IRELAND CREATED TWICE as many clean line-breaks as their Australian counterparts on Saturday but, oddly, they looked far less likely to score tries.
Part of the reason for the Australian threat when they were in possession was that Ireland’s defence was so passive, but there was also a strong element of excellent support play. In stark contrast, when Irish players broke the Wallabies’ defensive line, there was a lack of passing options in order to finish off the move.
Poor support play has not been a feature of Joe Schmidt’s teams in the past, so that aspect of Ireland’s performance last weekend will have annoyed him particularly. Experienced wing Tommy Bowe admits that he and his teammates were not clinical enough with their chances.
We had quite a bit of possession, we looked like we were taking it through phases at some stages. When it came down to the critical last pass, when it came through to the stages to really put them under pressure close to the line, they gave away penalties or we made mistakes.
“That’s something that we’ve definitely addressed. For us not to score at the weekend, we’re very disappointed with that. With the players we’ve got, we know we can score tries. To beat the All Blacks this weekend, we know we’ll have to take the game to them, finish those chances.”
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Bowe himself will be expected to play a starring role in Ireland’s improvement in that area. The Ulster wing hasn’t scored in either of the November Tests, and hasn’t been in his best form either. Defensively, Les Kiss will look for more aggression from the 6ft 3ins wide man, while Schmidt will call for more decisive attacking contributions.
The 29-year-old missed his one real try-scoring chance early on against Australia, after Rob Kearney had done superbly to get outside Nick Cummins, draw in Israel Folau and create space for Bowe down the right-hand touchline. The Lions wing failed to hold his width though, and the opportunity evaporated.
“On that one it was just a bad read by myself. Rob did very well, he ended up getting outside the winger and getting to the fullback. If I had held my width, I probably would have got into the corner. At the time, the way I looked at it, I thought he was going to get hit man-and-ball unfortunately.
“That’s a bad read by myself. It’s something I’ve chatted to Rob and Joe about as well and hopefully this weekend, if we get that similar opportunity this weekend, I’ll be able to finish it off.”
26 tries for his country show that Bowe can score with regularity at international level and at his best, the Emyvale native is one of Ireland’s greatest attacking threats. However, he admits that the likes of Dave Kearney, Fergus McFadden [before injury] and Luke Fitzgerald will always be pushing him. Bowe is aware that his starting role is under scrutiny.
I think it is all the time. Certainly with Joe coming in, he’s putting the pressure on all the time. For me, I just want to try and get my hands on the ball, get attacking. Having that bit of pressure pushes you on a little bit. I’ll be hoping to be heavily involved and hoping to pull out a big performance.”
Ireland need to utilise Bowe’s power and breaking ability to greater effect against New Zealand. Expect to see him popping up in closer to rucks, as we saw on three occasions against Australia. Schmidt will hope to see his wing running intelligent lines off his scrum-half, out-half and centres.
If Ireland can coax Bowe’s best attacking form out against the “clinical” All Blacks, the prospect of a shock would become all the greater.
“We know what a great opportunity we have this weekend. When you get that, it’s a great chance to make history.”
Same old Mayo. Kicking deplorable wides, dominating at times but not making it count, zero composure, gifting the opposition a goal – and then a moan about the referee.
It all sounds like sour grapes. He made reference to the tackle count of 13-1. Well deserved. Fortunate not to be more in kerrys favour. Also, that mayo are 1 of the best defensive teams in the country, so why present “pictures” to the referee? Horse manure talk. He never mentioned the punch to the back of the head that O Donoghue gave Geaney @ the end and never said it was an advertisement to never watch garlic football again. Needless to say, I’m not from mayo.
@Diarmuid Concannon: I’d tend to agree. Clifford was man handled every time he got the ball, and indeed, on many occasions when he didn’t even have the ball. In fact, I think the referee was very generous to the mayo defence not to flash a yellow sooner than the 67th minute.
It’s great when a manager speaks his mind and not going with the scripted robotic drab that most managers and players give to the media these days in case social medial warriors come out in force to condemn what they say. Fair dues Kevin, and I think there’s a lot of truth in what he said too.
Ridiculous comments by McStay. The defenders simply could not handle Clifford. The man handling was ridiculous. Clifford missed several scoring attempts, but Mayo’s defence was very poor.
David Clifford is a modern day great. Meanwhile Kevin McStay is an extremely sore loser. Always has been. To say a player “can’t always be out in front” as a team manager in todays game tells you all you need to know about the level he should be at
Yes Kevin, do have a good luck at how your team tries to tackle, and have a look at Aiden O Shea who wasn’t ticked for any of his attempts, your better off learning how to tackle a player, show your team and stop moaning
St Clifford got it easy today deliberately blocked keepers quick kick out, a yellow for most mere motals then hit the keeper with a late match-ending tackle a definite yellow, but not even a card , a very poor days refereeing by Coldrick.
@Paul Kelly: That was a yellow card so therefore a free to Kerry. Unnecessary and daft from the Mayo keeper. Per rule you can shoulder a player without the ball provided you’re both going in the direction of the ball. Clifford was not going in the direction of the ball.
Mayo would want to start kicking the ball, stop playing basketball around the D area and stop being afraid to shoot when in a scoring position. It’s scores that win matches not possession.
Absolutely comical watching these Mayo handballers taking free kicks from the hand from relatively easy scoring positions and kicking wide. No football skills or football brains in that Mayo side whatsoever. My advice to the Mayo setup would be to go and watch a few games of school boys or school girls soccer matches and learn how free kicks are taken properly with a round ball.
@Leonard Barry: Like a good man will you explain what exactly soccer has to do with gaelic football and while your at it give us the name of the team you are guiding with your football brains and skills,probably a boy’s or girl’s school soccer team
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Same old Mayo. Kicking deplorable wides, dominating at times but not making it count, zero composure, gifting the opposition a goal – and then a moan about the referee.
@Aidan Farrell: Not even wides a lot of the time, but feeble little under-10 shots that the keeper could catch with his chest.
It all sounds like sour grapes. He made reference to the tackle count of 13-1. Well deserved. Fortunate not to be more in kerrys favour. Also, that mayo are 1 of the best defensive teams in the country, so why present “pictures” to the referee? Horse manure talk. He never mentioned the punch to the back of the head that O Donoghue gave Geaney @ the end and never said it was an advertisement to never watch garlic football again. Needless to say, I’m not from mayo.
@Diarmuid Concannon: I’d tend to agree. Clifford was man handled every time he got the ball, and indeed, on many occasions when he didn’t even have the ball. In fact, I think the referee was very generous to the mayo defence not to flash a yellow sooner than the 67th minute.
@Diarmuid Concannon: a bit of a double entendres there where people are moaning about someone moaning, quiet funny when one thinks about it.
@Diarmuid Concannon: foul on Geaney was nasty
It’s great when a manager speaks his mind and not going with the scripted robotic drab that most managers and players give to the media these days in case social medial warriors come out in force to condemn what they say. Fair dues Kevin, and I think there’s a lot of truth in what he said too.
Ridiculous comments by McStay. The defenders simply could not handle Clifford. The man handling was ridiculous. Clifford missed several scoring attempts, but Mayo’s defence was very poor.
@Aidan Cullinane: mayo were never going to win the league final day always find a way to lose how many finals now
David Clifford is a modern day great. Meanwhile Kevin McStay is an extremely sore loser. Always has been. To say a player “can’t always be out in front” as a team manager in todays game tells you all you need to know about the level he should be at
Poor old mayo not good enough as usual when it matters end of !
Yes Kevin, do have a good luck at how your team tries to tackle, and have a look at Aiden O Shea who wasn’t ticked for any of his attempts, your better off learning how to tackle a player, show your team and stop moaning
When Tipp u21 complained about Referee in all Ireland a couple of years ago McStay said they were whining little apples
Army Cadet.
St Clifford got it easy today deliberately blocked keepers quick kick out, a yellow for most mere motals then hit the keeper with a late match-ending tackle a definite yellow, but not even a card , a very poor days refereeing by Coldrick.
@Paul Kelly: That was a yellow card so therefore a free to Kerry. Unnecessary and daft from the Mayo keeper. Per rule you can shoulder a player without the ball provided you’re both going in the direction of the ball. Clifford was not going in the direction of the ball.
Mayo would want to start kicking the ball, stop playing basketball around the D area and stop being afraid to shoot when in a scoring position. It’s scores that win matches not possession.
Absolutely comical watching these Mayo handballers taking free kicks from the hand from relatively easy scoring positions and kicking wide. No football skills or football brains in that Mayo side whatsoever. My advice to the Mayo setup would be to go and watch a few games of school boys or school girls soccer matches and learn how free kicks are taken properly with a round ball.
@Leonard Barry: No need to watch soccer just watch D & P Clifford or S O’Shea. If they don’t like watching Kerry try Sam Mulroy or Con O’Callaghan
@Leonard Barry: Like a good man will you explain what exactly soccer has to do with gaelic football and while your at it give us the name of the team you are guiding with your football brains and skills,probably a boy’s or girl’s school soccer team