IRELAND AND LEINSTER’S seasons were dealt a big blow today with the news that Sean O’Brien will be out for 5-6 months with a shoulder injury. And while fans of both teams will be mourning the loss of the Tullow Tank, Ireland’s record without the Carlow Cannonball actually hasn’t been that bad in the last two years.
Since the 60-0 defeat to the All Blacks in the summer of 2012, Ireland have played in eight games when Sean O’Brien has made an appearance (seven starts and one substitute appearance):
2013
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NZ (L) 22 – 24
AUS (L) 15 – 32
SAM sub (W) 40 – 9 TRY
Italy (L) 15 – 22
France (D) 13 – 13
Scotland (L) 8 – 12
England (L) 6 – 12
Wales (W) 30 – 22
Record with O’Brien: P8 W2 D1 L5
When Sean O’Brien has been absent since the summer of 2012, Ireland have played nine games:
2012
SA (L) 12 – 16
Arg (W) 46 -24
2013
USA (W) 15 – 12
Canada (W) 40 – 14
2014
Scotland (W) 28-6
Wales (W) 26-3
England (L) 13-10
Italy (W) 46-7
France (W) 22-20
Record without O’Brien: P9 W7 L2
There are a lot of factors that can explain the discrepancy in Ireland’s win ratio with/without O’Brien; mainly the malaise that had set in towards the end of the Kidney era coupled with the bump in performance that Joe Schmidt brought.
A fully fit O’Brien would obviously make it into the Ireland XV but at least this shows that a pack shorn of his ball carrying ability can not only compete, but also win trophies.
Small comforts: Ireland's record without Sean O'Brien is actually not that bad
IRELAND AND LEINSTER’S seasons were dealt a big blow today with the news that Sean O’Brien will be out for 5-6 months with a shoulder injury. And while fans of both teams will be mourning the loss of the Tullow Tank, Ireland’s record without the Carlow Cannonball actually hasn’t been that bad in the last two years.
Since the 60-0 defeat to the All Blacks in the summer of 2012, Ireland have played in eight games when Sean O’Brien has made an appearance (seven starts and one substitute appearance):
2013
NZ (L) 22 – 24
AUS (L) 15 – 32
SAM sub (W) 40 – 9 TRY
Italy (L) 15 – 22
France (D) 13 – 13
Scotland (L) 8 – 12
England (L) 6 – 12
Wales (W) 30 – 22
Record with O’Brien: P8 W2 D1 L5
When Sean O’Brien has been absent since the summer of 2012, Ireland have played nine games:
2012
SA (L) 12 – 16
Arg (W) 46 -24
2013
USA (W) 15 – 12
Canada (W) 40 – 14
2014
Scotland (W) 28-6
Wales (W) 26-3
England (L) 13-10
Italy (W) 46-7
France (W) 22-20
Record without O’Brien: P9 W7 L2
There are a lot of factors that can explain the discrepancy in Ireland’s win ratio with/without O’Brien; mainly the malaise that had set in towards the end of the Kidney era coupled with the bump in performance that Joe Schmidt brought.
A fully fit O’Brien would obviously make it into the Ireland XV but at least this shows that a pack shorn of his ball carrying ability can not only compete, but also win trophies.
-Reporting by Sean Farrell
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