SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM
Ireland rocked as fast and furious England deliver a World Cup lesson
NO need to panic. That’s the first thing to remember.
Yes, Ireland’s humbling by England on their own turf is deeply unsettling but better to get a shock to the system nine months out from the World Cup than in an October quarter-final when there is no tomorrow.
Yes, the Grand Slam is gone from Joe Schmidt’s valedictory Six Nations but so what? He already ticked that achievement off last year and this tournament was always going to be chiefly about getting the pieces in place for Japan.
Nonetheless, there will be an element of hysteria in the fallout – intense speculation that the Ireland project has been shunted off course with the clock ticking, along with sweeping, knee-jerk calls for radical change.
And, while he retains deity status for the vast majority of supporters, various media stand-offs ensure there will also be a degree of relish in certain quarters at the novel situation of Schmidt being exposed as fallible.
Win the Slam and beat the All Blacks and you are untouchable, get blown away at home by England and you are fair game – ‘Get a load of this, Joe…’
It is not hysterical to say Ireland were outmatched in every department. They did not lack for intent or industry but were obliterated by the sheer fury of their opponents.
There are specific issues to address. Yesterday confirmed it is not time to bid farewell to Rob Kearney just yet. Robbie Henshaw gave his all at full-back but there appeared to be positioning issues where England found plentiful space to exploit in a way that never seems to happen when Kearney is on deck.
The issue of a more varied attacking template also needs to be assessed. If things go according to plan in Japan, Ireland will face the Springboks in the quarter-final and they are even bigger than England.
Yesterday proved the tactic of maintaining possession through the predictable carries of CJ Stander and his fellow forwards is limited when faced with the muscle mass and ferocity of defences like England. Stander was tossed about like a bean bag and if route one isn’t working, it is time to consider a more nuanced route two offered by the likes of Jack Conan.
There had been confident predictions doing the rounds that Ireland would cruise this one against a transitional England but they were banished after just two minutes.
England’s opening score was brilliantly conceived, a Tom Bradystyle lineout throw from Jamie George unleashing Manu Tuilagi into the Irish midfield and a few punishing phases later, Farrell fizzed out a pass for Elliot Daly to slip Jonny May over in the left corner.
It was the winger’s eight try in his last 10 Tests and England’s first Six Nations touchdown since Steve Thompson’s consolation score when they were run over here during the Martin Johnson era. It was also a score that reawakened previous concerns about Ireland being occasionally too tight in defence.
Ireland’s carriers were getting little joy but a Johnny Sexton penalty to make it 7-3 after 11 minutes settled frazzled Irish nerves, with a needless yellow card a couple of minutes later for Tom Curry the result of a badly-timed hit on Keith Earls. The incident flung open the door for a way back in.
Ireland, predictably, turned up the heat and, with Jacob Stockdale causing panic every time he touched the ball, England’s lack of discipline continued to be their biggest issue – Maro Itoje was lucky to escape card censure after a dangerous, knee-led high challenge on the battered Earls.
It allowed Ireland an eminently kickable penalty but, as Curry returned to action, Rory Best and Sexton opted for the corner. The decision proved justified when an elated Cian Healy emerged from the depths like a Chilean miner for a well-chiselled try.
Sexton’s sublime conversion gave Ireland a 10-7 lead after 26 minutes but England belatedly realised there were acres available in Henshaw’s back yard and used it to dominate the rest of the half.
It led directly to a poacher’s try for Daly, converted by Farrell for a 14-10 lead just after the half-hour mark and England nearly boshed over for another try before Farrell hit a penalty instead for 17-10 at the break.
Earls, unsurprisingly, did not emerge for the second period. Jordan Larmour took his berth wide on the right and for the next 10 minutes, Ireland could not get out of their half, forced into a relentless succession of energy-sapping tackles as the white-jersied waves crashed over them.
A fantastic, hunting tackle by Garry Ringrose allowed Ireland to escape deep into opposition territory with Sexton making it 17-13 on 55 minutes after an impetuous high hit by the otherwise excellent Jamie George.
But England kept coming and a looping pass by Josh van der Flier left Aki badly exposed with Tuilagi seemingly trying to blow the centre all the way back to New Zealand with a monstrous free hit. And those hits kept on coming, substitute Courtney Lawes levelling Sexton after Farrell missed a difficult penalty.
England had a choke-hold on the game but were still ahead by just four points with 15 minutes left, offering floating hope of a comeback.
That was effectively extinguished when Slade pounced for their third try. The fact it came from firstphase scrum possession on halfway will have left defence coach Andy Farrell livid – and there deserved to be collective Irish fury due to the clear forward pass in the build-up.
Farrell’s fist-pumping son banged over a long penalty for a conclusive 25-13 advantage and, even with 10 minutes of huff and puff left, it was time for post-mortems. Further tries for Slade and Ireland’s John Cooney were incidental.
This was a stuffing, no question, but that does not suddenly make Ireland turkeys. There will be no more complacency and now it is all about learning the harsh lessons administered by an England side that fully deserved their triumph.
In fact, though it may be hard to see it now, as a dry run for a World Cup quarter-final showdown with the Boks, this could turn out to be a godsend.
So, no panic then – just some timely and sobering perspective.