Ireland: Still a lot to play for
Ireland coach Declan Kidney refused to give up on his side's Six Nations title chances after a 12-6 defeat by England ended their dream of a Grand Slam.
Ireland and England were the only two sides prior to Sunday's kick-off still in with a shot of a Grand Slam following first round victories over champions Wales and Scotland respectively.
But it was England alone, who haven't enjoyed a Grand Slam since their World Cup-winning year of 2003, that emerged with a chance of a clean sweep after fly-half Owen Farrell kicked four penalties to two from Ireland replacement Ronan O'Gara for the visitors' first Championship success in Dublin in a decade.
"This gives England a bit of daylight with the other five side on two points each with three matches to play," Kidney said.
However, having coached Ireland to Grand Slam glory three years ago, Kidney warned England still had plenty of steep obstacles to overcome if coaching counterpart Stuart Lancaster was to enjoy a similar success this season.
"We're extremely disappointed because that wasn't the result we wanted," said Kidney.
"Let's see what France come up with at Twickenham. England have to go to Cardiff too.
"There's still a hell of a lot to play for. What we have now are three more opportunities to get three wins. Let's get to eight points and see where we are at the end of it.
"The Grand Slam is a wonderful thing to win, but first and foremost you play for the Championship and we're still well in for that."
Ireland found themselves on the back foot early on but rallied on a rainy day in Dublin that made it tough to play the running game favoured by both sides.
In a brutal forward contest it was England, with captain and openside flanker Chris Robshaw outstanding at the breakdown in a performance that won him the man-of-the-match award, who had the edge.
Significantly, Ireland conceded more kickable penalties than England and, even allowing for the wet weather, the hosts made too many handling errors.
"I don't want to blame the conditions because both teams played in them," said Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip.
"There were a lot of knock-ons and unforced errors," the number eight added. "I don't know what caused all the errors.
"It was frustrating and we constantly tried to regroup and go again. England played a good pressure game.
"There were a lot of sore guys in the changing room, particularly because of the hits they took but also because they lost in a green jersey at home."
Ireland's defeat was compounded by a tournament-ending foot injury suffered by full-back Simon Zebo, the worst of several knocks for Kidney's men in a bruising encounter.
And prop Cian Healy ran the risk of being cited for what appeared to be a stamp on England front row Dan Cole.
Comments
norm says...
All fair points coshie
Posted 22:43 12th February 2013
Coshie78 says...
Hi Norm.
Totally agree regarding Hartley, he should be banned and punished in an attempt to stamp (no punn intended) this out of the game....oh hang on he has been...
I have full confidence that Lancaster is breeding the right culture in this squad and if Hartley hadn't reformed he wouldn't be there. Should he regress I have no doubt he will be excluded and rghtly so..
On that incident, according to Hartley, the finger in question was trying to administer a fish hook... we'll never know the truth and although still not right I hope the biting was a knee jerk reaction to something...
Do not get me wrong, the last thing I want is to take the edge out of the game, but I think along with professionalism comes responsibility.
Comparing the hype around Farrell with that which surrounded Cipriani (not sure Flood has ever been lauded as the next big thing) is fair at the moment, given the amount of games..
It is important to add though that the qualities for which Farrell is being praised for are completely different.
Cipriani showed glimpses of brilliance and undoubtedly has attacking flair. However, Farrell's mental strength, defense and kicking accuracy out of hand and off the tee are the essential building blocks required for an international fly half. He is demonstrating this in a team without the old wise heads Wilkinson and Sexton had/has outside them.
IF (important if) he continues to develop his attacking game as demonstrated in the Scotland game, there is no way Sexton remains the shoe in he was. Especially given the firepower available for the Lions outside 10...
Posted 12:17 12th February 2013
Norm says...
Sorry all
Farrell has played how many tests? And didnt we hear the same about Toby Flood and god help us Danny Cipriani before him. Luckily for England I dont think the team are getting ahead of themselves and for once are leaving that to the fans and media. Nailing feet to the floor is the first and most important job STuart Lancaster has done, and England will reap rewards for it. Coshie nailed the point exactly. I was lucky enough to meet Lancaster before xmas and despite having just beaten the All Blacks all he had his mind on was how he could develop the England team and game! No willingness to acknowledge they were in a great place. But with a young team and a very inspirational skipper they will be real contenders in 2015.
Farrell is a good talent but he no way starts for the lions based on what we've seen so far. The bar is low for NH out halves at the minute and kicking or ball in hand, Sexton gets the call.
Coshie
re Healy, so by your rationale re Healy you surely dont want the biting, stamping gouging Dylan Hartley anywhere near the current England set up?
99 Call
Spot on. I note you didnt say Ireland would have won on a dry day, but it would have been a very different day. We did appear to have a lack of plan B, I dont think that Zebo's absence contributed to this, but perhaps POC ( while I though Ryan played his heart out) and Ferris's did and while we are at it the absence of a skipper and a #8 certainly contributed to it!
Posted 11:20 12th February 2013
Norm says...
God Lyhel
You are right! What an idiot he is. Clearly you should managing the irish team
Posted 11:07 12th February 2013
Coshie78 says...
Shrimps...
Ha ha propaganda, this is planet rugby, not the Nazi political campaign...
Was only giving my opinion, you have every right to disagree, although watched the game again last night.
Scrums previous to the incident Cole had the upper hand, could be accused of not scrummaging straight but was definitely on the front foot. Post incident had to fight not to go backwards. Obviously this may have been completely unrelated to the treatment he required throughout the game on the same ankle that was coincidentally stamped on.
Right or wrong, Healey shouldn't have been on the pitch.
As for selection at 10, I would start Farrell for his defense and ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over and bring on Sexton to run them ragged in the last half hour. If we are 2 tests up would start Sexton for 3rd.
I think the problem the English players have, with regards to Lions selection, is their current success has been down to team ethos and attitude. Everyone on the same page (apologies for cliché).
Player for player they do not always stack up, but England are playing very well together.
Theoretically if they do go on and win the Grand Slam what should gatland do?
Posted 09:36 12th February 2013
mjdebues92 says...
@99call
I definitely agree with you about Farrell. I was massively skeptical about him after the June tour to SA, but have been very impressed with him recently in all elements of his game. I think it would be unfair to judge his play-making skills on this game but I do think that as long as Sexton is not injured he should start for the Lions. If Farrell continues to impress I think he will put a lot of pressure on the selectors, especially because form becomes so much more critical in a Lions test.
Posted 00:47 12th February 2013
3in4 says...
Turnip Face is an embarrassment to the game of rugby. No progress whatsoever since the Grand Slam, which he won with a team that was built my his predecessors. Just inconsistent, lacklustre performances. Confused tactics, kicking straight off first phase, aimless box kicks from Murray. No blooding of youth in crucial positions, like 10. Bringing on the 35 year old O'Gara was the final straw. Somebody should buy this loser a one-way ticket back to the bog.
Posted 21:15 11th February 2013
shrimps says...
@ Coshie78
england were better in each aspect of rugby (england werent good though and ireland were very bad), but healy was better than cole from the start to end. he had the lower body position every scrum and made cole rise up. to my surprise, ross struggled more. your comment in this area is just wrong. it sounds similar to propaganda.
Posted 19:24 11th February 2013
kennyisgay says...
Yes Deccie you too have to play France yet as well as travelling to Edingburg and Rome. Good luck
Posted 18:50 11th February 2013
Coshie78 says...
Great game for the purists, gladiatorial display from both sides.
99call... So on a dry day Ireland would have won?
Not sure about that and neither can you be...
England have proved that their defence is excellent and even without the ability to offload Ireland still had little success at the breakdown.
For me, England would have won more comfortably in better conditions. Ben Youngs is a class above Connor Murray and would have bossed the game even more with quick ball.
A quick comment on BOD's injury, agree it stifled him. At least it was not a deliberate act from an English player that caused it.
Dan Cole on the other hand struggled after he had his ankle/shin stamped on by his opposite number in the scrum. Funnny how Healey suddenly found the scrum a little more comfortable. Cole's bravery and refusal to give in was admirable, as for Healey...
I hope he misses the Lions tour, suitable punishment for such a calculated piece of dirty play. No place for it in our great game.
Grant and Marler suitable replacements, if Sheridan or Corbisiero go he is 2nd/3rd choice at best anyway.
Must say the Irish crowd were excellent, must be a fantastic experience to play in Dublin for both sides. Never going to be an easy place to win for the away team.
Posted 17:43 11th February 2013
Iyhel says...
"This gives England a bit of daylight with the other five side on two points each with three matches to play," Kidney said.
Well very kind of him but France are on nil...
Posted 17:21 11th February 2013
Chinstan says...
Slightly bewildered as to why there has not been an article about the citing committee reviewing Healy's actions?? Surely he is not going to get away with it?
Posted 17:15 11th February 2013
lawynd says...
@99call - one try-scoring opportunity in the whole game and it went to England. I'd suggest the better side did, in fact, win, especially when you consider that Healy and Murray should both have had ten to cool their heels in the first half.
Posted 16:06 11th February 2013
APV1 says...
"And prop Cian Healy ran the risk of being cited for what appeared to be a stamp on England front row Dan Cole."
Risk?
Appeared?
Posted 14:41 11th February 2013
melkdave says...
DK is right Ireland arnt out ofte running by along way,and England still have 3 very hard tests .France will be hurting badly,and wil be run ragged by their media and fans ,after their 2 performances so far.So expect them to play at Twikers in 2 weeks.Italy finallyannounced they where geniuen conteders this year,and despite their loss to Scotland ,they will be as tough as ever.Also Wales will be at home,and maybe confidant,revitalised and would love nothig more than to deny England a slam.So all still to play for atm,though Irelands matches arnt easy either
Posted 12:16 11th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
totally agree. France are capable of beating anyone anywhere and that goes for England at Twickenham too.
Posted 11:08 11th February 2013
99call says...
We were poor and didnt adjust to the conditions trying to play too much rugby with a bar of soap for a ball, we also didnt play the ref he was pretty clear in the first 10 minutes as to what he would allow yet we still kept on giving away silly penalties.
We were always going to be up against it with the loss of Sexton and Zebo in the first 30 minutes, it was obvious when BOD twisted his ankle he needed to be replaced but we didnt have anyone to go on, its no coincidence that we didnt hear Brians name after the got injured
England played the conditions better than we did they made us play with the ball and forced the errors and then had fresh legs to bring on with 20 to go
So disappointing and would love to have seen these 2 sides go up against each other on a dry day but it wasnt to be, i still ownt say the better side won, as they didnt create anything but then they didnt need to, but the side who played the conditions better won and fair play to england
On a final thought everyone will be calling for Farrell to start for the Lions now but please no, no offence to the kid hes a talent but he cant get a back line moving so the minute you go in with him at 10 you are admitting to playing a boring style of rugby just waiting for the oppo to make mistakes whihc isnt Lions rugby
Posted 10:40 11th February 2013
PontySurrey says...
And a good looking Scotland next up.
Posted 10:12 11th February 2013
pentwynfarm says...
What appeared to be a stamp? Ha ha ha
Posted 09:45 11th February 2013