finishing to induce tremors of apprehension about Ireland's chances tomorrow.

England put the Scots away in the second half after leading 12-3 at the interval. Yet one wonders how the trend of the match might have changed had the Scots taken their penalty chances. As in most sports, there is a huge psychological factor in international rugby.

Ireland's win 24 hours later against Wales was of an altogether different nature. From an early stage it was obvious the Ireland team was of a different dimension to the Welsh. Up 24-3 at the break, Ireland would not have been in any way flattered to have had an even more comprehensive lead. I cannot recall the Welsh having got into the Ireland 22 throughout the entire first period.

But this was a Welsh team bereft of quality, character, courage and the will to take the Irish on. But making due allowances for the limitations in the Welsh side, Ireland's play in so many respects was deeply impressive. Eddie O'Sullivan and his coaching team could not have asked for a better start to their reign. That win over Wales and the manner of its execution, allied to the fact Ireland beat England last October in that memorable match in Dublin, will enable Ireland to go to Twickenham believing they can win this match - and so they can.

It should be borne in mind that prior to the Ireland-Wales match there was a belief, and it was not unreasonable, that Ireland would do well to beat Wales by a few points and that the Welsh team was rated infinitely better than the side Ireland had beaten 36-6 in Cardiff in October. Well, maybe it is, but the Welsh certainly did not show it in their abject display.

The Welsh coach, Graham Henry, who departed from his post last week, described the Irish performance as "absolutely brilliant". Of course you must relate any performance to the quality, or lack of it, in the opposing force, but the Welsh were swept aside and we would do well not to diminish the Irish performance or undervalue the quality of some of their play, notably some well-executed tries.

Taking account of what happened a fortnight ago at Murrayfield and Lansdowne Road, it has been suggested that the match tomorrow will prove to be the pivotal encounter in this season's championship.

That may well be presumptuous, for who knows what the future holds, and the French, bear in mind, will be at home to both England and Ireland. What is very likely is that the team that wins tomorrow will certainly be warm favourites to win the Triple Crown.

THE last time Ireland went to Twickenham, two years ago, the Irish went into the match against the background of having lost to Argentina in the World Cup. That match in Twickenham was a nightmare for Ireland as they lost 50-18.

After that defeat the Ireland team underwent radical alteration as Denis Hickie, Girvan Dempsey and Mick Galwey earned recalls, and Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Shane Horgan, John Hayes and Simon Easterby were handed their first caps. Dempsey and Galwey had come on as replacements in the second half of the defeat against England.

Well, much has happened and more has changed since that awful February day at Twickenham. The team that will represent Ireland tomorrow will do so against a background not of the nightmare nature that preceded the Twickenham encounter two years ago but of significant improvement and some worthy achievements.

Not least, as mentioned, is the fact Ireland beat England in October in Dublin. That win will surely fortify the Ireland team, even though the inspirational captain Keith Wood, who scored a crucial try in Dublin, is an absentee. But he was also an absentee against Wales, as were Malcolm O'Kelly, Eric Miller and Shane Horgan.

The last time Ireland won in Twickenham was in 1994 and that 13-12 victory came a year after Ireland had beaten England 17-3 in Dublin, as big a surprise to England as was the win last October.

Tomorrow Ireland will have two men who played in that 1994 win: Peter Clohessy and Galwey. England will have three survivors from that match: scrumhalf Kyran Bracken, flanker Neil Back and captain Martin Johnson, an extremely lucky man to be playing tomorrow after his latest display of his short temper and pugilistic leanings. But yet again the indefensible is being defended, no variation on a very familiar theme and one that does the game no credit. His "contrition" is touching. And to think we are told he is a role-model for the young.

This is a much-changed England team from the side beaten by Ireland last October. But O'Sullivan and his coaching staff will have done their homework. They have a team, too, that knows what is required to beat England. Steadfast defence, discipline, application, dedication, and the ability to match England up front.

It is a big demand, but if those attributes are forthcoming this Ireland side has the backs to turn possession to account.

What Ireland must not do is concede early scores. The Irish side has every reason to go into the match not fearing their fate but believing they have more than just a tenuous hope of coming away with a win, just as those attributes paved the way for that famous win in 1994.