From an Irish supporter’s perspective, there’s a unique satisfaction to be taken from denying England a Grand Slam, especially on the final day of the Championship. Much like in 2011, Ireland rebounded from a dismal loss to Wales and played with an intensity that a Grand Slam-chasing England side couldn’t live with for large parts of … Continue reading Shades of 2011
That Sinking Feeling
A lot of comparisons have been drawn between Ireland’s capitulation against Wales on Friday night and their lethargic underperformance on the opening day of the tournament in Murrayfield. While they lost both games for similar reasons, it would be remiss not to mention that each of those Tests unfolded differently. Ireland started slowly against Scotland … Continue reading That Sinking Feeling
Red Dragon
There are strong parallels between the current Welsh side and the Ireland team that stuttered from loss to loss during the latter stages of Declan Kidney’s tenure: they’ve run out of ideas and there’s a pervading sense of lethargy to their performances, but they’re capable of pulling the occasional good game out of a hat. … Continue reading Red Dragon
True Grit
The mark of a good team is the ability to win even when they are not at playing at their best, and Ireland’s hard-fought victory over France on Saturday night was a prime example. Ireland’s game plan was apparent from the opening minutes: control possession and territory, dictate the tempo, kick to the corners, and … Continue reading True Grit
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