by It is now 54 years since Tony O’Reilly, briefly back on loan from executive life, turned up at Twickenham in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce to play for Ireland. At no other time in the history of rugby, however, has the Irish squad cruised more smoothly into south-west London, than been more prone to accelerate away from an England team currently positioned several rows behind them on the grid.
The pre-match statistics certainly suggest that Max Verstappen’s streak continues: Ireland are chasing their fifth straight test win in this match and have won 21 points, 36 points and 24 points respectively in the three championships they had before. In the past 25 Tests they have lost only twice (to New Zealand, both occasions). Apart from their valiant one-point win against the All Blacks in the World Cup quarter-final, they are all ahead.
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It would be another testament to the class, if England or Scotland (in Dublin next week) can’t put some kind of spark into the green machine, a feat that hasn’t been achieved since France did the double in 1998. Usually it’s easier said than done but, equally, England have reached the point where they desperately need to deliver a performance that restores public faith.
Even within the England camp there is an open acceptance that there cannot be a repeat of the many handling errors and turnovers that eroded their belief against the Scots at Murrayfield. rains on Ireland’s parade would be the perfect answer but, in reality, England want something more subtle too: the renewed pride of their supporters and the rosy inner glow that comes with playing to full potential.
It would obviously help if the crowd got going early and Ireland were asked to play an unfamiliar foreign game. Keeping 15 men on the pitch is another prerequisite for changing this fixture. It is amazing that an England player – Billy Vunipola, Freddie Steward and Charlie Ewels respectively – was sent in each of the three Tests between these teams and they lost by 13, 17 and 19 points. Even when they are not at their best, the Irish keep the scoreboard ticking and can be counted on to score at least a few tries.
In almost every one of those contests, however, England have shown at least the stubbornness that will be needed again by the bucket-load. Despite Ewels’ dismissal after just 82 seconds in 2022, they were still level in the final quarter and forced Ireland to concede five penalties and a free-kick at the scrums. A year ago in Dublin they were only 10-9 down after 60 minutes before Ireland’s numerical advantage was eventually claimed.
Factor in the problems the Irish have had against Wales and if you look hard enough in the late winter sun, you can make a case for England that life will be more difficult than many think. . Kicking the ball off the field, their backline strengthened with Ollie Chessum, George Martin and Maro Itoje to give Ireland the Twickenham equivalent of the challenge by pushing Andrew Porter’s peak and side of the scrum, and Ireland will have to solve problems for almost the first time in the competition. “Ireland haven’t lost that many games so you look closely at the tight games,” said Steve Borthwick. Does it read digested? Stop Ireland at the source or pay the inevitable price.
But still, they have to break the cohesive code that Andy Farrell’s Ireland is based on. As Dan Cole noted on his For The Love of Rugby podcast this week – even leading urban props are busy building their digital brands these days – Ireland’s secret is their commitment. Those little passes to shift the point of attack, the immediate numbers on hand to resource the breakdowns, the quick transition out of the back to the next wave of runners, the determined dummy runners, raking left tackles James Lowe. If Farrell were to select the British and Irish Lions squad next week, there could be more representatives from Ireland than England, Scotland and Wales combined.
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Should Ireland win this season’s title with a round to spare, another regular debate will also begin. Borthwick considers Ireland “the best team in the world right now” but what he loves is the alignment structure that supports his national team. “You look at it and it seems so put together,” he said this week, clearly of the opinion that the English equivalent is nothing of the sort. “They have 15 players from the same team (province) in the 23. I think every country would look at that in vain.”
The net result, either way, is that the Irish players are getting better and better and many Englishmen stand up in comparison. Bundee Aki, Tadhg Beirne, Dan Sheehan, the new barn green Joe McCarthy … along with Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong and Jamison Gibson-Park and the effect is like a shamrock-wearing octopus whose tentacles are everywhere at once.
Ronan O’Gara also opined this week from his vantage point in La Rochelle that the Premiership is collectively weaker than it was decades ago, despite Northampton having a decent win at, for example, Munster in January. He’s right about power forward but that doesn’t quite explain why so many talented hounds seem to disappear into the rugby equivalent of the Bermuda triangle when pulling on an England shirt.
This is as significant a game, then, for George Ford and Ollie Lawrence as it is for 21-year-old Manny Feyi-Waboso when he started at Twickenham. If England are still in the game after an hour, it may leave the stage set for Harlequins’ familiar attacking triangle of Danny Care – earning his 100th cap off the bench – Alex Dombrandt and returnee Marcus Smith. .
England cutting beautiful angles, speeding up the ball, out-thinking their opponents and showing a ruthless edge in the red zone? Perhaps that is projecting the mirage too far, too soon but what does England, in the end, have to lose? “I’ve seen the England team over the last few years get into situations where the opposition were expecting a lot and I’ve seen them jump at the challenge,” said Borthwick. “I feel that from them now.” Ireland should still return home to win but expect England to fire more shots this time.
