No matter what happens, a successful team with intentions of longevity stays the course. Stays true to the process that has yielded success, especially in the wake of a narrow defeat.
The pitch becomes a very, very quiet place when Seán O’Brien is taken from it. That’s part of the way Seánie plays the game. If he’s is not chirping away he is not playing well. More often than not you can hear him cajoling others back into the defensive line – usually a prop – or screaming at the ref for a penalty as he locks onto grounded man and ball. He never stops talking. Same as Paulie O’Connell.
Now, this is not a criticism of Tommy O’Donnell who topped the tackle count in just 60 minutes at Stade de France, and,immediately on arriving for an injured O’Brien, linked well to put Stander over the gain line. That attack ended five metres short of the French try line due to a knock-on by CJ Stander.
Paris needed Seánie's voice but more importantly this was to be the first of many games he would play alongside Stander. Hopefully we will see them together again as the amount of power they generate from the backrow makes Ireland a serious ball carrying force. They ensure extra numbers are committed to the breakdown simply because it takes two, sometimes three, men to drag them down. That creates space elsewhere. Space that Conor Murray exploited for his try against Wales when he noticed Justin Tipuric was shooting up on Stander. O'Brien can create forward momentum from a standing start. We have no other player like him.
That said, O’Donnell came in and did an impressive job by becoming a crucial cog in the wheel.
It’s also about how you lose.
This is a matter of context or excuses, depending on your opinion.
Where I see plenty of context others just hear excuses. Joe Schmidt stated before the Six Nations that this campaign would be a long, hard slog. Did anybody really listen? Will they after Paris? What is the general expectation now and is it realistic?
Whatever the answers for 20 minutes on Saturday, when Seánie was on the field, Ireland had three try-scoring opportunities, created by some innovative attacking play, when we produced all the positive rugby. There was O’Brien’s peel around the front of the lineout and cleverly changing the point of attack.
France outhalf Jules Plisson reverted to a drop goal attempt before half-time because his team essentially ran out of ideas. In the end the French scrum and attritional approach won them the game.
Poor execution
I am seeing plenty of growth from Ireland since the
World Cup
. What is also evident is poor execution when it really matters. There were four pivotal moments when we should have scored points only to leave France’s 22 with nothing.
There were other examples of a time to pile the pressure on France.
On 45 minutes Devin Toner passed out the back of Mike McCarthy, a pre-planned set play, which ended with the ball on the ground when Robbie Henshaw over-ran Fergus McFadden's pass. There was space down the touchline. Again, execution let Ireland down but it's so rare to see forwards combine in broken field. That's clear progress. Ireland were not necessarily going to score a try but it would have heaped pressure on France early in the second-half when we were arguably one score away from being out of sight.
The coaching is evident, plays are being put in place to be successful, so I don’t really know what more Joe can do. What I do know is he will find more areas to improve.
On 49 minutes Ireland made yet another entry into the French 22 only to leave without a score when a turnover in possession saw French dash 70 metres down field with three flicks of the wrist. That’s the French rugby we once feared. Thereafter, gradually, it became a scrum war with France’s newly arrived frontrow impressing Jaco Peyper (his performance was so obviously poor it doesn’t need much elaboration here).
You can’t win in Paris, or anywhere, without converting pressure into points. This was, above all else, a game of momentum. When it swung France’s way by 65 minutes it never looked like coming back in Ireland’s favour. That’s mainly due to how jaded the players were after a brilliant defensive effort after a six day turnaround. Losing Seánie sapped the life out of the other forwards’ limbs, altering the game plan.
Ireland's squad is down a serious amount of bodies now. If Jared Payne doesn't recover from a grade one hamstring tear in time for Twickenham it will almost number a full starting XV that is absent. Cian Healy and Mike Ross may return along with Simon Zebo and Keith Earls but Seánie, Mike McCarthy and possibly Jared will join Dave Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald and Peter O'Mahony.
Context or an excuse? There is an over-reaction from the public and some sections of the media to Ireland results. I understand the frustration but a deeper analysis is important to provide some context, or just to make some valid excuses, whichever you feel is the case.
I’m coming from the new perspective on my couch last Saturday but also trying to bring some of the knowledge gained after 17 years in the professional game. The growing din of public disgruntlement is a testament to the type of rugby nation we have become. It shows how popular the game has become. More people than ever have an opinion. Supporters have grown accustomed to success so this season must be very uncomfortable.
Joe did preach caution before the tournament started so while a draw and one point defeat feel like missed opportunities they are not a disaster.
Brittle confidence
Remember we are the target for every other nation after winning back to back titles. France certainly targeted us. So, what’s a good
Six Nations
for Ireland? I said third place before the tournament began and that remains a realistic goal.
To achieve that they must not change the way they are playing. They must not throw caution to the wind. To make such changes before a trip to Twickenham would show a complete lack of belief by the coaching staff. This would, in my opinion, only have a detrimental impact on the already brittle confidence of the playing group. I don’t see it happening.
Don’t expect any knee-jerk reaction. That happening would genuinely worry me.
No Ireland cap should be given out with the “throw him in there to see how he goes” attitude. That whole idea frustrates me. Every cap I ever won was hard earned. I refused to give up the 12 jersey without a bloody fight. That’s the way it should always be.
What’s important now more than ever is the professionalism of the players. That doesn’t mean any great speeches or public utterances but what they do from early morning until they fall asleep. Small, unseen actions will speak louder than words. The media should be shut out, as much as possible anyway, and when that is not the case the criticism should be accepted even if players know it’s unfounded and in some cases hysterical. Because that’s what a professional needs to be able to do.
It’s about staying the course now. Eradicating errors is the priority. Not tearing up the game plan.
To seek to play an unfamiliar game against England will, at best, lead to glorious defeat. And who wants that? No Irish player worth his salt will have that attitude. You trust the processes now more than ever.
Just look at the successful teams in other sports that remain true to the “Stay The Course” philosophy. The San Antonio Spurs (NBA champions 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014) and New England Patriots in the NFL are in contention every single season because they refuse to panic, always trust their systems, their players, and never gamble erratically during tough moments in a game. The team that stays the course gets into position to win the game every single time.
This remains Joe Schmidt’s Ireland.
It’s about doing the right things at the right time. I don’t understand those calling for the team to play with more ambition. We were the more adventurous team in Paris, unquestionably so. We cannot play like the massive French or English packs. We are not, nor ever will be, the All Blacks and you can’t simply decide to play like them.
We can’t just switch to a style of play that doesn’t come naturally to us. We don’t have the time or finances, nor do we have the numbers, to introduce a new way of playing. No reason why we can’t play at a greater tempo than every opponent we meet, with more mobility and creativity too.
Losing the majority of games to develop an unproven brand of rugby is nonsensical talk. We need to play rugby that suits the players and resources we have. I believe this is happening under Joe.
Confidence shaken
Go back to Joe’s first five games in Leinster when we kept losing. We were all impressed by the man but we were getting worried. Confidence was shaken so we put our faith in the processes. Confidence will be under serious strain now because of the results. The World Cup disappointment, a draw with Wales at home and a defeat in Paris when they know they should have won is a lot of hardship to bear.
I always viewed these tough moments as a chance to quietly lead by example. Others within he group will talk and back up their words but I felt the best contribution I could make was to keep my mouth shut and do my job correctly.
Execution against this powerful England pack is a non-negotiable. The English are not tiring in the last 20 minutes while we have been. I see weaknesses, maybe not as many as the French, but the 10-12 channel between George Ford and Owen Farrell needs examining.
What can we ask of the coach? Very little. It’s about the players getting into the position to win every game. This they are already doing.
You stay the course and don’t panic.
Regarding Robbie Henshaw’s switch from Connacht to Dublin, it’s great news for Leinster but why on earth do the IRFU, after all these years, continue to conduct contract negotiations during the most important and stressful time in a player’s season, and in some cases his career?
Cian Healy is facing a similar dilemma this week. It’s bad for business. I’ve written before about how important it is for player to be able to de-clutter his brain the week of a game. That’s the environment Joe has created in Carton House – all distractions are removed. All bar one massively important decision about your future and that of your family. I had to deal with it throughout my career.
It weighs you down. Robbie is already one of the most important Irish players and will remain so for the next 10 seasons. He is already in the Brian O’Driscoll bracket. He should have been signed up in November.
