With other home nations suffering
disappointing results since the 2012 Six Nations, Ireland’s difficult year has
been somewhat overlooked. They did not gain a win – a non-capped 53-0 win over
Fiji apart – until easing past Argentina last month, with some chastening
southern hemisphere experiences eroding confidence.
The nadir of a 3-0 June defeat in
New Zealand was a record 60-0 reverse that made the preceding three-point
defeat a distant memory. A strong 2013 Six Nations campaign seemed unlikely at
that point, with the team’s defensive problems seemingly unsolved.
Ireland were the top points and
try scorers in this year’s tournament, so it is easy to see where their
problems laid. A limp effort in the breakdown in the All Blacks hammering at
Hamilton suggested Declan Kidney and his coaching team had plenty of work to do
with the defence and there were encouraging signs in the 16-12 defeat by South
Africa last month.
Despite a brave rearguard action,
a nine-point lead could not be protected, but with key men Brian O’Driscoll,
Paul O’Connell and Rory Best absent through injury, some optimism was at least
rediscovered.
Debutants David Kilcoyne, Iain
Henderson and New Zealand-born Michael Bent – a controversial selection – all
made a decent impression. O’Connell and Stephen Ferris are unlikely to be fit
for the tournament opener against Wales, so the new faces need to integrate
quickly.
Ireland and Wales have had some
memorable Six Nations clashes in recent years and that curtain-raiser could set
the victor on the road to a title-challenging campaign. The loser will be left
wondering when their slump will end.
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