Brian O'Driscoll Drags Ireland to Victory Over England

Brian O'Driscoll more than lived up to his immense reputation in a hard fought win over England at Croke Park yesterday. BOD scored eight invaluable points which included a fantastic drop goal from 25 yards and a brilliant try to give Ireland a 14-13 win over the auld enemy.

England had tried everything inside and outside the rule book to curb his incredible performance but the player whose continued captaincy was questioned on many levels through the winter answered all his critics with a fantastic display.

The last time England came to Ireland in the Six-Nations it was to make their first appearance in Croke Park, Ireland's foremost GAA stadium (Gaelic Athletic Assoc.) and with history and emotion riding high on Ireland's backs they hammered England 43-13.

This time England came to Croke Park and set their stall out early. Their game plan was to battle Ireland on every front and to make the game a real war of attrition, and that they did.

Ireland had played some of the most exciting rugby seen in the Northern Hemisphere for some time in their opening victory over France, and Martin Johnson set his team up to plug the gaps lest Ireland chose to play an expansive passing game.

As it was Ireland played into Johnson's hands. Ireland seemed fearful of the gaps that any mistake in their passing game would leave and Ronan O'Gara had one of his worst games in the green shirt and his poor kicking gave advantage to England on many an occasion.

With O'Gara under growing pressure his decisions became more and more erratic, he came up short on many kicks to touch and when trying to relieve pressure he often just gave the ball back to England who then attacked from a different direction.

The game needed someone to grab it by the scruff of the neck and take charge, England had no players who were capable of making the step up, badly missing the direction that Johnny Wilkenson and Danny Cipriani often give.

Ronan O'Gara and Tomas O'Leary seemed incapable of getting Ireland going from the half back positions, up steps the captain to dictate and oh how he did.

If there was ever a day for a captain to step up and show it where it counts it was yesterday. England were suffocating Ireland at every chance, fear began to spread through the team, players shouting at one another, mistakes being made, England's game getting on top.

The game can be summed up by O'Driscoll's superb drop goal. Ireland had won a penalty but had the advantage. Knowing that the pressure of the occasion had gotten to O'Gara and that there was every chance he would miss the penalty, he missed three from four, the captain took on the ball and fired high and true.

He also scored the winning try, at 6-3 the game was tight. With Ireland camped on the England try-line, it was going to take something special to go over. The England forwards had repelled every attack, their wall seemed impervious.

Again the captain came forward, taking the ball from the back of the maul when conventional wisdom would say that a forward should have, O'Driscoll propelled himself at incredible speed under the on rushing tackles from the despairing English. His low frame and centre of gravity allowing him to rush at knee height giving Neil Kennedy and Phil Vickery no chance.

It would be wrong to suggest that all of O'Driscoll's best contributions were in attack. No, his best work was in defence. He fought like a lion, put his body on the line when it counted and cajoled when it was needed.

England sensing that they were batting against a one man army double teamed him at every opportunity. Tackled him on and off the ball, the inexperienced referee from referee choosing to ignore tackles when a yellow was warranted.

Eventually when he did lose patience with England's constant bending of the rules it was to issue a yellow card and a penalty for clearing out a ruck, Danny Care being somewhat unlucky for his fair tackle.

With O'Gara again not knowing what to do he turned to his captain for guidance. O'Driscoll telling him to go for the points when others might have tried to kill the game by going for touch.

As it was this became the winning score, Ireland were 14-6 up with two minutes to go,  but the brave English weren't finished and Delon Armitage scored a beautifully worked try to pile the pressure on Ireland for the remaining minutes.

But on a day where O'Driscoll was immense he and Ireland were not to be denied, they are now the only remaining unbeaten side in the Six Nations and now must travel to Murrayfield before they take on the Welsh dragons in Cardiff.

Brian O'Driscoll seems to have been around forever. The Irish number 13 has revoloutionised the sport in terms of his position. Never before has there been a player with so many skill sets in one place, he can do everything one needs to on a rugby pitch.

Only the great backs of New Zealand can even stand toe to toe with him.

Ireland have a long long way to go before they claim the Six Nations crown, if their captain can maintain his current form...it's a distinct possibility.