A STEADY TRICKLE of returning Irish players came through the lobby of their Killiney Castle camp early yesterday morning as preparations began for Saturday’s clash with the Springboks.
World Cup winning South African forwards coach from 2007, now honorary Irishman of course, Gert Smal was another to stroll past and despite the giant former Springbok being the obvious choice for interview it was manager Paul McNaughton and defence coach Les Kiss who held court.
“From our perspective there is a lot of knowledge from guys who were involved in the Lions series and Gert was there for a number of years, too, but none of that guarantees you anything,” said Kiss.
“It is just knowledge and you need to front up where we need to front up. We have two Tests behind us but we need to finish that now.”
South Africa got their tour back on track with the weekend’s 32-10 defeat of Italy in Udine. The stand out result thus far, however, was defeat to France in Toulouse two weeks ago. Then a Saracens side loaded with South African expatriates, guided by Derrick Hougaard, beat them at Wembley.
“South Africas results have to be put in context,” said McNaughton. “They have played a midweek side which not many touring teams have done and then they were beaten by a very good French performance in Toulouse and not many teams beat them down there.
“It was a very physical performance but we don’t regard them as being on a slippery slope. The fact that they have had two midweek defeats is neither here nor there. They are the world champions and Tri-Nations champions.”
France appear to have drawn up the best blueprints yet for flipping the Springboks. Granted, the match was played in atrociously, wintry conditions but total physicality and an astonishing off loading game, especially for Vincent Clerc’s try, led to a 20-13 victory that could easily have been by a greater margin. Kiss concurred.
“The basics of what France did, the style of footy was based around an enthusiasm for the contact area and that’s what you have to do against South Africa.
“They are the most physical team in the world. There was some nice flair from the French around the park as well. It is a game that can challenge you in a number of ways and most of what they (South Africa) do has its basis in their physicality.”
An Irish team littered with Lions, or men who would have been on that tour only for injury, promises an aggressive approach at Croke Park, so essential in denying openside flanker Heinrich Brussow turnover ball at the ruck, but Ireland’s offloading game only became apparent once the Fijian resistance was broken in the last quarter.
“There are always little things (to improve),” said Kiss. “We targeted the breakdown from first to the second Test and got some payday there against the Fijians. We need to shift the ball if we can but playing an expansive game comes with responsibility in areas like defence that we have picked up on as well. We are going in the right direction.”
A decision on Denis Leamy’s damaged ankle ligaments may be postponed until later in week so it is possible the Munster backrower will be named on the Irish bench when Kidney announces the team at 1.30pm today (live on www.irishrugby.ie/tvlive). Neil Best and Sean O’Brien remain the alternatives with the timing of Shane Jennings’ suspension hurting the backrow depth this week more than ever. There are further concerns about Keith Earls (dead leg), Stephen Ferris (ankle) and Jerry Flannery (ankle/nose).
“Donnacha Ryan, Chris Henry and Fergus McFadden are training with us for the first couple of days and then they will be released to the A squad,” explained McNaughton. “There are 50 players in Dublin ready to call on at short notice. The A guys will be in Tallaght from tomorrow onwards.”
Coached by Michael Bradley and Niall O’Donovan, the A squad face Argentina Jaguars at Shamrock Rovers’ home ground.
IRELAND A(squad v Argentina Jaguars): I Boss, R Cauldwell, I Dowling, J Fogarty, C Henry, I Humphreys, D Hurley, F Jones, I Keatley, A Kyriacou, K Matthews, F McFadden, J Muldoon, F Murphy, J Murphy, M O'Driscoll, N Ronan, M Ross, D Ryan, B Wilkinson, B Young, A.N. Other.
