Match Report: England Vs Ireland Review

Another improved performance from the English showed that if they can improve their attitude on the park, Martin Johnson may yet transform this side.

But if attitude relates to discipline, it is here where the English are losing matches.  Two more yellow cards, for a total ten sin bins in four matches.  It is almost as if both the referee and the players themselves expect such penalties. 

While their fans may believe they are being unjustly targeted, in reality the visitors were lucky to not receive at least one more.

It is said that the Coach teaches the strategy, and the captain enforces discipline, maybe it is this simple fact that Johnson - arguably England’s greatest test leader –is struggling to teach his charges.  Ireland put in a performance where other teams would have put them to the sword. 

It appears England’s is permanently stuck in its scabbard.

Croke Park again provided an impeccable rugby atmosphere. Over 80,000 Irish provided rousing voice to the game. Such Six Nations games are special affairs, indeed why we watch rugby.

The game started well enough for England, with the centre combination of Mike Tindall and Riki Flutey surely the one amalgamation where Johnson would do well to persist.

For the second week as well, Johnson’s troops showed steel in defence.  If they build on this their patterns could become impenetrable as to win them test matches.  But until they can remember how to build pressure and spark counter offensive strikes, they will continue to lose. 

The English back division looked promising enough, but still seems to be missing a little bit of magic.  Now that a Six Nations title is out of reach, should Johnson look back to Danny Cipriani?

He brings a certain je ne sais quoi and natural verve to the play, something that Toby Flood and Andy Goode cannot (with the exception of some brilliant play from the latter at the death).

Ireland looked strangely out of sorts, similar to England’s last opponent Wales. Perhaps it was the pit bull style qualities of the Red rose that threw them off balance.

Ronan O’Gara had an average game, spearheading Ireland’s persistence to kick the ball. While Declan Kidney has no doubt instilled some mental fortitude to this team, such tactical naivety would have been punished by a better side.

It is indicative of the reason why Northern Hemisphere rugby still struggles with the giants of the South. Ireland and England both made enough faux pas for each other to easily win the game. 

All Black and Springbok teams win due to capitalisation of their antagonist’s flaws. Until the Six Nations sides can do the same, they will not beat the top teams in the world.

Still, for the atmosphere and all of the promise, this was a messy game at the best of times. The halftime score of three all signified much of the game. Ireland doing enough but not putting together the pieces to score, while England showed enough rugby nous, but not the precision to punish. 

Ireland though has natural leaders, great rugby players who controlled the ebb of the match. This was ultimately the difference between the teams. Despite imposing themselves on England for long periods, the home team could not penetrate England’s defensive coach Mike Ford’s systems.

Enter Brian O’Driscoll, who slotted an elegant drop goal to receive points reward for their enterprise. From here the Irish pack upped the ruck pressure which showed Phil Vickery up one too many times for indiscretions which led him to cool his heels for ten.

It was here that the Irish led a concerted attack on the English last line, and while their big men could not get over, the Irish captain went low and hard to score. Not his most elegant five points, but certainly among the more important.

Likewise in the forwards, Paul O’Connell was an absolute tower. He ruled the air and marshalled his pack well against aggressive and almost charlatan English forwards.

Both he and O’Driscoll will no doubt be among the first names called for the Lions squad.

Still, despite this, and Danny Care receiving England’s second yellow just ten minutes from time, England still scored and came within whiskers of stealing an improbable victory.

Ireland’s first Grand Slam since 1948 still lies in wait.  But away visits to their oldest foes Scotland and Wales wait. The perennial bridesmaids of the championship may finally get to walk down the aisle, but it will be one hell of a fight to get there.

Ireland 14 England 13 @ Croke Park (halftime three all)

For Ireland:

Tries: O’Driscoll (56)

Cons: O’Gara 0/1

Pens: O’Gara 2/5

Drop: O’Driscoll (45)

For England:

Tries: Armitage (78)

Cons: Goode 1/1

Pens: Flood 1/1, Armitage 1/1