THE LONGER A winning streak goes on, the greater the blow when it ends.
Ireland have won 10 from the last 11, but instead, it feels like they’re on a one-game losing streak. Scotland aren’t the toughest opposition Joe Schmidt has faced, but Saturday will be the biggest challenge of his international career.
The levels of expectation going into the Welsh game, and the nature of the defeat, have led to disproportionate levels of gloom. Some of the players will be carrying that weight, whatever they are saying to the media. There is almost a sense that this Six Nations has no joy left to give.
Matt Willams reckons Ireland’s lack of a running game will kill their World Cup hopes (and in fairness, was saying it long before the Welsh game), Tony Ward thinks there is a case for seven or eight changes to be made, and Neil Francis feels there was an ‘air of finality’ about the loss to Wales.
Staying on a consistent high is a good feeling, but losing, then getting back up again, as the Welsh players will testify, is even more satisfying.
A number of their players consider their 2013 Championship to be more satisfying than the 2012 Grand Slam, because they somehow recovered mentally from that opening day defeat to Ireland.
This year’s Championship has been a strange one — no definitive form lines, no outstanding team, and no outstanding player. Italy have regressed, Scotland have changed style but are still getting the same old results, France are at their lowest ebb since the 1950s, England are consistent but rarely excellent, and while Wales are in form, they are still a little off their peak of 2012/13.
Last Saturday wouldn’t be far off the most disappointing day of Joe Schmidt’s coaching career, and it is the first real backward step since he took the Ireland job. Wingers screaming for the ball, messy lineouts and Sexton eating a Jonathan Davies handoff will be the lasting images of the day.
With all that considered then, a quality try-filled display against Scotland and a second successive title would be huge for this team. There isn’t abundant evidence that they will turn on the style, but there are a few reasons to believe things will at least improve in Murrayfield.
(Ireland players were left disappointed following a flawed performance against Wales)
Amidst all the mediocrity in Cardiff, Paul O’Connell showed that aggression, anticipation and the right lines of running will breach most defences. Sean Cronin proved that decisiveness and pace and a low body position almost always result in a player getting over the gain line. And Iain Henderson showed that we’ve been leaving our most destructive ball carrier on the bench.
The other plus for management is many of the problems are obvious, and can be worked on in the space of a week. The lineout will be fixed, the kicking game will tighten up, the wingers will look for more work, and, most importantly, Sexton will never again play as badly for Ireland.
Tellingly, Ireland’s best spell came when Eoin Reddan and Ian Madigan teamed up at halfback. That’s not because they are superior players to the men they replaced, it is because they were told to up the tempo, and the whole team looked better as a result.
There is obviously a place for structure and planning and exit strategies and box kicks, but Ireland clearly need to mix it up more against the best teams. This side employs several different defensive strategies, but in attack, they’ve been mainly been relying on just one.
This lack of creativity and penetration wouldn’t be so confusing if it wasn’t Joe Schmidt in charge. Ireland were top try scorers in last year’s Six Nations, and in Paris, when it really counted, they got some nicely worked scores. There was also the NZ game, South Africa last November, and his Leinster career. These last four games are the outliers on Schmidt’s CV.
Maybe he doesn’t think this team are suited to offloading and counter attacks, or maybe the players simply haven’t been taking enough responsibility on themselves, but there comes a point where being conservative is the riskier option.
Very lazy choice for coach of the year Hansens a good coach but Schmidt was magnificent
Ya your dead right! Never mind the blacks breaking the world record of any team for consecutive wins throw in southern nations championship win and where they are now…. Very lazy choice!
Subjective awards are meaningless anyway.
@phillipryan did the AB not just equal the record cause they drew 12-12 with oz when they lookin to break it?
Don’t loose too much sleep he was never going to get it
If he goes though the 6 nations and the world cup the way he has gone through the last 3 games he’ll get it next year .
Should do! His all round performances have been superb and and his place kicking has improved quite a lot. If he keeps this form coming into the six nations and world cup then he is surely in with a shout.
Fancy that. A man from New Zealand named player of the year. A Cinderella story, if ever there was one.
Nothing worth getting upset over.
If sexton was from the south he would of won. Irb prefer to award anyone who plays down south
He wouldn’t have been my winner! Savea or Le Roux would have gotten it off me
Never heard of him
John if you’ve never heard of Retallick you obviously don’t know or watch the fantastic game that is Rugby Union. Well deserved. Maybe watch a game or two and you might be qualified to comment then champ.
It may be a long shot, but if Murray keeps up his form, I’d stick a few quid on him for next year.
If an ape coached NZ they’d still win, and the ape would get coach of the year. Although that’s more or less what’s currently happening. They’re about to be toppled in the next year, far to many close games and a shambles at fly half to maintain their supremacy going forward.
No disrespect to apes meant by the way, I just don’t think they’re coaching material. Although I’m sure they’d make a monkey out of me.
Apparently Joe isn’t even the radar in New Zealand….. Maybe we should be thankful the sign him up to a 10 year contract.
Shame on them if they’re not considering him!
I’m not being bitter but I find it very hard that southern and northern players are put in same category cus lets be honest they hardly play each other and its very mindset in both spheres probably fair if they spit them (exulting Rwc years)
Wouldn’t say bod would have been overly impressed if he did get it!
Hard luck Johnny