Ray of hope as toothless Dragons
slain
 By
Gareth Makim
They say a week is a long time in politics. Well, two weeks is certainly
a long time when it comes to the RBS Six Nations. If you don’t believe
me, just ask Mike Ruddock.
After the second round of games a fortnight ago Wales were riding high
thanks to a win against Scotland, while Ireland were under the spotlight
after two performances that veered wildly between the indifferent and
the appalling.
Fast forward to Lansdowne Road last Sunday and a clash that both sides
agreed was pivotal to their respective seasons. Two weeks of infighting
and behind the scenes rumblings that unseated Ruddock from his coaching
position left Wales looking rudderless and disinterested, particularly
as the game drifted away from them.
Ireland, on the other hand, for once seemed to sense their opponents’
mental fragility and were able to exploit it to the full and the confidence
gained from a 26-point victory will hold them in good stead as they pursue
the Triple Crown in their final two fixtures.
But Eddie O’Sullivan can’t afford to let renewed expectations
get the better of his squad.
There is plenty for the Irish coach to work on ahead of the visit of an
upbeat Scotland to Lansdowne.
This was a weak Wales side that was deservedly routed in Twickenham, where
the English await Ireland in three weeks’ time, and yet until the
unfortunate exit of out-half Stephen Jones midway through the first half
the men from the valleys dominated the game, bossing proceedings both
in possession and territory.
Jones was crucial in targeting and exposing Ireland’s major defensive
weakness — the number 10 channel — in the first quarter and
it was his break that led to Wales taking an early lead. While Ronan O’Gara’s
tackling improved as the game progressed, he remains an obvious target
for opposing back row forwards and backs.
When the returning Gavin Henson replaced Jones, Wales seemed to lose their
momentum and their ideas and Ireland took full advantage.
Among the positives in Ireland’s performance, the most welcome must
be the return of Peter Stringer: International scrum half. The pint-sized
Corkman has been revitalised by the second half comeback in Paris and
put in his best outing in a green shirt for well over a year, symbolised
by the second half sniping run that nearly yielded a try.
The man-of-the-match award, though, went to Shane Horgan, whose try and
general hunger to get the ball in hand were a constant example to those
around him.
Up front, once the Irish forwards had established dominance over their
Welsh counterparts they ruthlessly exploited it, with Jerry Flannery appearing
all over the field and Malcolm O’Kelly back to somewhere near the
form we have come to expect from him. The Scots, and particularly the
English, will provide greater tests of the Irish pack, but with Paul O’Connell
and Marcus Horan, whose neck injury looked far worse than it was, expected
to be fit in two weeks, O’Sullivan at least has some welcome choices
on offer.
With the result in the bag, the crowd were left to their own amusement,
drawing a great deal of satisfaction from Henson’s travails.
At one point you could see the glint in the eyes of Irish captain Brian
O’Driscoll as he lined up to tackle the Welsh pin-up.
But with the championship now wide open, it’s time for Ireland to
be setting their sights on other targets.
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