THERE IS SUDDENLY an unexpected added element to this Sunday’s visit of England in the Six Nations.
On top of all the history with the Old Enemy, all the rivalry and necessity for precious points; the last two remaining contenders for a Grand Slam come face to face.
Ireland, look like a side reinvented.
Despite conceding the vast majority of possession against Wales, the ruthlessness in attack and feverish work ethic in defence ensured they would begin this year’s tournament in the best possible fashion.
The second hurdle, is against another side who have happy recent memories of facing Declan Kidney’s side. Perfectly set up, some would feel, for that infamous Irish underdog mentality to click in and topple the Chariot.
England’s young captain, however, appears more streetwise than his predecessor. He expects an ambush in Dublin.
“It will be pretty tough.” Says Chris Robshaw as he sits in a Twickenham function room. “I’m sure there will be a backlash from the game last year when they came here. I’m sure that will be tough.
“Whenever you play Ireland – especially in Ireland – it’s always emotional, passionate, very intense as well. I’m sure it will be exactly the same (this time) and I’m sure it’ll be a challenge.”
Last time out, on the final day of last year’s Six Nations, the green challenge wilted after England’s powerful front row snipped the stem.
Mike Ross was honest enough to admit last week that the scrum was going backwards even before his departure through injury that day. But if Ireland are to have any kind of attacking platform, Ross will be a necessity against a side who have no qualms about playing an eight-man game.
“That’s what you want in a team.” Says the Harlequins back row of a scrum which dominated New Zealand and pushed South Africa all the way in November.
Grind
“You want an attacking game-plan, and you want a scrum and maul that you can go back to if you need points.
“You look at the England team of a few years ago, if you need points you can put it in the corner and they will grind something out. You know they’re not coming away without something.
“It’s about having that mix. It went through Owen (Farrell) and Brad (Barritt) in the last game. But it’s about; maybe we’re going to scrum a couple of times, then we’re going to go wide, then we’re going to go through the middle .
“It’s like playing chess. You want to keep their defence guessing. I think that’s what the best teams do, they always have an option somewhere. And it’s about fitting the team you’re playing aswell: certain teams defend in certain ways whether it’s tight or wide and there is space out there, but you have to find it.”
The Guinness Rugby conversations will continue this Thursday at 18.30 on Today FM, with former England and Ireland stars Jeremy Guscott and Paul Wallace in studio to debate the weekend’s all important clash and previous meetings between the nations.
