In the end, a points difference of 10 separated three teams.
As the final day of the Six Nations demonstrated, Test rugby is often decided by the finest of margins. A missed tackle, conversion pushed wide or knock-on in sight of the tryline could lurch victory towards a damning defeat.
In light of that, and in celebration of Ireland’s 2015 Six Nations success, here are the 10 players Ireland would have been a step or two down the podium without.
Johnny Sexton
Absolutely key to Ireland’s retention of their trophy. Ran the show against France and stood up to everything Mathieu Bastareaud and his team-mates threw at him. Showed his class against England. Dipped badly against Wales but kicked 20 points against Scotland and set up Jared Payne’s try.
Paul O’Connell
His defending went to a whole new, crazy level of intensity and accuracy in the final minutes of all three wins at the start of the championship. Emerged with credit intact, and two line breaks to his name, against Wales and powered over for the agenda-setting try against Scotland.
Robbie Henshaw
Manned up in defence before showing just how good he can be in attack against England and Scotland. His try against England, ultimately, caused a 14-point swing.
Conor Murray
Sniped over for a the try that finally broke Italy’s Roman resistance. Another player that shone in the home wins, stumbled in Wales and performed excellently against the Scots.
Jamie Heaslip
In and out of the team due to fitness and injury concerns, when Heaslip played, he played well. His last-ditch tackle on Stuart Hogg saved Ireland five points and, with Greig Laidlaw nailing kicks, probably seven. Ireland finished six points ahead of England.
Sean O’Brien
Just as Irish fans were beginning to wonder when the Irish back row would show their attacking hand, O’Brien kicked the Scottish door through and scored a couple of tries.
And we will never forget this massive clear-out against France:
Jack McGrath
Every single team went after McGrath and he stood up to them on each occasion. Kept it simple at the scrum while totting up over 37 carries and 34 tackles in five games. Made an astonishing nine successful tackles in 28 minutes, off the bench, against Scotland.
Peter O’Mahony
A hungry mo’fo for tackles and making a mess out of the opposition’s clean ball. Excelled in the two home games and against Scotland. His aerial take, and line break, against the Scots, moments after Sexton had missed a crucial kick, roused his team, and country.
Leonardo Sarto (Italy)
For the second year running, Irish fan’s have vowed to buy this man a pint or two. The winger blitzed Wales’ defence in the final minutes of his sides caning. Not only did Sarto score in the corner, Luciano Orquera wanged over a great conversion. No Sarto and Ireland would have needed to beat the Scots by 28 points.
Rory Kockott (France)
The Gary MacKay of Irish rugby history. The man that put the ball into the Twickenham stands and ended the glorious, try-scoring carnage.
Had Sarto’s foot been in touch or Kockott played on and was turned over, Ireland could have easily finished second or third. Here are a few players that will be grateful history went Ireland’s way.
Ian Madigan
Played poorly off the bench against England as momentum swung against Ireland. Bad penalty miss against the Scots but his birthday celebrations turned out to be great craic.
Rory Best
Saw yellow for a silly trip against France. Not entirely the hooker’s fault that the lineout malfunctioned in Cardiff but his stray throws did not help.
Tommy Bowe
Day to forget in Wales as he was hauled down just short of the tryline and left in two minds when Heaslip shot out of the line and Scott Williams scored.
Johnny Sexton
That man again. One hoped he had banished that missed penalty against New Zealand to the darkest recesses of his mind. When Ireland were on the cusp of overtaking Wales’ points total, Sexton had to wayward penalties that sent the nation cowering behind the couch.
