Strong performances should be the objective of any player or coach in any sport (as they lead to results), but there’s no substitute for the confidence that comes from finishing the game on the right of the scoreboard, and on Saturday, Ireland had to fight tooth and nail to earn a win that they … Continue reading The Bare Minimum
Category: Gregor Townsend
Scotland v Ireland: Match Preview
When it comes to playing teams who hold on to the ball for long periods and make good use of it (Leinster, Clermont, the Exeter Chiefs, the All Blacks), there’s a maxim that always gets rolled out by spectators and commentators: "just don’t give them the ball". The theory behind it is sound; if … Continue reading Scotland v Ireland: Match Preview
A Job Half-Done
Stage Fright When Ireland played Scotland in the penultimate round of the Six Nations in 2009, they looked nowhere near ready to go out and beat Wales the following week. They were hesitant and error-prone for the majority of that Test, only taking control when Jamie Heaslip scored off the back of a Peter … Continue reading A Job Half-Done
Ireland v Scotland: Match Preview
The words ‘banana peel’ have been used to describe this weekend's clash with Scotland in certain quarters of the Irish media since before this tournament kicked off. It’s a bad mindset for any Irish supporter, player or coach to be in, because Ireland have been guilty of not showing Scotland enough respect in years … Continue reading Ireland v Scotland: Match Preview
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