Irish defence the most impressive factor so far

RUGBY Interview with Mike Ford: Gerry Thornley talks to Ireland's defensive coach about the much improved discipline performances

Statistics, damned lies and statistics. Rugby has been increasingly inundated with the damned things lately but no matter how much the game is submerged in stats they will never become as relevant as they are in, say, cricket and American football.

In any event, all that really matters is that Ireland and Wales are on six points apiece with two rounds to go.

The most eye-catching statistics arising out of Ireland's win over England at Lansdowne Road last Sunday (aside from the minor detail of the 19-13 scoreline) were the 10-4 penalty count in Ireland's favour and the official tally of 106 tackles made by the men in green; the former feeding the English state of paranoia over Jonathan Kaplan's performance.

Yet Ireland's discipline and defence have been bedrocks of their performances in the last few seasons. In the 2004 Six Nations, Ireland conceded fewest penalties (50) than any country in the tournament, and this looked even more impressive when set against the proportion of penalties conceded by their opponents - 43 per cent. Bernard Laporte's more disciplined Grand Slam-winning French side had the next best, 49 per cent, while England had the worst ratio last season, 54 per cent.

The improved Irish discipline emanates from a number of factors: the greater experience, fitness and cohesion of a settled team, Eddie O'Sullivan's obsessive attention to detail and that of his back-up staff, notably Mervyn Murphy's advance video analysis on each referee they come up against, Niall O'Donovan's defensive line-out strategies and the work of defensive coach Mike Ford.

As ever, Murphy will make a detailed presentation to O'Sullivan and Ford at the start of this coming week and the defensive practice will be tailored accordingly. Perhaps, too, there's a perception among officials that Ireland are now a major power rather than spoiling underdogs.

Ireland have the second lowest penalty count against them this season, and it's interesting to note that along with Wales have conceded fewer penalties than their opponents to date, while the reverse is true of France, Scotland and England.

Although Italy's is the lowest (only 19) this perhaps is as much an indicator that in an effort to curb their previously ill-disciplined ways the Azzurri have become almost too passive.

The official Computacenter statistics to the RBS Six Nations possibly have to be taken with a pinch of salt, but based on their figures it's no surprise that Italy have easily the lowest tackle completion, whereas Ireland and England are the joint best.

According to their count, Ireland made 141 first-up tackles, with an additional 41 'assists', which are vital secondary tackles in preventing offloads (four according to the official stats, just two according to Ireland's). Simon Easterby led the way with 19, followed by Paul O'Connell, Anthony Foley and Johnny O'Connor on 17, with Malcolm O'Kelly on 13 and John Hayes, incredibly for a tight-head, on 11.

"What's more they got some very juicy attacking positions," commented Ford, in reference to the 15 setpieces England had in the Irish half, plus a willingness to keep the ball in hand more than Ireland had expected.

"It's worse being a spectator, coach or family member but when you're on the field you're in control and talking to the players afterwards, the most pleasing thing was that they felt England couldn't break us. They had that confidence and trust in each other to make the tackle or cover for each other."

Ford and the Irish squad set, as a minimum threshold, a ratio of 90 per cent tackle completion as a good day at the office. Last week's was 95 per cent, making it on a par with the highly rated effort in the win over South Africa. "I thought that was a great performance; again because of their physicality."

By Ford's own admission, "we didn't get our (defensive) organisation right against Scotland and they (England) obviously picked that up" in the way they attacked Ireland's blind side. Ireland also improved their flawed kick and chase game against Scotland, moving up slower but making sure they formed a tight line for Jason Robinson. "The illusion for him, when he looked up, was a wall of green, which encourages him to kick the ball back, and every time he kicks the ball I'm happy" laughs Ford. And there speaketh all Robinson's opponents.

The try conceded originated in Harry Ellis probing the narrow side off a lineout maul in tandem with Josh Lewsey. "From that next ruck, we came unstuck," adds Ford. "Our spacing between each defender was too tight and one pass (to Lewis Moody) beat about six or seven defenders. From the next ruck Corry picked up and scored but if we would have got that second phase right, as we should have done, we would have soak tackled him."

When Phil Larder moaned post-match about the referee, Ford pointed out to the English defensive coach that Ronan O'Gara had been illegally taken out by Danny Grewcock, and Geordan Murphy was later obstructed off the ball by Mark Cueto when Brian O'Driscoll broke through, before telling his former PE teacher and mentor "and there's no way you're having the Josh Lewsey try."

Ford, with his thick Lancastrian accent, also points out that Ireland's 'Bobby' (the player/policeman stationed immediately behind the ruck) would normally be Stringer. "Strings had made a tackle on Lewsey on the touchline; that's where our Bobby were gone."

Furthermore, Geordan Murphy was too wide in anticipation of the crossfield kick which England were employing. "So there's a lot of awarenesses there. It's not black and white." Ireland's defence is more of a drift, in and out, defence than a blitz defence, which demands a higher tackle count, as well as more patience, while not as high-risk, although they do blend the two. It places a premium on the decision making of the wingers out wide.

"Denis Hickie's defence in the Six Nations has been right up there and if anybody reads a game better than Girvan Dempsey I've yet to see him," enthuses Ford. "He came in two or three times and prevented the overlap."

There will be an obvious need to tweak the defence for the French next Saturday. "If it's just two offloads against France next week I'll be happy," laughs Ford, "because they can offload the ball. They're bigger men, and stronger men. I don't think they're faster, but that ability to offload and the width they keep in their attack can cause teams problems. And their depth. It's very hard to get to their 10, and the pace they play the game. In my opinion they get the quickest ruck ball of any team, which gives you less time to reset."

Ireland might have to aim for slightly higher tackles, which runs a greater risk of missing them, to counter those offloads, but most of all, as Ford concedes, they'll need to keep the ball longer and put more pressure on France.

Ask Ford what his ultimate goal is and he doesn't look beyond this season. "The Grand Slam," he answers, immediately. "It's going to be very, very difficult but at the same time we're only two games away. I think it can be achieved. These are my thoughts, but 2005 won't be here next year, so we mightn't have a better chance. I don't want to look back over my career and realise we missed our chance."

Six Nations Statistics: How they match up

IRELAND

Tries: For 9, against 4.

Tackles Made: 214 Tackles Missed: 18 Tackle completion: 92 per cent

Line Breaks: For 13, against 6.

Penalties Conceded: 24 (Opponents 26).

WALES

Tries: For 9, Against 3.

Tackles Made: 225 Tackles Missed: 28 Tackle completion: 89 per cent

Line Breaks: For 35, Against 38.

Penalties Conceded: 26 (Opponents 24).

FRANCE

Tries: For 3, against 4.

Tackles Made: 248 Tackles Missed: 29 Tackle completion: 89.5 per cent

Line Breaks: For 25, against 17.

Penalties Conceded: 27 (Opponents 36).

SCOTLAND

Tries: For 2, against 7.

Tackles Made: 177.

Tackles Missed: 22.

Tackle completion: 89 per cent.

Line Breaks: For 9, against 15.

Penalties Conceded: 33 (Opponents 23).

ENGLAND

Tries: For 3, against 2.

Tackles Made: 141.

Tackles Missed: 12.

Tackle completion: 92 per cent.

Line Breaks: For 24, against 14.

Penalties Conceded: 33 (Opponents 28).

ITALY

Tries: For 3, against 9.

Tackles Made: 221.

Tackles Missed: 42.

Tackle completion:

84 per cent.

Line Breaks: For 9, against 25.

Penalties Conceded: 19 (Opponents 25).