Murray Kinsella reports from Cardiff

GOOD THINGS COME to those who wait. Wings probably know this better than anyone.

While heading infield in search of short passes on the inside and outside shoulders of playmakers is certainly part of the job, there are times when the wide men simply have to hug the touchline and wait for the ball.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Dave Kearney has been active in getting off his left wing in the last two weekends at the World Cup, but there have been other occasions when he’s had to bide his time in the wide left channel, stretching the opposition defence with his presence.

“I think the French game was probably more of a defensive display from me,” says Kearney of his performances in Ireland’s last two games, “similar enough to against Italy.”

“I didn’t get a lot of ball. There were a couple of times out wide where I was probably in a bit of space and we got a knock-on or something like that but I’ve been happy so far.”

Joe Schmidt’s Ireland is all about the collective and players genuinely seem not to care for individual pursuits, but wings thrive on getting touches with space in front of them, room to beat a man outside or stand him up with footwork, even dink the ball ahead.

Having scored against Canada in Ireland’s World Cup opener, Kearney was largely a defensive presence against the Italians and French. He thought his opportunity had arrived early in the second half last weekend, when Ireland worked an overlap on the left, but Keith Earls’ pass to Sean O’Brien went to ground.

I’m always trying to get in and run off 10 or 12 and try and get involved that way but at the same time, if we have an overlap and you’re not there for it, you’ll get in trouble too,” says Kearney.

“So it’s important to hold your width and be patient. There was a couple of times last week – one, when Seanie just knocked it on – when there was a good bit of space there on the edge for me, so you’ve just got to be patient and let things evolve.”

Kearney will hope the ball arrives on the outside edge if and when those chances appear against the Pumas on Sunday in the Millennium Stadium. Daniel Hourcade’s men have shown some frailty in the outside channels when opposition teams get to the high phases, meaning it might be Kearney’s day to finish.

Kearney has started Ireland's last two games on the left wing. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

So much of what Kearney and his teammates do in attack is about deception, about the times they don’t actually get the ball but force a poor read from a defender. Try scorers might sometimes get the majority of the credit, but Schmidt lauds the ‘unseen’ work.

“The main thing with the decoy lines is, that’s probably what’s going to make the move work,” says Kearney when asked about Ireland’s off-the-ball animation.

“When you’re growing up, you probably don’t understand its importance. You get into the professional game, you start understanding more about the game and it’s definitely one of the big things with Joe: animation off the ball.

The thing is, you could get the ball even if you’re running a dummy line. If Johnny (Sexton) has the ball in his hands and you’re running a dummy line and a gap opens up for you, he’s going to hit you.

“If your hands aren’t up and you’re not ready and you knock it on, you’ll know all about it.”

Never before have Irish backs been judged as much on the smaller details, the previously unglamorous duties. Kearney’s defensive intelligence is one reason Schmidt is a fan, while his aggression in contact is important too.

Back rows and locks might top the charts for hitting rucks, but Schmidt’s wings are also under demands in that area.

“Yeah, definitely wide rucks is something that Joe takes pretty seriously and it’s very important too,” says Kearney. “If we get the ball out wide and, as a back three unit, we don’t win that ruck and create quick ball, you know we’ll get in trouble for it.

The 26-year-old has been in strong form this season. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

“It’s like hitting the ball up short and the forwards coming in and getting quick ball for us, we have the same responsibility out wide to do that and if we don’t, it will be up on the video on Monday.”

Those infamous review sessions have remained unforgiving during the World Cup, even after high-scoring wins against Canada and Romania, and the incredible victory over France in difficult circumstances.

Schmidt’s demands haven’t let up even a hint, despite the blows to the squad this week.

“With Joe is that it’s all the small things, all the little things add up, all the finer detail that maybe other coaches mightn’t think about,” says Kearney.

He definitely gets the best out of the players. Even if we’re in a sports hall doing a walk through, it’s quite relaxed but it doesn’t really matter – if you’re not doing the right job there he’ll tell you about it. It doesn’t matter if you’re there or in the game.

“We always train at the highest intensity possible and we always train like we’re playing a game, obviously without the collisions but in terms of our passing. If we put a ball down, if we don’t catch a ball, he’s not just going to let it slide.

“Once we do all that stuff during the week then it becomes engrained in us and I suppose it becomes normal. In a match, then, when certain scenarios come up, our instinct is to do what we’ve practiced in training and I suppose that’s part of the reason why he gets the best out of the players.”

Reason to be optimistic once again.

Ireland confirm that Paul O’Connell will return to the camp for Sunday’s quarter-final

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