Russia will provide a good physical test for Ireland helping the side peak for the challenges further down this World Cup road
ON MONDAY I found myself in Blades Barber shop in Limerick getting a well overdue haircut. As the man on the scissors is from Turkey the conversation soon went to all things sport; predictably starting with soccer, then to the Dubs and finally to the RWC. After waxing a wee while over Ireland’s mighty triumph he innocently inquired who is the best team in the world. I replied that on Friday night last it was clearly the Tri-Nations champions Australia but then Ireland beat them on Saturday morning so that must make it Ireland!
I always felt the culture in this group of players was too deep to roll over against Australia last weekend. That said I was much happier that it wasn’t Italy we were playing as a struggling Ireland team certainly didn’t need a dog-fight against the Azzurri. We needed a big performance against a big team and that is what we got. The two questions I ask today are important in putting the victory in context. Firstly, can we peak to that intensity beyond Sunday, all the way to the final – knowing that our opposition will also bring similar intensity? And secondly, assuming the opposition do, how can Ireland make better use of the ball to ensure a win?
In many ways the answer starts on Sunday. I’ve been very entertained by Russia’s style, their physique and the fact they as a nation play rugby at all.
They are very good at a lot of aspects of the game. For instance, although conceding nine tries to three against Italy, remarkably they don’t miss tackles (14 each Italy/Russia). That is, if you run into them they’ll hammer you backwards, especially their backrow. Ireland will have to be much more nimble with their running lines and offloading than in past weeks.
The Russians find their opposition ball carrier very well and follow through so the ball should be gone before contact. They don’t miss tackles, they simply miscalculate them. Their defence is strong, one up but with pace their line speed fades.
The Russians will attack certain aspects of the game such as the lineout maul. Several times the Italians went down the line with penalties to “maul” over. Each time the Russians stayed on the ground, even with former Leinster man and Aussie Adam Byrnes in secondrow. Although the tallest in the Russian team he doesn’t get up in defence and is rarely used as a target. He is also suspect at kick-off time and should be targeted.
That said, the Russian confidence in their maul even allowed an Italian slow lumbering set-up before smashing it backwards, forcing turnovers and a quick movement of the ball in-field. Good practise for Ireland. They also love to counter-ruck and can spoil the flow, again great practise for Ireland.
Their attack can be limited where off broken play their first receiver stands very deep. Ireland need to push up quickly and be disciplined well behind the gain line. They tend to send one man off alone, especially their number eight, watch his hand off, it will embarrass some Irish player! They do struggle with the finer points such as poor technique at the breakdown (over-exuberance), going off their feet conceding silly penalties. Likewise, their kick-offs are dangerously long.
These aspects, if worked on this Sunday, will prove beneficial come Italy and further hurdles. The Russians also struggle to defend off broken field/counter-attack play. Ireland should look to keep the ball on the gainline, very fast and bring lots of variety off 10 and 12. Ireland should perfect the turnover ball by whipping it away from contact, especially the front five who must simply fix a defender and then immediately whip it away.
The Russian scrum was under huge pressure where loosehead Vladimir Botvinnikov simply couldn’t even get a bind. The Irish backrow need to get off the base with ball in hand to add more variety to the attack for future matches. With the Italians in mind, the breakdown is a potential minefield on Sunday and should prepare us well.
The Russian team must be truly exhausted by now (bonus point conceded to Italy by 22nd minute) and couldnt possibly fire on all cylinders but if their backrow remain intact they will trouble Ireland. At seven Andrey Garbuzov carries the ball and not unlike Seán O’Brien breaks tackles at will. Both their number six Vyacheslav Grachev and eight Victor Gresev are well worth a look. We certainly don’t want a dog fight causing anxiety and injury.
Speaking of dog fights, I can’t quite understand why the All Blacks were keen on Ireland beating the Wallabies. Why would they wish to force them upon themselves before final time? How will tomorrow’s fixture unfold between the All Blacks and France?
If France lose tomorrow then it’ll be second place and an English quarter-final with an Irish/Wales semi-final. Winning tomorrow ensures Argentina/Scotland but a Springbok/Wallaby semi-final. The same route awaits New Zealand if they win, so why win? Is this the first top-class pool match where neither side wishes to win?
Imagine for a moment Marc Lièvremont spotting the potential of a loss. More interestingly, imagine Graham Henry noticing the same.
Imagine Sonny Bill Williams scores the try of the tournament for New Zealand but Richie McCaw immediately summons Alain Rolland and demands, “go upstairs ref”. “Ah come on Richie,” says Thierry Dusautoir, “that was definitely an All Black try.” Farcical I know but why would you volunteer to play South Africa or Australia in the semi-finals?
The sensible thing, now that Ireland have “messed” up the tournament, is to lose tomorrow . For New Zealand they would have ridden themselves of their bogey, France, and at least one other Tri-Nations side before the final. Ah but as my Turkish barber and I observed, Ireland are the best team in the world so maybe they’ll want to avoid us!
Finally, Russia are a far inferior version of Italy and others but they will test Ireland. But to make it a worthwhile “test” for tournament progression Ireland need to rest players, test players and most importantly maximise use of the ball.
