Richie McCaw, one of rugby’s iconic players, eloquently captured the importance of momentum in the context of a match.
The former World Cup-winning All Black captain suggested: “Momentum is massive in rugby. When you have it, everything seems easier. When you lose it, you’re scrambling to get it back.”
It’s a simple analogy but it strikes a chord, especially when you’ve experienced the opposite ends of that particular spectrum in a Test match. The final score at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday may have flattered England a little, the two tries put a gloss of sorts on the outcome, but their half-time lead was merited.
In that first half England were the more threatening side with ball-in-hand, made a few line breaks that initially had their hosts scrambling for their lives. Cadan Murley’s try was the least they deserved for that dominance.
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England had the momentum, Ireland tried to wrest it away. A tipping point in the half came when James Lowe turned Garry Ringrose’s speculative pass into a try for Jamison Gibson-Park. The score was an amalgam of Lowe’s power and game smarts from his scrumhalf in running the inside support line.
As a famous American sportswriter once declared: “Mr Mo Mentum changed jerseys”. Five times England kept Ireland from crossing their line in the red zone only to then concede a try in relatively innocuous circumstances.
England’s defence coach Joe El-Abd would have emphasised that every Irish attack repelled would plant a seed of doubt, that would grow into a form of anxiety, both in the stands and among their opponents.
That’s the theory but in practice this group of Ireland players are a resilient bunch. They didn’t get rattled, kept plugging away until they got a foothold on the scoreboard. When the opportunities arrived in the second half, Simon Easterby’s team won the key moments, the momentum followed and so did the result.
England’s rigidity in tactical terms, which had served them well in the first half, was their undoing in the second 40 minutes. They were enslaved by the original plan and failed to adapt when change was the only way they could try to rescue the result.
England’s original blueprint for success would have centred on chasing territory with a huge emphasis on the aerial duels of contestable kicks to shove Ireland back towards their 22. The triple threat of the Curry twins, Ben and Tom, and Ben Earl, essentially three openside flankers, would force the home side to over-resource rucks.
This in turn would reduce the suite of options open to Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast, who would be forced to play off slow ball. Another seminal moment came when a pass to Ellis Genge was whistled for a forward pass. England looked destined to score a try at a time when they led 10-5. It was a stroke of good fortune that the home side grasped with both hands.
Murley’s fingertips on a high ball got him into trouble which he compounded by his next decision to try to run from his own in-goal area. Ireland had a beachhead in the English 22 that culminated in Bundee Aki running over Marcus Smith and two other defenders. Prendergast’s zipped pass provided the all-important assist.
The introduction of the Ireland bench had a pivotal effect in the battle for in-game momentum. Jack Conan, Jack Crowley, Dan Sheehan and Robbie Henshaw contributed handsomely with every touch. Of Ireland’s four tries, Tadhg Beirne’s alone was straight from the training ground.
A tired Genge had eyes only for Gibson-Park, Chandler Cunningham-South wanted to empty someone in a tackle. That discrepancy in energy and alignment left a slight dog-leg and a hole for Lowe to glide through.
Ireland’s final try of the match underlined McCaw’s original point, while illustrating Sheehan’s high rugby IQ that complements his physical gifts. It sets him apart as a hooker in global terms. He had multiple involvements which started with his tip-on pass that sent Conan through the English defensive line.
Rather than chase the break, Sheehan took a panoramic view and drifted towards space in a wider channel. His decision was rewarded when the ball found him and his 25-metre pass gave Lowe the run on Tommy Freeman who had to turn and ended up being bounced in the tackle. The hooker then supported to take the return pass and score.
One player’s ability to read situations must be matched by the pictures that his team-mates see. For Sheehan’s try Gibson-Park and Robbie Henshaw may not be alive to the full opportunity and, in many ways, they don’t need to be. A quick scan is enough, but they know the importance of moving the ball to space. This is an example of when top-quality players collude.
As McCaw said, when you have that momentum, everything clicks, passes stick, running lines are judged to perfection, right pace and timing and a team nails the opportunity.
England’s mini rally at the end – they deserve credit for sneaking a bonus point – will invoke mixed feelings for Steve Borthwick. It demonstrated that there is talent in the group when the shackles are off, albeit with the caveat that Ireland were in the dressingroom mentally at that point.
That part of the review will be painful for those Irish players that missed tackles, but Easterby will use it to reinforce the need to stay switched on through 80 minutes.
Scotland scored five tries against Italy despite a mercurial performance from Finn Russell. They’ll pose a different set of questions to Ireland than England did.
Ireland got exactly what they needed out of the English game, a victory with a bonus point to generate momentum in a Six Nations Championship that is so tough to win. There is plenty of scope for improvement and that’s what’ll be required in Edinburgh.
Easterby’s team has a target on their back. Scotland have already started with the pre-game chat about this being their year to topple Ireland. From an Irish perspective, that goes with the territory when you are champions. The scoreboard starts at 0-0 come 3pm at Murrayfield next Sunday. Your status going into the match doesn’t matter, you must earn what you get.
PS: I am cycling from Dublin to Edinburgh as part of a small group to raise funds for motor neuron disease in honour of the late former Scottish international Doddie Weir. If anyone would care to support, they can do so at the addresses below, I would be very grateful.
