We are a rugby nation on a mission. This is our third Step on a Grand Slam journey. The first step was achieved when we beat France at the beginning of February. Victory over Italy was a necessary but expected result. Last year England managed to beat is comprehensively in Twickenham. This was the last rugby game we will ever play against England in Croke Park looming (with all the related history). We deserved to carry the mantle of favourite - due in part to a weak performance by England over Italy, though they were better in the second half against Wales. The favourites tag doesn't always suit us - though as a nation we are learning to accept it on occasions!
Ireland started the game well and the intense physical start expected from England didn't show up in the first 10 minutes. Ireland dominated the first 20 minutes. There was one lovely rehearsed move from a scrum just outside their 22 – O'Leary box kicked deep into space. The ball dribble over the try-line, but England just won the race to touch it down for a drop-out. The only reward for all that pressure was a couple of penalties. Ronan O'Gara was surprisingly off form and missed both before finally slotting one over after 30 minutes. Ireland had dominated the first 30 minutes. but only had 3 points to show for it. To make matters even more unfair, just before half time Toby Flood kicked a penalty to square the match. 3-3 at half time.
Joe Worsley stopped, Uploaded by M+MD.
The second half started with continued Irish pressure resulting in another penalty after 2 minutes. Again RoG was unlucky - this time hitting the upright. A few minutes later after the referee had indicated another penalty to Ireland, Brian O'Driscoll took a free shot at a drop goal which went straight through the middle of the posts. We were back in the lead, 6-3.
O'Gara's tactical kicking was much more effective than his place kicks and he kept England pinned back in their own half. England started to get physical. There were 2 very big hits on O'Driscoll - the second, by full back Armitage, was late and he was lucky not to get a yellow card. Drico looked dazed but refused to go off. The resulting penalty was kicked to the corner and the assault on the England line which followed resulted in Phil Vickery being sun-binned for deliberately killing the ball. Shortly after that O'Driscoll squirmed in under the English forwards to score his 35th international try. Amazingly Ronan's conversion hit the woodwork again. But the score was 11-3 and we were two scores ahead with twenty minutes to go. This was proving to be very hard work.
Armitage then landed a long-range penalty from the half way line to being them back within 5 points. It was time to bring on fresh legs. Enter the subs Stringer, Best and Leamy. With 10 minutes to go the England discipline - their Achilles heel all season - lapsed again. Care, their replacement scrum half, shoulder charged Marcus Horan. He got a yellow card and Ireland got a kickable penalty. For some reason as RoG lined up the kick,I was very confident that he would get it. The crowd around me were not so sure. However it was the old dog for the hard road and he kicked straight and true to put us back to the comfort of 14-6, two scores ahead. As the minutes ticked down, we needed that margin of comfort. A clever kick ahead from substitute out-half Andy Goode, bounced kindly for fullback Armitage who went over for a try in the corner. Goode did well to kick the conversation over , bring the score to 14-13. But with 2 minutes to go it was clear that this Irish team was not going to make the same mistake they made against France 2 years ago. It was a long kick off from O'Gara to restart. O'Connell followed up like a man possessed and though England tried to run it out of their own 22, they were harried all the way and only got as far as the half way line before turning it over as the clock turned full time.
Vickery Penalised, Uploaded by M+MD.
Charging for the Line, Uploaded by M+MD.
O'Driscoll was man of the match - he had a captain's day - leading by example, as he has done on all his good days. He was assisted by Paul O'Connell. In this performance they both laid claim to the Lions captaincy this summer. But they have a more important job to do before that. France beat Wales on Friday night so Ireland are the only team who can win the Grand Slam. Mags and I are off to Murrayfield on the 14th March for the next stage in our Grand Slam search. I am optimistic against Scotland. I now need to find a way to get to the final match against Wales in the Millennium Stadium on the 21st March, that will be the championship decider.
Jamie Heaslip Jumps, uploaded by M+MD.
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