Both attack and defence need to click if Ireland are to end four years of hurt
The most impressive aspects of Ireland’s 18-11 win over France, from a team perspective, were the choke tackles and ball rips.
France were turned over on 16 occasions at the Aviva Stadium and most of them came as a direct result of intense Irish pressure. Distilling those turnovers into three moments, this is how Ireland suffocated Les Bleus.
Johnny Sexton, Robbie Henshaw and Tommy Bowe on Mathieu Bastareaud
Bastareaud on Sexton, everyone knew it was coming. When the first burst up Sexton’s channel arrived, the out-half stood up and tackled high. He stopped the centre’s momentum. Henshaw and Bowe were quick on the scene and Wayne Barnes penalised the Frenchman for holding on.
Rob Kearney on Scott Spedding
Conor Murray talks about the kick-chase being a key Irish exit-strategy when they find themselves defending in or around their 22. Just after 23 minutes, Ireland used it to perfection.
Murray hoisted a box-kick and Kearney, knowing his role, hared after it. He timed his hit on Scott Spedding. The French fullback held onto the ball and Ireland won a penalty.
Peter O’Mahony, Simon Zebo, Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney on Remi Lamerat
Ireland were 15-6 up, on 53 minutes, but France had built up a head of steam. After 13 phases in the Irish half, each one gaining ground, French substitute Remi Lamerat darted for the tryline up the right flank.
Kearney was first to slow his momentum, with Simon Zebo not far away. Heaslip then added his weight to hold Lamerat up while O’Mahony went about stealing the ball.
French lock Pascal Papé spotted a teammate in trouble but dashed in with his knee raised. O’Mahony ripped the ball clear and Murray cleared but, with Heaslip writhing in agony, played was halted and Papé was sent to the sin-bin.
Turning possession into points
Ireland were indebted to the 100% goal-kicking of Johnny Sexton and, when he briefly featured, Ian Madigan. The scoreboard was kept ticking over but, due to a lack of try-scoring chances, France were never out away.
Post-match, Joe Schmidt commented, ‘I’m not sure what level we’re at but it seems a pretty tough one at the moment, because it’s so narrow between making those happen and them not quite coming off.’
Ireland’s best two scoring chances both featured Sexton. Ireland picked and gunned for nine phases without serious endangering the French line, on 43 minutes. Sexton split his eye on Bastareaud’s leaning forehead before Barnes eventually, incredibly, inexplicably called a forward pass – that actually went backward – on Kearney.
The second opportunity was more clear-cut but Sexton, back on the pitch after he was stitched up. 56 minutes in and France, with Papé in the sin-bin, Ireland had an attacking scrum on the French 22. This is the promising vista that beheld the Irish backline:
Sexton feints to pass twice, causing Lamerat to drift right. The Irish out-half straightens his run and, with Jared Payne approaching, at pace, on his shoulder, can put him away by popping a pass slightly ahead. Unfortunately, the pass is too high and struck Payne on the jaw before bouncing forward.
Outrunning the chariot
The last two games against England have been tight affairs: 12-6 and 13-10 defeats. As manfully demonstrated against Wales, England love a defensive scrap. A glimmer of hope was shown by Italy at the weekend.
Before they were blown away, in the second-half, Italy went for broke, and, playing loosely and ambitiously, they cut through the white lines. Luca Morisi and Serio Parisse’s tries hint at a defence that is brawny but far from impregnable.
Schmidt worked out one set-play that sliced England at Twickenham last year – the Rob Kearney angled run for a try under the posts.
Ireland need to match the English physically but it would be handy if the Kiwi can forge some new, attacking picks on the Galwegian training grounds this week.
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