The English tabby is among the Irish pigeons.
Austin Healey must be reading the columns of his former England teammate Jeremy Guscott and his claims Ireland are ‘one trick ponies’.
Ireland are the reigning Six Nations champions, were unbeaten in the November internationals and are on a nine-game winning streak. Still, and this may be a solo run by a sub at The Telegraph, Healy’s column screams ‘England can put Ireland to the sword in Dublin’.
At no stage of the Healey column does he mention swords, sword-play or Wilkinson Swords. However, the former Leicester and England makes enough fanciful claims to merit a response. Here are the Healy arguments we contest.
France set out a blueprint of how to beat Ireland
Healey believes that France’s go-for-broke strategy is the way to usurp Ireland. Philippe Saint-André’s side prospered with a refreshed front row and Morgan Parra opting to pass rather than kick. What must be remembered, though, is Ireland dominated the contest for the first hour and should have been out of sight.
In the final 10 minutes, France had all the possession they needed but Ireland look serene; unthreatened. Ireland are far too dogged at maul, lineout and breakdown time to allow England test this ball-in-hand strategy from the off.
Ireland have a very basic game
Tell that to every team has faced a Joe Schmidt team. They may pad out safe jabs and tailor strategies to turn teams over but, as Australia and South Africa discovered, this team can cut loose, and unleash set-plays, at a moments’ notice.
Ireland did exactly what they had to do in their tough opening games but have much more in their attacking armory than Healey gives them credit for.
England have more of a threat out wide
Jonny May is pacy but, as he demonstrated with two spurned chances against Ireland last year, far from clinical at Test level. Anthony Watson looks a decent prospect and is in form for Bath. Still, he has one Test try in six matches. Mike Brown is a fantastic player but may miss the game, in Dublin, after picking up a concussion. Compare that to Simon Zebo, Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney – English potential versus proven Irish match-winners.
Target Paul O’Connell, gain the upper hand
Just about the only Test time to ever achieve this mighty feat has been New Zealand and even they have struggled to contain the Irish lock at times. O’Connell was superb in the Guinness Series and plagued both Italy and France in the loose and the lineout. A noble notion by Healy but so, so much easier said than done.
England should play the game in the Irish half
See above. Every team wants to play in the opposition half but achieving that against a ferocious Irish defence, a team that uses the kick-chase as a weapon [and exit strategy] and one with Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray calling the tactical shots? Good luck.
Win in Dublin, the Grand Slam and World Cup win should follow
The final two lines of the Healey column are classic jingoism and, for this, we salute him.
He writes: ‘For England, winning the Grand Slam would be a huge confidence boost and prove to them that they can go on to win all their games in a World Cup year and finish as champions. It is a big ask, but no one pins that medal on your chest for nothing.’
A win for England would put them in pole position for the Slam as they have Scotland and France at home in their remaining fixtures.
To go unbeaten in a World Cup year would then require something along the lines of this: Ireland (away), Scotland, France, France, France (away), Ireland (away), Fiji, Wales, Australia, Uruguay and, if they get into the knock-out stages, Scotland, New Zealand, and, wishfully thinking, Ireland in the final.
If England can do all that, we will catch a flight across the Irish Sea and present Austin with a SportsJOE medal.
