IRELAND’S SENIOR SIDE may have taken the bit from between their teeth and put a title chase on ice after yesterday’s postponements.
Yet Noel McNamara’s U20 squad, whose 100% return from their opening three matches mean they are just one win away from securing the Championship, must keep along their trajectory for the time-being as their match remains (however temporarily) in place as they lace up for training today.
The age grade match was mentioned in yesterday’s Six Nations statement postponing Ireland’s senior match, but only so far as saying a decision had not yet been reached.
At this stage, the delay or postponement will either serve as a preparation hiccup or complete momentum collapse for an Irish side that looked such an irresistible force when they ripped England apart last time out.
“I think the word that I would use is disappointing, but it’s no more than that,” said head coach Noel McNamara yesterday, his players given a reprieve from media duty as the schedule was left up in the air.
“It’s disappointing because I think we can continue to get better. We certainly had momentum coming out of those first three games. We are not in control of it, so therefore you can’t lose energy.”
There is any amount of mental gymnastics that could be put into trying figure a work-around for rugby’s fixture list. U20 level is among the trickier prospects right now.
For starters, the summer’s U20 World Cup is slated for Calvisano – currently in quarantine over Covid-19 – while the nature of U20 level means a host of players may well be taken up by their provinces by early next season.
McNamara is more concerned with the time requirements that third-level exams will present his players in May, but adds:
“We are certainly very hopeful that it will be completed before the start of the new season because we would like to see the lads get an opportunity to finish off this Championship and equally we would like to see them step up at the start of the season.”
A considerable contingent of McNamara’s squad will hope to be back in green much sooner than that, with U19 internationals set for April on these shores against France. Outside of that, though, the Clare man is keen to see his players return to their clubs to play more senior rugby.
“Once we get final confirmation then the players will be released and will go back to their provinces.
“For many of them, they will go back into playing AIL. That’s a crucial part of our player development pathway as well.
“It is coming to the business end of that competition, teams are involved in play-offs, there are tight battles at the other end of the table as well.
“They are continue to get a really good level of rugby where they are tested in lots of different ways.”
Excellent analysis of all the pieces of the jigsaw of moves leading to great tries
Great analysis as always. What an atmosphere yesterday. Delighted for Sexton and Healy!!! What a Six Nations send off
@Kenneth O Connor: Healy not getting a run was disappointing and strange
@Noel Lynn: He did… only about 4 minutes but he did play.
Yesterday(and last week) should put to bed any doubt about Conan’s value. Every bit as effective as Doris imo.
@Gary Donlan: doris level ahead
@Gary Donlan: I’m a big, big fan of Conan – he’s an outstanding player – but I’d have to acknowledge that Doris is at the very top of the global tree. And he has so much more to grow, being so young. Arguably a future World Player of the Year nominee, if not winner.
I see lots of people saying how England really used line speed yesterday to get in Irelands face, that’s not what happened at all. England played a soft drift defence, not putting too much pressure on the first carrier / passer, and not committing too many men to the breakdown, opting to be more disruptive and messy rather than look for turnovers. It was an interesting tactic and one that threw a lot of the Irish players off, particularly Furlong who takes the first pivot option quite often. Ireland will need to learn how to adapt to it by World Cup, I can’t imagine South Africa or France would try it, they would trust their line speed, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Scotland or even New Zealand thought about using it.
Great analysis there. It shows really how intelligent this group are. Dorris, JVF,, Aki, Sexton, Hansen running subplots and dummies lines and how they build a try 3 phases out. To have so many on the same page is extraordinary and as Farrell said, they will get a lot better over the next few months with more time collectively in camp.
Roll on the WC
It was squeaky bum time for much of the game. England gave it everything. Ireland found a way to win. Work done with decoy runners is magnificent. Enjoy, upwards and onwards to France
That was some offload by Conan for sheehans try.
Sheehan is a pure speed merchant
@Gary Galligan: He’s a 4×4 at full speed.
On the strike plays which Ireland use we have seen a few of these in this 6 nations I believe they have only used a small number of these in this 6 nations and there are many more which they had no need to use and they are been reserved for the later stages of the world Cup.
I would imagine when Farrell and his team review this game they will be a little concerned. Obviously the short term gain here, winning a grand slam, is brilliant. But there was a lot of pressure going into the game and we did not handle it well. Ultimately a red card may have won it for Ireland and whether you agree or disagree with the card the nature of it shows it can how easily happen under current rules. (There was at least 1 red card possibility for us that was missed by the ref and TMO). This team will ultimately be judged on how it performs in the World Cup. When they meet Scotland on the 7th of October it will more than likely be a knock out game. The pressure on them will easily be as intense as yesterday, probably more so. They will need to be a lot better. If we don’t make it out of the group, this Grand Slam will lose a lot of it’s shine. Of course hopefully by the time we meet Scotland SA will have 2 losses so it won’t matter :)
@Pud: OTOH, the experience of yesterday, a real pressure cooker, will stand to them. Plus, those guys played a lot of intense rugby over a short period of time. Some were definitely not at their best, following injuries (Furlong, for example, looked rusty; Henshaw wasn’t fully up to speed; Ringrose in and out). Farrell took some risks, playing guys like Porter, VDF, Keenan, Hansen and others to their limits (Keenan looked tired yesterday, as did others). The player management plan for the RWC needs to cater for the interactive effects of physical endurance and how it affects mental/emotional resilience. I’m pretty confident they’re on top of that. And again, all the players will be better for the experience of this 6N.
@Pud: South Africa then Scotland…followed by France or New Zealand…three massive banana skins….I don’t think if we are stopped before semi final, yesterday’s outstanding achievement will be diminished….cruel world cup draw.
Herring sealed victory over the All Blacks with a similar try in the third test .. hooker is definitely a position we don’t need to worry about… bench again made the difference yesterday
Murray Kinsella, single handedly helping other teams work out Ireland!!