LEAVING Croke Park last Saturday night, a thought struck me. Do we, as a nation, really handle success well? It seems weird that after three wins out of three, the nation seems to be somewhat subdued. Is it because we are not winning well or by much, or is it because we are afraid of what is to come? Are we afraid of missing out this year.?
Is that fear there because we, as a nation, think that this season we can win it? In previous championships we merely dreamed of wins over France and England. Now, after securing those, we are left with the Scots and the Welsh between us and ultimate glory.
Then I was thinking, (I know I shouldn’t as I might hurt myself) that this Ireland team are taking on the demeanour of their decorated coach. Kidney has always preached “the whole is bigger than the sum of the parts” mantra and this side appear to be gelling like no Irish side in the modern era. The manner of last weekend’s win mirrors that of many a Munster win in the past under the Cork native. It wasn’t exactly to plan, O Gara’s failing to keep the scoreboard ticking over was not part of the scheme, believe me. However, the process of getting Ireland around the field was classic Munster. The forward pack, lead by O Connell and the soon to be record breaking Hayes, bashed and bashed their way up the pitch. The idea was to tie in the English pack so space was available out wide, but again the 10-12 axis were not on offensive top form.
A 14-13 win was not ideal in a championship that could still come down to points difference, but a win over England in any sport, on any day is one to be cherished. As David Wallace said after the game, “If you cannot enjoy these nights, then why play the game” The Garryowen seven also added that this season’s new found winning form has come from the coaches allowing the players to make decisions on the pitch. “Declan has always allowed us to go with what we feel is right. When we kicked to the corner that time, ahead of Brian’s try, we felt that we could get something out of the game.”
The six nations now sees Ireland atop the table and looking good. Granted they have not been vintage, but then again, what is vintage Ireland? Vintage for us would be going well for 60 minutes and then falling away. That is no longer the case in this modern era. Professionalism has put pay to that. Munster’s success has raised the players performance no end. Ireland are now at the business end of the championship and trips to Murrayfield and the Millennium Stadium will decide if this side win that title they so surely now deserve.
The two remaining games are away and within a week of each other. This weekend, the players take a well earned rest. They’ll need that, as two massive games in a week await. Declan Kidney is all too aware of what is facing his charges. “I have never met a soft Scotsman. They’ll make our lives very tough over there. The Scottish teams in the Heineken Cup and Magners League have caused our lads hassle in the past, so we know exactly what we are going to get. I have played against Frank Hadden coached teams in the past and they have always been organised and very, very physical. We know what we have to work on for the next two weeks and we will get what we can done in that time. Of course some players will go back to their provinces and when we regroup we can see who has put their hand up once more for selection”.
A selection policy which, at this stage, has me believing that I might have a chance of a call up. You see, maybe that is where this fear is coming from. Are we closer to Irish rugby now as we ever have been? Are we, as a rugby nation, becoming like our southern hemisphere cousins, where wins lift the nation and losses plunge us into bitter despair? Are we, as a province beginning to love Ireland as much as our Red Army? The answers will come in a few weekends time. Will we be devastated or overjoyed? Time will tell, as will the tears streaming down our faces.
