SIX NATIONS SCOTLAND v IRELAND: IT HARDLY counts as dissension in the ranks, but no sooner had on-field communication been raised by backs' coach Alan Gaffney as a possible source of the mistakes that have blighted some of Ireland's best intentions of late, than Brian O'Driscoll was dismissing this theory within 24 hours.
Perhaps O’Driscoll felt, to a degree, that Gaffney’s observations reflected more on him than anyone else, given he has captained the Lions and led Ireland 72 times – only John Smit (76) has led a country more often. Looking and sounding relaxed on the eve of Ireland’s trek to Murrayfield next Sunday, the Irish captain made light of Gaffney’s remarks.
“No, for me it has been as vocal as it has been,” said the smiling skipper. “The thing is that you have to be careful and not have too many talkers and you want the right type of communication, but not everyone saying their piece because you end up with too many chiefs and not enough Indians then.”
Declan Kidney agreed that communication was not a big issue, and that it was improving over the last 12 to 18 months.
Similarly, the Irish camp are keen to convey that confidence is not an issue either. In truth, despite a downturn in results dating back to the unveiling of New Ireland against the Scots last season, especially in comparison to the high of an unbeaten 2009, this Irish camp is a long way from the downcast nadir of the ’07 World Cup and ’08 Six Nations.
Hence, the team remains largely unchanged in the belief that they are within touching distance, or passing distance, of getting it right. More revealing, in truth, was the skipper’s admission that “as much as we want to play that running game, we have to play a smart game and if you only play one type of game it’s easy for opposition to put a stop to that.
“We probably have been a bit guilty of not kicking the ball as much in certain situations as we could have, but we’re on the right road; it’s just a case of finally tweaking the balance between what type of game we’re playing.”
It’s tough on Jonathan Sexton but perhaps this has something to do with the recall for Ronan O’Gara, who seemed to almost make something of a mission statement with that long touch finder on arrival against the French. O’Gara was never going to go quietly into the night nor, come to think of the communication issue/non-issue, is he exactly the quiet, reserved type on or off the pitch.
“I’d agree with Alan (Gaffney), I thought Jonathan had a very good game the last day,” said Kidney, “but Ronan has been playing very well then too, so if you want to keep guys ticking along, it’s only right that you (reward form).
“Not everybody that you’d like to get a game, gets a game, but I think Ronan deserves a game and that’s why he’s getting a start.
“I think Jonathan has come on, he was a very good player before we ever met him and I think he’s improved no end. But this was a game I just wanted to give to Ronan.”
Coupled with the inevitable return of Tommy Bowe, it gives the Irish backline a more big-game, experienced look to it. “That is the big thing, really,” said Kidney. “I wouldn’t be faulting Fergus (McFadden) in anything he did. For someone to come in and go that well at wing, when his first-choice position would be centre, I thought he did a great job for us.”
That would have been the extent of Kidney’s surgery were it not for Tomás O’Leary being ruled out. Whereas O’Leary was given all week prior to the French game to recover from the back spasm which sidelined him from training, “different circumstances” applied this time said Kidney, namely that O’Leary “was training okay today, but he ‘spasmed up’ badly too”.
As with Sexton, O’Leary will be back – most likely sooner rather than later – and will almost certainly still go to the World Cup as Ireland’s first-choice number nine. But the ripple effect means Peter Stringer’s vast experience is accommodated on the bench after being bumped around from Billy to Jack in recent weeks.
Gordon D’Arcy’s experience, allied to his strength of character, ensured that Kidney and co have allowed him to atone for one costly but untypical missed tackle against France. “He missed one (tackle) and he probably didn’t get the credit for the 20 that he made,” said Kidney.
Andrew Trimble needed a very big game last weekend for Ulster to force his way in and instead will be released to play again for his province this weekend.
The same applies to Tony Buckley, with Tom Court’s greater versatility – Buckley is ostensibly a specialist tighthead – ensuring he remains on the bench. Paddy Wallace retains his place on the bench in part because he covers full back.
The resident tighthead, Mike Ross, became a father for the first time at the weekend when his wife, Kim, gave birth to a baby boy.
It would be appropriate if O’Driscoll marked Sunday’s game by at least equalling the championship try scoring record (24 tries) of the Flying Scotsman, Ian Smith.
O’Driscoll has a 9-3 winning record against the Scots (scoring five tries), but memories of last season’s rendezvous are still fresh.
“We say it week on week that games are invariably won at the breakdown, but it’s never more so than against Scotland,” he said yesterday. “Their backrow have at least one to pilfer ball so you’ve got to make sure you target the right people, look after the ruck ball, and make sure the speed of that is not enough to allow them settle their defensive line.”
