I must admit I did cheer when Ronan O’Gara broke through the Scottish defence with a superb hand off of Ross Ford with the Irish player looking very angry indeed as he crossed the line and looked to make his way under the posts.
My goodness he did look like an angry terrapin snapping his way over, which did raise a smile, but at least he was angry and looking to impose himself on the game. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for many of his teammates who wilted somewhat as Scotland applied the pressure late in the second half.
Earlier tries by Jamie Heaslip and Eoin Reddan and O’Gara’s defiant effort had put Ireland in a comfortable 21 – 9 lead but once again the wheels came of and Ireland self destructed as Scotland dragged the score back to 18 – 21 with the Scots looking the more likely to win in the dying minutes.
Kidney’s strategy of one last hurrah for the Golden Generation looks to be backfiring as many of the stars of the past failed to find the stamina and the skills to impose themselves in this game as had happened in the previous two outings this Six Nations series.
There were times in this match that Ireland looked as though they could score at will but the failure of the scrum and lineout is a worry but more worrying is their lack of understanding of the requirements at the breakdown as the penalty count once again quickly shot into double figures.
In previous years Ireland had dominated breakdowns, competing for the ball as they got back on their feet, but with the law changes they don’t seem to realise that if the ball is not instantly available it’s best to set up and defend. In truth they appear as an ageing team playing old laws and if they are struggling with the concept in the unpolished Northern Hemisphere matches goodness knows what it’ll be like when they come up against the slicker proponents of the Southern half of the globe?
It’s a pity as Leinster appear to be mastering the quick release game and Ulster seem to be heading in that direction and it can be no coincidence that the Irish penalty count dropped when Leo Cullen replaced Donnacha O’Callaghan but Ireland need to look to faster forwards and Ferris, O’Brien and Heaslip may be the balance required with Touhy now looking the more viable option in the second row.
Personally I’d also push for Faloon in the squad but we all know that’s not going to happen!
Ireland: Luke Fitzgerald; Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Keith Earls; Ronan O’Gara, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross, Donnacha O’Callaghan, Paul O’Connell, Sean O’Brien, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Peter Stringer, Sean Cronin, Tom Court, Leo Cullen, Denis Leamy, Jonathan Sexton, Paddy Wallace
