BETWEEN MURRAYFIELD ON opening weekend, the loss away to Wales two years ago and Ireland’s last visit to the Millennium for the World Cup quarter-final, there can be no excuse for starting slowly and off the pace in Cardiff this Friday night.
In 2015, the early 12-point deficit was agonisingly close to being reeled in and, despite coming undone away to Wales, Ireland successfully defended the Six Nations crown.
There’s no margin for error in this title chase however, and forwards coach Simon Easterby, formerly the head coach of the Scarlets, knows that Wales’ poor form (only a win over Italy to show for their efforts) in this tournament only makes them a tougher proposition.
“For them it’ll be, not about righting wrongs, but they’ll feel they’ve been performing in games. The England game in particular, they will feel like they were the better team, but England found a way to win. They maybe felt like they threw that game away,” says the former blindside.
They’re not a million miles away. They are incredibly passionate and proud, but so is every nation, and we have to go over there and match them, fire with fire.
“We have to match them physically, we have to be smart in the way we play the game. We certainly didn’t give ourselves the best chance two years ago when we went there and gave them a 12-0 lead.”
“So it’s important that our discipline is good across the board and we work with the referee and make sure we’re on song there, so we give them no access, because they are the sort of team that builds momentum and build access into the game then they are very difficult to stop, because they have so many quality individuals who can get go-forward.”
Ireland aren’t short on quality individuals themselves, but after Ultan Dillane and Andrew Trimble were forced out of the tournament at the weekend, Jared Payne’s return from injury hit a bump and he was unable to take a full part in training yesterday. With Tiernan O’Halloran joining him on the sideline, it appears as though Rob Kearney will once again pull through, shaking off a groin issue to renew his rivalry with Leigh Halfpenny.
“It depends how long the injury (absence) is,” Easterby said when asked how likely it was for a player to step into the international frame after injury.
“You’ve seen for years how different a Six Nations game is, even compared to some autumn internationals they are incredibly fierce and a lot of ball in play time. It is a big change, a big step up from Pro12 rugby.
“It’s a bit difficult for players who have been out for a long period to try and get up to that level really quickly.”
So it would appear that Cardiff will come too soon for Payne to take a starter’s jersey. But the number 23 shirt could still be an option – if the coaching ticket feel that the 31-year-old has been immersed in the playbook for long enough.
“He obviously ticks a few boxes in that he can cover centre and fullback. We have other players as well with that ability. We’ve just got to be happy that Jared has spent enough time with us.
“He’s been a long time out of this group To have him back in is great, but it’s important that we feel comfortable that he’s had enough time with us – not just in the environment, but on the pitch.”
Payne won’t be rushed, certainly not back into midfield where Garry Ringrose is forging a partnership with Robbie Henshaw that could have a decade still to run on its shelf-life.
“He’s very diligent. He gets on with his job, he works incredibly hard at all aspects of his game,” Easterby says of the young 13.
He’s somebody who sees things early. It’s nice to watch him play because there’s not too many of those players around with the ability to see things almost before they happen.
“He’s still learning, there are a lot of things he’ll want to improve on. All areas of his game will be fine-tuned over the next few years. Let’s not put too much pressure on him… in his first season of international rugby he’s been accelerated into that position. but he’s dealt with everything that’s been thrown at him so far.
“He’ll be on a massive learning curve as well. That’s not to say he won’t make mistakes, but he’s probably one of those players who will only have to learn once from a mistake and then move on to something else.”
Ireland have taken painful lessons in the Millennium Stadium, time for the experience shine through.
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