IT WAS A year when Ireland claimed a second consecutive Six Nations title, but still couldn’t break their glass ceiling in the World Cup. It was the year Paul O’Connell waved goodbye to Test rugby just a few weeks before Dan Carter and Richie McCaw followed him out the door in the grandest style imaginable.
Here’s how it looked.
February
England kick off the Six Nations in style, but it’s a storm of controversy for Wales as George North suffers two sickening blows to the head
Sexton returns from his enforced lay-off from concussion
Ireland begin the year as they end it, with injury problems at 10. While Sexton completes his enforced sabbatical and Paddy Jackson recovers from a broken elbow, Ian Keatley edges out Ian Madigan to steer Ireland to victory over Italy.
Instantly restored to the line-up, Sexton is given a rough ride as usual from France, but comes through unscathed while helping Ireland put a second win on the board.
France continue to fall
Wales continue to bounce back from the opening night defeat with a powerful win over Les Bleus in Paris.
March
Henshaw’s try keeps Ireland on course for a Grand Slam
The win over England is Paul O’Connell’s last meaningful Test in Dublin. Obviously he was absolutely terrific
The Grand Slam dream was ended as Wales pulled clear of Ireland in a clinical first half in Cardiff
Ireland battled back to within seven and looked to have forced a draw when they rumbled over the try-line., but it wasn’t awarded and it wasn’t to be.
With four teams mathematically in with a shot of winning the Championship on a gripping final day, Wales were first out the gate and kept momentum up with a rampant 61 – 20 win over Italy
England and France tore it up in Twickenham too
The Six Nations showstopper ended 55 – 35 and a whopping seven tries to five.
It was Ireland, though, who won the day – and a second straight Six Nations crown
A 10 – 40 win in Murrayfield paved the way for an anxious wait to see if France stop England getting the 27-point margin they needed to take the trophy home.
August
Australia and David Pocock sent out a warning shot to New Zealand
But the All Blacks hit back a week later in Auckland, following up the 27 – 19 defeat in Sydney with a devastating 41 – 13 victory.
September
Japan shocked the world (but mostly South Africa)
Karne Hesketh became a household name.
Ireland started off the World Cup like a house on fire
Unfortunately, the two men below were among the absentees by the time the quarter-finals rolled around.
At least one family was divided by Wales’ World Cup triumph over England
A nation expected, but a principality delivered
England’s fate was sealed by an awesome Australia side
Matt Giteau’s splashdown left him crumpled over with rib pain. Totally worth it.
October
Ireland beat France to avoid the All Blacks in the quarter-final, Paul O’Connell’s international career ended with a stretcher at half-time of his 108th cap
The stand-ins were ‘plugged-in’, the homework was done, Ireland believed… but Argentina were an irresistible force
Scotland’s brilliant World Cup ended in a dramatic, controversial and narrow quarter-final defeat to the Wallabies
The semi-finals brought the rain, but the final brought the perfect storm from New Zealand
Sonny Bill Williams played his part off the bench, but handed his medal away post-match
Two of the greatest players ever to play the game hung up their All Black jerseys after a fitting finale
But this success was about more than two men, it was about a culture, a movement and a never-ending pursuit of perfection
Then the perfect rugby player died
Rest in peace, Jonah.
