I wouldn't be surprised if there were still Irishmen waking up in the gutters of Cardiff's back-alleys this evening, feeling as though they were on the business end of a tackle from Paul O'Connell.
Ireland's Grand Slam victory over Wales, sealed in the most dramatic fashion imaginable, was a game to remind us all why we love rugby, and will surely go down in history as one of the great matches of all time - so Irish fans would certainly have been justified in having a Guinness or two.
The players themselves can breathe a collective sigh of relief, with so much talent promising so much for so many years, but not having delivered until now. The quality of the players in the Irish side is undeniable - while their performances in this tournament have led some to question whether they were worthy of a Grand Slam, I believe they matched the Welsh in terms of pure ability, and delivered the performances that were needed when it counted.
This you must do to win tournaments, as England proved when winning the World Cup in 2003. In fact, it is rare for a team to play consistently beautiful rugby, and even rarer for such teams to win trophies. Talent counts for nothing until it is converted into victory. Everyone knows how many world-class players New Zealand produce, players who seem to understand the game better than anyone - but the have a well-earned reputation for being under-achievers, a team that cannot deliver in the pressure of the moment.
Ireland relied upon their key players in the final match of the tournament more than ever. O'Connell soared at the lineout and surged in the loose, leading with the tempered aggression of a future Lions captain. O'Driscoll seems to sense instinctively when he should leave the open space of his back line and burrow over from the back of a maul - his intervention on Saturday kick-started the Irish comeback, and he, perhaps more than any player who has played in this tournament over the years, deserved the adulation and the place in history that will come with the Grand Slam.
Ian McGeechan's Lions notebook will no doubt have these two names written in permanent ink next to their respective numbers, and many of their team-mates made powerful arguments for their inclusion (Tommy Bowe should start with Shane Williams on the wing, Jerry Flannery will link up well with O'Connell in the lineout, and David Wallace was outstanding in the loose).
With no more under-achievement to worry about for another 60 years, the Irish fans can turn their attention to a new pub debate. Who should lead the Lions, O'Driscoll or O'Connell?
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Agree Andy. This Irish crop have matured into a formidable unit. They play as a team and have stand-out players who gel well. The matter of the captaincy of the Lions is, well, another matter. South African rugby is just very, very tough. Every rule will be stretched, every temper frayed and every ego burst as the attrition of physical, mental (and vocal) warfare will commence at the start of the first warm up match. 1997 was a unique team, full of raw, aggressive and massively talented forwards. Johnson was supported by giants of the game, I believe that at one stage, the Welsh, English, Irish and Scottish captains were all on the park, while two former captains were also knocking about for good measure - in the pack alone. The backs boasted genius in the centres and a brilliant points machine at fullback. Leadership existed in that crew in abundance and it was that collective leadership that turned obdurate, then unbreakable under huge pressure.
ReplyDeleteThis crop need similar mettle if they are to beat the boks. But I believe that they have it.
I'd pick O'Driscoll because he has the ability to change a game, to break a defensive line, turn a ball over and make ferocious tackles. He inspires. That's not to say that his compadre, O'Connell is not equally outstanding, its just that he simply does not have the leadership quality that will wring the final drops of effort from all about him wearing red. Lions are inspired as well as lead, and 'Driscoll has the calm aura and assured character that will calm the troops - calm that will be needed when 100,000 bok supporters roar at the Lions.