WAR may seem like a strong word, but ask the Irish players how they feel after next Saturday’s match against England and they’ll tell you that they were just in a battle.
You see, besides all the “old enemy” rhetoric that goes with an Ireland versus England clash in any sport, there is a game to be played first and foremost. Granted there is a history there and no doubt the players will use that to motivate themselves in the team room and dressing rooms before hand, but in the modern professional era, the game itself becomes the focus and not just a glorified beating of a few Englishmen for 80 minutes.
You see in times gone by, the Irish rugby team were renowned for hammering teams for an hour. Then they would fade away into the night at the end of a beating. With the advent of professionalism in the game, two men, in my opinion, have single-handedly put that old Irish, “good performance” attitude to bed. This weekend, those two men will be pivotally involved in Ireland’s third Six Nations game of the season.
Their names? Yes you guessed it, Paul O Connell and Declan Kidney. Every general has to have a warrior on the battlefield and every warrior needs a good general. We have both.
When O Connell and co. take to the field on Saturday, they will enter the Colosseum that is Croke Park to do battle with their ultimate enemies. O Connell will wear the green of the Irish clan for the 60th time, while his General, Kidney, decorated several times at provincial level, will attempt to win his third Six Nations battle on the trot.
Every army is made up of different units. The most successful leaders in history have had to match up these individual units and make them one. Archers, Cavalry, Marines, Foot soldiers, Artillery. All through the ages, the key to defeating your opponent has been to make the sum of your parts greater than the sum of the enemy. Kidney has done just that. The long distance threat comes from his new, free running back three. The line breaks come from his greatest field leader, O Gara. His Panzer movements are carried out by his pack.
Finally this Ireland team have the ammunition and wherewithal to conquer Europe. The soldiers are ready, the leader is ready, Ireland is ready. The game this Saturday is there for whomever wants it more. Watch the players eyes as they leave the tunnel. The fire in there will tell you that England are in for a World of pain and we will be victorious. There is no need to fight them on the beaches, Croke Park on Jones’ Road at 17.30 on Saturday will do just fine.
Looking at the game through neutral eyes, if that is possible, England have been slowly improving over the last number of games in the tournament. Is this the week where Martin Johnson gets them to click? Is it the week where he gets revenge for two years ago at the same venue?
The key once more to this game, like a lot of games recently will be in the centre. If England employ Worsely to look after O Gara specifically, then Ireland will have to wide early. If this is the case, the game will not really suit us, so look for O Leary to get the ball in the air once more and allow O Gara to hits the corners where possible. If the game stays tight Stringer and Leamy will be used to add some tempo and physicality. Ireland to win, in one hell of a battle.
Good luck men.
