Ireland off to cracking start
7 Feb 2009
Ireland delivered a brave and impressive performance in their 30-21 victory over France at Croke Park.
This wasn’t one for the purists, but thoroughly entertaining it certainly was. Neither team managed to assert themselves on the contest, with little structure, regular lateral attacks, messy set piece work and a number of poorly executed tactical nudges marring play. In addition, defensively both sides were poor. But all these shortcomings will surely improve as the tournament progresses. Today was about the result.
There were, however, moments of brilliance, particularly from France, who enthralled with a number of breaks from deep in their own territory. One such break culminated in the match’s first try. It started from a lineout on their own 10m line and swept right, then left, through a number of hands before France eighthman Imanol Harinordoquy – who was immense throughout the Test – scored in the corner. Lionel Beauxis added the extras to give France a 7-3 lead, Ronan O’Gara having kicked an earlier penalty.
The Ireland flyhalf drew his side to within one point with his second three pointer of the match, before the hosts showed that they wouldn’t be undone in the expansive rugby stakes. They built up through a number of phases then spun the ball wide to No 8 Jamie Heaslip, who broke the line and cracked on the nitros to blitz the defence and score. O’Gara made no mistake with the conversion, and even though Beauxis sunk a drop goal (13-10), Ireland would have felt the more confident trotting down the tunnel.
They stretched their lead just after the break, with Brian O’Driscoll showing every bit of his class to slice through the France defence and step the covering defender en route to the tryline. Again O’Gara converted and at 20-10, Ireland were in control of the Test.
That changed when Beauxis, who was responsible for missing the tackle on O’Driscoll in the build up to his try, redeemed himself with a superbly weighted kick that bounced favourably for winger Maxime Medard, who collected and scored in the corner. The angle proved too difficult for Beauxis to convert from, but the pivot slid into the pocket in the subsequent passage of play and landed his second drop goal.
Defence dominated the next 20 minutes until Ireland broke open the contest through Gordon D’Arcy. They smashed up through numerous phases, depleting the tiring France defensive line, before spinning the ball to the centre, who jinked and corkscrewed his way through two tackles for a decisive converted score.
Eleven points the difference with 12 minutes remaining. Ireland needed to play for territory, defend resolutely and remain disciplined. They achieved two if those goals, but conceded a penalty in their 22m , which Beauxis slotted. They, however, made amends 30 seconds later, contesting aggressively at a ruck in the France 22m and earning a penalty which O’Gara duly scored. With just two minutes remaining, that score sealed the result for Ireland, who on the balance of play deserved the victory – their first in seven attempts against France.
Ireland - Tries: Jamie Heaslip, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy. Conversions: Ronan O’Gara (3). Penalties: Ronan O’Gara (3)
France - Tries: Imanol Harinordoquy, Maxime Medard. Conversions: Lionel Beauxis. Penalty: Beauxis. Drop goals: Beauxis (2)
By Ryan Vrede
526 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 [11] Show All
8 Feb 2009, 02:02 am
Skoppie what is your nick on superbru?
8 Feb 2009, 02:02 am
#498 CoachPete: Are we talking about Cipriani?
8 Feb 2009, 02:02 am
#483 SodaJoe: LOL But he always manages to put together a competitive Outlaw team. The black raiders
8 Feb 2009, 02:03 am
No Murphy
8 Feb 2009, 02:03 am
#502 SodaJoe:
man of the match a number of times
8 Feb 2009, 02:03 am
#504 CoachPete: aaah ,sorry, crossedcyberwires.
8 Feb 2009, 02:04 am
#487 CoachPete: Doubt it. Martyn Williams will be there.
8 Feb 2009, 02:04 am
#502 SodaJoe:
Cipriani is a wasp
8 Feb 2009, 02:05 am
I am sure Big Hit will beg to differ, but I am really struggling to find English players for the Lions.
8 Feb 2009, 02:05 am
#489 SodaJoe: Right.
8 Feb 2009, 02:05 am
#508 CoachPete: That’s why I asked. I know.
8 Feb 2009, 02:06 am
I’m off guys, Got to make myself look beautiful.
See you through the window.
8 Feb 2009, 02:07 am
#493 CoachPete: Hook, Jones, O’Gara. Jonny if he is fit?
8 Feb 2009, 02:08 am
#496 CoachPete: LOL
8 Feb 2009, 02:08 am
#513 JimT:
Yes to all 3 Jonny is done
8 Feb 2009, 02:09 am
#502 SodaJoe: I thought we were.
8 Feb 2009, 02:10 am
Cheers Soda
Im off too
8 Feb 2009, 02:11 am
#508 CoachPete: THat’s why some people think he will make because of Wasp coaches’ influence. But I doubt it. Needs to make England team first.
8 Feb 2009, 02:11 am
#512 SodaJoe: Cheers Soda & Coach
8 Feb 2009, 03:08 am
#509 SodaJoe: Vickery is a certainty if he stays fit, Cueto looked good today, Armitage and Wilkinson will be fit for the last two 6N matches.
#515 CoachPete: no he isn’t, Hook doesn’t start for Wales and has been in poor form for Ospreys and O’Gara wasn’t great today, missing tackles and kicking away good ball.
8 Feb 2009, 03:14 am
#445 yliad: Beauxis is the kicking 10, Michalak, Trinh-Duc and Skrela the running 10s. I agree though Beauxis is very good, I see Wilko’s game intelligence in his some of his play.
8 Feb 2009, 08:03 am
I can’t understand why you guy’s keep on mentioning Jonny. Even if he does recover from his injury who is to say that he’ll still be the same Jonny of old. Wilkinson was out of the rugby wilderness for a very long time. Can anyone recall when was the last time he had a full season under his belt. Ronan O Gara is the lions best bet.
8 Feb 2009, 18:20 pm
Oriscol and other irish. Freaks like keith wood have just missed each other by a genratiopn. They Ould klap anybody with the “best 22″ over the last 15 years
8 Feb 2009, 20:20 pm
IRELAND IRELAND TOGETHER STANDING TALL.
THANKS TO ALL FOR THE SUPPORT. READ EVERYTHING.
I AM VERY WELL, BUT VERY BUSY
8 Feb 2009, 22:39 pm
#521 Big Hit: Beauxis is a poor man’s Wilko.
He is a much weaker defender than him.
Frankly,i wasn’t that impressed by him.
Bring back Freddie!
8 Feb 2009, 22:42 pm
#445 yliad:
If it wasn’t for Michalak,France would have watched the RWC 1/2 finals from their TV.
Do you remember how poor Beauxis was against the ABs in the last RWC???
He was shoking defensively and the likes of McCallister and Evans almost always broke the line when they were running at him.
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 [11] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.