Revitalized ruggers have record-breaking day

By Mark Jones

Ireland 60, Italy 13

DUBLIN — Imagine an Ireland rugby team leading 33-0 at halftime and still getting criticized by the coach. Based on recent history, unlikely, impossible even.

But last Saturday, it happened, as the Irish renaissance continued with a record-breaking 60-13 Six Nations victory over Italy at Lansdowne Road.

Coach Warren Gatland’s harsh words at the interval were a clear sign of both his and his players’ new-found confidence. Just a few weeks ago, team and coach were a laughingstock after being humiliated by England. Now, with successive triumphs over Scotland and Italy, the good times are rolling again at last.

And these weren’t just ordinary victories. Forty-four points against the Scots and another 60 last weekend — Lansdowne Road has never known anything like it. Right now, the Irish are in the third place in the championship behind England and France, but with a total of 13, Gatland’s once clueless men have scored more tries than anyone else.

More records could tumble before the season is out. Already the 122 points scored is a new mark for the championship and there are two games left. Ronan O’Gara’s individual total of 30 against Italy also beat the old record and those 13 tries have also passed the previous best of 12 set way back in 1928.

So, after a dismal World Cup performance and that thrashing by England, how has the alchemy taken place? To portray Gatland as someone who somehow transformed the base metals into gold would be simplistic in the extreme. In fact, the coach may not be the main instigator at all.

Remember, it was Gatland who stuck by his loyal lieutenants for the disaster of Twickenham and who indicated that his number would be up if his team lost to Scotland. In the background, the IRFU had already made its first move by appointing a new assistant coach, Eddie O’Sullivan, to the ticket and Gatland’s head was on the block.

It seemed that O’Sullivan’s selection recommendations for the game against the Scots were heeded. In came the new guard and many of Gatland’s tried and trusted were jettisoned. The mix worked, even though Scotland were a massive disappointment, and the confidence clearly seeped through to last Saturday’s invigorating display.

Again, Italy were nothing to write home about, but here was an Ireland side playing with flair and imagination. When Gatland had the whip hand, the team found it hard to score tries against decent opposition, now with O’Sullivan beginning to pull the strings, 11 have been plundered in two matches.

The upstarts have more than justified their selections. O’Gara, after his mistake-ridden 50 minutes against the Scots, was foot and hand perfect this time. If 12 successful kicks out of 12 attempts was impressive enough, he was also superb in every other area.

Peter Stringer, Shane Horgan with two tries, John Hayes, Kieron Dawson and Simon Easterby have also done their bits. A trip to Paris on Sunday week could bring everything and everyone back down to earth, but suddenly, there is a pep in Irish rugby’s step.