For a while there, we had England’s number and called it almost every year.
The 2003 bouncing Ireland received at Lansdowne Road was a seminal moment in the nation’s rugby history with England. Martin Johnson and his buddies came to Dublin, stood in our red carpet spot and thrashed us in front of our muddy-healed president.
To paraphrase, Ireland said, ‘Enough of this craic’ and went on a winning streak. Between 2004 and 2011, over eight matches, Ireland won seven times and, on a couple of occasions, upended the English in brutal fashion.
The streak was ended in August 2011 and, over four punishing games in four years, the Auld Enemy has gained the upper hand. Here is how it went from so right to so wrong.
2011
What happened? Ireland squandered any momentum from their 24-8 Six Nations annihilation of England to lose four games in a row as part of their World Cup preparations. Defeat number four came against an England team that would abandon every ounce of flare during the tournament and a grim stay in Dunedin.
Big reason(s) we lost: England took their scoring chances. Ireland did not. Manu Tuilagi scorched Keith Earls to score a fourth minute try.
Ireland spurned a penalty, two minutes later, and went for an attacking line-out. Their maul came up short and the chance was gone. Another attacking line-out, on 16 minutes, came to nothing as Eoin Reddan threw a ball straight to Mark Cueto. When Delon Armitage scored England’s second try, on 45 minutes, it was game over. Felix Jones and David Wallace both suffered horrific leg injuries to rule them out of the World Cup.
Have we fixed it? To a large extent, yes. Ireland now create less try-scoring opportunities but, with the ones they do fashion, are more clinical with. Ireland’s attacking maul is now a real, match-winning weapon. Thankfully, injuries have cleared up somewhat for Ireland in the past month.
2012
What happened? St Patrick’s Day in London and Ireland entered the contest in patchy form. They had beaten Italy and Scotland and drawn with France but had controversially lost their opener to Wales. There was nothing controversial about this humbling – Mike Ross was chewed up then injured. Tom Court, covering loose and tight-head, was then spat out. The Irish scrum was devoured and the lads standing behind them offered little to get them out of jail.
Big reason(s) we lost: The scrum. Four of Ireland’s seven scrums were lost and seven scrum penalties were conceded, including a penalty try. At one stage, it looked as if England were deliberately knocking on to give Ireland scrums they could then destroy.
Have we fixed it? Yes but expect a stern English test. Ireland’s nadir but one we have since recovered from. World Rugby now allows a loose and tight-head prop on the bench and Ireland have benefited from the province’s giving senior experience to the next generation.
We now have a reliable four-pack – Ross, Cian Healy, Jack McGrath and Marty Moore – with decent back-up options, such as James Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne and, in the near future, Tadhg Furlong.
2013
What happened? The Grand Slam was on, following a superb away win over Wales. Jamie Heaslip and Declan Kidney were joking about Simon Zebo and Paddy Jackson rap-offs. Brian O’Driscoll became a dad for the first time. What could go wrong?
Big reason(s) we lost: Three bad injuries to Johnny Sexton, Simon Zebo and Gordon D’Arcy, who limped on with a broken bone in his foot, wrecked the Irish backline. The pack struggled to gain any front-foot ball for Ronan O’Gara and Conor Murray to play with. Owen Farrell kicked like a dream any time Ireland were penalised. O’Driscoll drifted in and out of the game while the injured Paul O’Connell looked on from the sidelines.
Have we fixed it? Yes. Again, Ireland’s injury situation has improved. Most importantly, Sexton looked good after his return against France and Zebo has now started the last seven games for Ireland. Paul O’Connell is back and in bristling form. Ireland now concede the fewest penalties of all the Six Nations teams.
2014
What happened: England started with their asses on fire but Ireland clung on and, somehow, took the lead after a Rob Kearney try, early in the second half. The English response was sparked by a superb Mike Brown break and offload to Danny Care for a try.
Big reason(s) we lost: Handling errors. Under intense English pressure, the normally unflappable O’Driscoll spilled a couple of passes. Ireland won just five of nine scrums. Ireland’s attacking maul, usually such an effective weapon, was neutralised.
Have we fixed it? Time will tell. England should not get away with their illegal antics to stop rolling mauls with the home crowd bellowing at the referee. The scrum looked good for one match (against Italy) and 50 minutes (against France) so the feeling, as we go up against the likes of Joe Marler and Dylan Hartley, is one of trepidation.
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