Sometimes all it takes is one defining moment to turn the cart around. For Ireland that came in 79 minutes against the world’s best team. We’ll forgive them the final two. Though they didn’t quite take the spoils of victory, they proved their resilience after a terrible start to the year that saw them finish level with France for last in the championship, escaping the wooden spoon by the skin of their teeth on points differential.
In terms of on-field personnel there wasn’t a great deal of change, but the appointment of former Leinster supremo Joe Schmidt appears to have paid dividends immediately, as did the return of Paul O’Connell to the captaincy instead of the under-fire Jamie Heaslip. Of the others, Conor Murray’s stature grew throughout the year, and Rory Best started to reclaim his form after a desperately poor Lions tour. Jack McGrath emerged as a legitimate test option at loosehead in a superb debut against Samoa, and both Dave Kearney and Robbie Henshaw look likely to challenge for honours for the foreseeable future.
Ireland haven’t been bitten by the injury bug too badly heading into this campaign. The most notable absentee is Lions flanker Sean O’Brien who will miss the entirety of the championship after shoulder surgery, meanwhile Stephen Ferris remains on the long-term disabled list with no date yet for a possible return, if any. Keith Earls will also miss out on account of his knee, but there were no guarantees he would have been selected for the test side anyway.
Donnacha Ryan, Tommy Bowe, Damien Varley, and Declan Fitzpatrick are currently on the sidelines but all are expected to recover in time to play a part, likewise Simon Zebo, Craig Gilroy, and Richardt Strauss who are freshly recovered but short on match fitness. Eoin Reddan is battling a calf complaint which threatens his involvement in at least the first match, but otherwise the squad is in decent enough shape.
Of course the overarching subplot to the Irish revival is the imminent retirement of all-time great Brian O’Driscoll, who will call a close to his peerless career at the end of the season. His best days are well behind him now, but even in his twilight he is a world class talent. The question for Schmidt will be whether to give the legend one last leg in the limelight, or start burgeoning Robbie Henshaw with an eye towards the World Cup. Given that the big show is only a year and a half away, time would not recommend a sentimental approach, but perhaps there is room to accommodate both.
Ireland should get off to a strong start as they open in Dublin against Scotland, a match they should win fairly comfortably. The heavy hitters then take swings as Wales visit the isle followed by a trip to Twickenham, and by the end of that match we’ll know whether this is a part-time revival or a true reversal in trajectory. Expect Ireland to finish in the top half of the standings this year, but a victory over the defending champions on six days rest should prove slightly out of reach.
HEAD COACH – Joe Schmidt
There’s not much to be said about a man whose record speaks for itself. There are few coaches around that can boast a similar resume and when the time for Declan Kidney had obviously run out, the only question was would Schmidt accept the job? Thankfully for Irish rugby he did, and the team now looks in markedly better shape than it did a year ago. While the World Cup is out of sight at the moment, the makings of the next generation of Irish greats are starting to trickle through under his guidance. Good omens indeed.
CAPTAIN – Paul O’Connell
His provincial coach Rob Penney has described him as a “once in a lifetime” kind of player, and it’s hard to argue. Where O’Driscoll has been the poster boy for the past fifteen years, for the last dozen O’Connell has been the irrepressible lighthouse on the Irish shore. Only a few short months ago it looked like we might have seen the last of him, but he looks to have completely recovered from his back injury and now rugby fans the world over will be hoping he’ll stick around in the green jersey for one last shot at glory in 2015.
KEY PLAYER – Jamie Heaslip
Naming him captain for last year’s tournament proved to be a catastrophe rather than a masterstroke, and for nearly all aside from Declan Kidney it appeared that way from the outset. By mid-March Heaslip’s form had slipped so badly it looked as though he would be overlooked for the Lions tour, saved in the end by a late run of form with Leinster. Now having been unburdened of the task by Joe Schmidt, he looks far more comfortable focussing on his own game. At his best he is world class and Ireland will need him to find that level if they are to cope with the absence of Sean O’Brien in the back row.
ONE TO WATCH – Robbie Henshaw
The heir apparent of the no13 jersey, for many his time is now. Initially considered a fullback, he looks more comfortable in the centres where his strength both with ball in hand and in the tackle come to the fore more often. He’s a different player to O’Driscoll, but then everyone is, and while it’s unlikely he’ll get the nod over his senior just yet, he might get a start or two to prepare for his inevitable promotion to the most celebrated jersey in modern Irish history.
FUTURE STAR – Martin Moore
Since the retirement of John Hayes it’s been Mike Ross’ duty to hold up the Irish scrum, much in the same way that Adam Jones has done for Wales. For both, time appears to be taking its toll, but at last it looks like Ireland have a couple young props worth noticing. Ross’ chief understudy at Leinster has been earmarked for the position since his time with the national u18s. A burly customer more reminiscent of the props of old rather than the positively svelte waistlines of the likes of Cian Healy, Moore is surprisingly mobile for his bulk and looks ready to step in as the next long-term resident in the Irish front row.
