Ireland’s Six Nations highs and lows: Treasured moments and costly switch-offs
Ireland's Ryan Baird, Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan with the Triple Crown Trophy. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
It is a mark of Ireland’s elevation to world rugby’s top table in the last few years that a Triple Crown is overlooked by many in the disappointment of a third-place finish. Ireland’s bid for a Grand Slam was ended by France in round four and their title three-peat was effectively dashed on the same afternoon, yet with a British & Irish Lions tour in the offing this summer, the defeats of nearest neighbours England, Scotland and Wales did deliver some well-deserved silverware and congratulations are due.
It might not have been a glorious ending of three incredible Test rugby careers as Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Cian Healy bowed out of the international game with a combined 376 Ireland caps but the outpouring of respect and admiration for services rendered and trophies delivered by the trio was heartfelt and well merited, both in the wake of a heavy defeat on home soil to France and a week later in the balmier atmosphere of a Roman holiday by 30,000 travelling supporters at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
Seven months on from a serious knee injury sustained in last July’s first Test in South Africa, Ireland’s first-choice hooker came back with a barnstorming bang as he return to international duty off the bench against England, part of a strong bench impact that delivered a round-one victory on home soil, topped off with a 71st minute try to put the game beyond the visitors. By round three, Sheehan was back in the starting front row, his rehabilitation cemented by being named captain as Ireland secured the Triple Crown with victory in Cardiff. And on Saturday, the hooker was showing why he looks nailed on to spend this summer as a Test Lion, converting two lineout drives and adding his third of the afternoon with a hat-trick try scored in open play. What a return.
The 42-27 defeat on home soil in round four was the match when it all fell apart for Ireland’s Grand Slam and Six Nations title hopes as the French powered to victory over a misfiring and wasteful Ireland team which also handed the visitors a leg up by two avoidable yellow cards. The Irish failed to translate an strong opening quarter into points and then having taken a 13-8 lead on 42 minutes allowed a rampant France to score 34 unanswered points. It made for a chastening experience and ultimately led to a third-place finish, despite winning their other four games.
As exhilarating as France’s performance in Dublin was, their head coach’s attack on Ireland duo Tadhg Beirne and Andrew Porter was unacceptable. Fabien Gatlhie rounded on the pair for the ruck clearout that ended star man and captain Antoine Dupont’s season with a serious knee injury. Referee Angus Gardner and his officials did not penalise the players and a video review saw no foul play but an angry Galthie cited them calling their actions “reprehensible”. To his undoubted annoyance, the citing commissioner also saw no need for sanctions but the Frenchman’s outburst led to online abuse for Beirne and Porter’s families and loved ones.
Ireland’s less than convincing campaign had a failure to deliver an 80-minute performance at the heart of the problem. For while there were undoubtedly some outstanding periods of play from Simon Easterby’s team in recording four victories for the fourth Six Nations in a row, there were also too many occasions when they switched off and allowed opponents to enjoy extended purple patches.
Against England they started slowly, enjoyed a golden period to secure the game and then downed tools to allow their rivals two late tries and a losing bonus point which ultimately cost them second place to the English. Both Scotland and Wales made hay in the third quarters of those games in Edinburgh and Cardiff while a yellow card either side of half-time in Dublin made life all too easy for France to run riot.
On Saturday in Rome, Italy started and finished strongly to make the contest far too anxious for Ireland than was necessary and it left interim head coach Easterby and his squad frustrated in their desire to finish with a complete performance.
