This year’s Six Nations tournament ended on a high as two well-match teams locked horns in a brutal encounter in Cardiff last night.
International sides from the northern hemisphere may lack the flair of their southern counterparts, but the sheer intensity can at times be absorbing.
The Welsh and Irish teams both left nothing behind during a ferocious battle where every breakdown and every tackle area became a tooth and nail scrap.
It was not a classic in terms of free-flowing, attractive rugby but for passion and sheer drama alone it will go down into the annals of Six Nations history.
In games such as this one, where the margins are so tight and the stakes are so high, you look to your leaders and nobody grasped the occasion more than Ireland’s golden boy Brian O’Driscoll.
Ronan O’Gara may have sealed the win with his late drop goal, but it was O’Driscoll who led the second half comeback and – just like against England – was ultimately the difference between the two sides.
It is the mark of a true sporting champion when they seize the biggest stage and the crucial moments and find an extra edge to their already frighteningly high levels of performance.
Think Steven Gerrard against AC Milan in Istanbul, David Beckham against Greece, Steven Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent in Sydney, Jonny Wilkinson in the 2003 World Cup.
When the biggest questions have been asked, these champions have bent the occasion to their will and inspired their team to victory.
For O’Driscoll, so long the darling of Irish rugby, his mighty impact on this year’s tournament and key role in his side’s historic campaign is all the sweeter after a disappointing year last year.
It is also an extremely timely boost ahead of this summer’s Lions tour to South Africa, where he surely be a vital part of the tourists’ squad and could even go as captain – which would be a fine way to make up for his heartbreaking tour to New Zealand four years ago.
In his interview at the end of the game O’Driscoll, with typical modesty, was quick to praise the efforts of his teammates and there were several other notable performers among the men in green.
Paul O’Connell, another Lions captaincy candidate, was an immense rallying point up front and is the closest player to Martin Johnson to have graced the game since the current England boss retired.
The outstanding David Wallace outfought his opposite number Martyn Williams with his sheer athleticism and was relentless in defence.
For the Welsh, it was harsh to see their best player Stephen Jones miss the crucial kick that could have handed them victory.
Ironically though, Jones’ otherwise faultless kicking and assured display could see him selected ahead of man-of-the-moment O’Gara when it comes down to Lions’ test team selection.
Looking ahead to South Africa it will be fascinating to see all the players that have clashed so fiercely throughout this tournament lining up together in the same squad and we can only hope they can reproduce the same intensity against the Springboks.
My Lions starting XV
15. Lee Byrne (Wales)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
13. Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
12. Riki Flutey (England)
11. Shane Williams (Wales)
10. Stephen Jones (Wales)
9. Mike Phillips (Wales)
1. Andrew Sheridan (England)
2. Jerry Flannery (Ireland)
3. Euan Murray (Scotland)
4. Paul O’Connell (Ireland, capt)
5. Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
6. James Haskell (England)
7. David Wallace (Ireland)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Sunday 22 March 2009
Monday 16 March 2009
Johnson's England shine in spring sun
For forty wonderful minutes yesterday English rugby hit the kind of heights that have been few and far between in recent years.
On a glorious Spring afternoon at Twickenham Martin Johnson’s men produced arguably their best period of rugby since Johnson and his monobrow departed the international scene following England’s World Cup win in 2003.
Yes, England were helped by a shambles of a French performance, and the reality check came even before the final whistle as France edged the scoring in a scrappy second half.
But the men in white showed a ruthlessness and ambition many thought they were incapable of during the opening stages and you could almost feel the swagger returning to the Twickenham crowd as they dived into their first rendition of ‘Swing Low’ shortly after the half hour mark.
Tom Croft took the man of the match accolade for his flawless lineout display and industrious effort in the loose but there were a number of notable performances.
Riki Flutey was devilish in the inside channel with his dancing feet, quick hands and turn of speed, while Delon Armitage showed he has the pace and confidence to mix it with the best of them.
Steve Borthwick also finally provided the kind of domineering performance up front to suggest he could be a worthy successor to Johnson.
While there were many positives to take, one of the remarkable aspects of the win was how England dominated without any real direction coming from the key decision making positions.
Harry Ellis was solid at best and, apart from one delightful inside pass for Mark Cueto in the build up to Flutey’s first try, Toby Flood was hardly a dominant force before going off injured at the break.
Andy Goode was not much better in the second period and next weekend’s game against Scotland could be ideal chance for Johnson to recall the creativity of Danny Cipriani.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer and Johnson will be keen to keep expectations at a reasonable level for his developing side.
But the England fans have been offered a tantalising glimpse of the potential of this team and the only downside to yesterday’s performance is that they will now be wanting more.
On a glorious Spring afternoon at Twickenham Martin Johnson’s men produced arguably their best period of rugby since Johnson and his monobrow departed the international scene following England’s World Cup win in 2003.
Yes, England were helped by a shambles of a French performance, and the reality check came even before the final whistle as France edged the scoring in a scrappy second half.
But the men in white showed a ruthlessness and ambition many thought they were incapable of during the opening stages and you could almost feel the swagger returning to the Twickenham crowd as they dived into their first rendition of ‘Swing Low’ shortly after the half hour mark.
Tom Croft took the man of the match accolade for his flawless lineout display and industrious effort in the loose but there were a number of notable performances.
Riki Flutey was devilish in the inside channel with his dancing feet, quick hands and turn of speed, while Delon Armitage showed he has the pace and confidence to mix it with the best of them.
Steve Borthwick also finally provided the kind of domineering performance up front to suggest he could be a worthy successor to Johnson.
While there were many positives to take, one of the remarkable aspects of the win was how England dominated without any real direction coming from the key decision making positions.
Harry Ellis was solid at best and, apart from one delightful inside pass for Mark Cueto in the build up to Flutey’s first try, Toby Flood was hardly a dominant force before going off injured at the break.
Andy Goode was not much better in the second period and next weekend’s game against Scotland could be ideal chance for Johnson to recall the creativity of Danny Cipriani.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer and Johnson will be keen to keep expectations at a reasonable level for his developing side.
But the England fans have been offered a tantalising glimpse of the potential of this team and the only downside to yesterday’s performance is that they will now be wanting more.
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