Ireland end campaign with victory over new Six Nations champions
Ireland put an end to England’s double dream of Slam and world record winning run
BRAGGING rights yet no bragging was the order of saturday night in Dublin 4. Joe schmidt wasn’t getting caught up in the unbridled hoopla of Ireland ruining England’s intended party for clinching the Grand slam and Test record number of wins. The English, after all, still headed for the exit with the six Nations title trophy in their mitts. And while there was none of the usual triumphalism accompanying the on-pitch handover over of the silverware, schmidt had the graciousness to acknowledge how Eddie Jones’ vanquished visitors were still in the box seat despite their ever so public defrocking. ‘To be fair to England, what an
TURN FROM PAGE 35 championship was something incredibly important and the actual performance itself, the first 20 minutes we were really good. It was just great they went out and played with confidence.’
Both Schmidt and skipper Rory Best played down the bruising attention Johnny Sexton received from England. ‘I don’t think it was anything other than trying to put pressure on Johnny but we have to look after our players,’ said the captain, his coach adding: ‘We will have a look back and there are probably a few things… but at the same time it’s a Test match with a lot of intensity.’ call-up of O’Mahony wasn’t something pre-planned days ago. ‘It’s probably a bit of a slight on us because it’s not something that we do.
‘It was a disruption. Dan Leavy got a heck of a shock when I said you need to grab that jersey off Pete (and go on the bench). Pete, you grab that off CJ (Stander) and CJ you grab that off Jamie because Jamie has just pulled his upper hamstring and isn’t able to play.
‘It’s a myriad of things,’ he added, reflecting where they resilient performance came from. ‘The situation we were in and what was called for to be delivered… to get second in the suffering a bruised shin.
All the reshuffling could have drained confidence. Instead, it only served to further embolden Irish intent to keep intact a Six Nations run where they haven’t been beaten at Lansdowne Road in the championship since February 2013.
The promoted Kieran Marmion didn’t look out of place and Peter O’Mahony was simply inspired, going on to have a man of the match influence that showcased what the inconsistent pack had perhaps lacked in 2017.
‘It couldn’t be a more flawed theory,’ said Schmidt, insisting the late
A third defeat in the campaign would have been very troubling for Schmidt, Ireland having only twice before finished a Six Nations championship with such a record.
Having avoided that potential low, he will feel this bounce was special given the circumstances. The side responded brilliantly to the despondent loss in Wales last weekend and the loss on Thursday of Conor Murray. That was compounded by the pregame drama of Jamie Heaslip pulling up late in the warm-up with a depowered left-leg hamstring, while Keith Earls only lasted a half, ‘is an incredible record, 18 consecutive Test match victories.
‘It’s hard enough to get one without putting 18 together and you couldn’t say anything other than they are deserved champions. While we won we are envious they were out there with the silverware.’
Envious, yet still immensely satisfied that Ireland had posted a sharp reminder that they, too, are a force to be reckoned with. The victory lifts them into a second-place finish after they started the match relegated to fourth due to results elsewhere.