You never know what you’ve got until you’ve lost it.
Brian O’Driscoll told us all.
He told us again and he told us again. We didn’t listen.
The All Blacks didn’t come to Dublin and seemingly target this man for nothing. They knew – most teams know – that if you go after the main pillar, the rest of the structure will crumble down.
That pillar, Ireland’s pillar, is Jared Payne.
O’Driscoll preached it during the World Cup, why the Irish needed the Ulster man at the heart of their defence. He might not have been racking up the tries or turning on the style but, as an organiser, as a defender, Payne was always crucial.
He still is.
Jared Payne's importance to Ireland should not be underestimated, writes @conandoherty https://t.co/gcpOawXKVc
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 8, 2016
Payne has been absent since November though – kidney injury.
If ever it showed, it showed on Saturday in Murrayfield. It showed in 28 first half minutes when the Scottish ran riot and went over Ireland’s try line three times.
Stuart Hogg just taking the piss with his second. From way out. From what looked like a grand position.
And, on SportsJOE’s new rugby podcast, The Hard Yards, former Ireland international Kevin McLaughlin pin-pointed what went wrong in that all-too-simplistic passage of play.
“If they set earlier and get their spacing better and come up square – firstly Finn Russell is under a lot more pressure to throw the pass and, secondly, Hogg is getting absolutely smashed as he catches the ball,” McLaughlin said.
“That should’ve been the outcome there because there was nothing fancy about what they did – apart from the fact that [Sean] Maitland and [Stuart] Hogg are coming steaming onto the ball, which is an intimidating thing because they have such quick footwork. But if you’re well spaced there and you’re looking up and stay square, there’s no problem as a defensive line.
“He’s [Hogg] horrible to defend. I’ve been unfortunate enough to play against him about six or seven times for Glasgow in particular – every time he gets the ball, you’re just trying to stay on your feet because he can turn on a sixpence and he can turn you inside out and make you look a fool.”
But what man that would’ve helped stop it and the general onslaught wasn’t available and he could’ve sorted everything out.
“I think, from a defensive structures point of view, Jared Payne would’ve made a difference,” McLaughlin continued.
“Garry Rignrose is an immense talent, I have so much time for him, but from a pure organisational, structural defence point of view, Payne has the experience and he’s played in that 13 position.
“Dricco [Brian O’Driscoll] has talked about it a lot, 13 is the hardest position on the pitch to defend from. You have so many decisions to make all the time and Payne is a good marshal in that position.
“Ringrose is an excellent talent and he’s going to be in the centre for a long time but I think Payne was missed.”
Perhaps he’ll finally be fully appreciated now, in his absence.
Listen to the full debate below.
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