At a time when patience, precision and punch are required, outside of the scrum and lineout, Ireland are struggling with the basic concepts of forward play

SEVENTY EIGHT minutes and 40 seconds into Ireland’s match against the US and Eoin Reddan placed his hands on the ball. Moments earlier Ronan O’Gara had pushed Ireland down the US line with a penalty. Paul O’Connell soared once more to bring his lineout catches to an impressive eight. From the catch Ireland set off in a tight lineout maul with Jerry Flannery as the trailer.

The maul hit the deck and Ireland were 12 metres from the US line, poised and ready to pounce. And pounce they needed to do as a fourth try would have brought not just a bonus point but also a little more satisfaction. Surely with 80 seconds on the clock and the Irish bench unloaded the Yanks would wilt to a clever Irish play full of hard lines and decoy runners to open their defence and afford Tommy Bowe a hat-trick?

It was a clever play resulting in Brian O’Driscoll running a decoy run for O’Gara to chip over the top with Keith Earls chasing. The ball bounced yards from the US line with a 22 kick out the call; clock 79 minutes. Exactly one minute later US outside centre Paul Emerick ran under the Irish posts for seven points. The Yanks were within five points of a bonus point and Ireland lost theirs.

I labour this point for a reason, not because Emerick scored but because Ireland, a top tier nation bursting with champions, with 80 seconds on the clock against amateurs, resorted to a 50-50 play relying on the bounce of a ball. It should never come to this. Variety is an important tool and if Ireland were six tries to the good then this chip kick would be a splendid option, icing on the cake.

Ireland for at least a year have been unable to impose their game on the opposition and this play of hit and hope typified our troubles. Where is the attack? Or as Jack Nicholson’s character Melvin Udall was wont to ask . . . What if this is as good as it gets?

All weekend I’ve watched, open-jawed at the brilliance on display. France versus Japan was outstanding, as was South Africa and Wales. Dare I say it I particularly enjoyed the Pumas tussling with England and my heart broke to see both them and subsequently Wales fail through a combination of poor kicking or bad luck. If luck be your lady then referee Chris White be a troll as Wales were given nothing in the end, likewise Argentina with the late tackle late on.

Ireland didn’t require luck as in facing the USA they were given a much better hand than both the Pumas and Welsh. Did they maximise this luck? No. So what have we learnt from the fixture?

It now appears Ireland can only perform when rank outsiders, heavy underdogs and playing like rabid dogs. Thankfully that’s exactly what I expect from them next weekend against the Wallabies, so I look forward to picking over that on Friday. However, where patience, precision and punch are required, we struggle. As much as I would have abhorred a bonus point try through lineout mauls, or indeed scrums, at least it would have been a bonus point win that could have broken the USA before playing a little more enjoyable rugby as the game opened up (weather permitting).

That’s not how it unfolded, primarily because – as architects – we were unable to design it. There continues to be many reasons for this but chief amongst them is our tight five, who either don’t understand their role in open play or are incapable of executing their role. Next weekend will tell a lot.

That’s not how it started out yesterday, as I noted the first breakdown was ferocious – excellent. The first ball Jonny Sexton received (from a US box kick) was pumped back into the corner – excellent. The first US lineout was turned over through Irish forward pressure – excellent. The first Irish scrum was a big hit, high on technique but the power and follow through was heavy and the US were walked back – excellent.

The first Irish lineout (to O’Connell) was mauled for big yards with Donncha O’Callaghan at nine twice with O’Connell receiving wide twice – excellent. Penalties started growing through the pressure – excellent. With such a gulf in the set-piece, it was simply about management of the game.

Imagine for a moment an Irish province or a Toulouse pack gaining such superiority, never mind New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, France, Wales, Scotland, Argentina, even England. What would have unfolded?

But then the US began to get a foothold in the game and in the conditions they displayed a huge level of precision and patience with ball in hand. Emerick managed a number of rumbles on the outside channel, targeting O’Driscoll on four occasions, slipping him once.

Ah, Eddie O’Sullivan you are a clever man. I’ve very much enjoyed your interviews all week and especially pre and post match. In the battle of the coaches O’Sullivan beat his man, Declan Kidney, hands down.

As early as the 30th minute the intensity had abated from the Irish breakdown. Much will be made of Shane Jennings’ performance but in number eight Jamie Heaslip we have a problem. At six, Stephen Ferris battled throughout making hits, looking for the ball, a hungry performance behind a pack that conceded the breakdown for much of the match.

Heaslip is class, a world class player but apart from two line-outs I can’t remember a single hit or carry. The Irish pack is carrying far too many players and started with just two big ball-carriers in Ferris and Heaslip. Heaslip must step up. The remainder are facilitators to the game plan.

Todd Clever, the US openside, illustrates this point no end. Coming up on 15 minutes O’Connell gets another lineout maul rumbling and from the subsequent breakdown Clever concedes a penalty to put Ireland on the scoreboard. He is an outstanding player and was brilliant yesterday but he should never have got into that position to concede the penalty. If he can get in there at 6ft 4in, what will Australian David Pocock do at the weekend?

The US deserve huge credit for their performance, as does their master O’Sullivan. They will lick their wounds for Russia knowing that when in possession they can build phases and look like a rugby team of 15 players capable of going forward and eking out opportunities. In fact, but for a very poor US clearance from Ireland’s restart on 53 minutes, Ireland’s lineout maul might not have afforded Rory Best the try.

Ireland, unfortunately, are still struggling with this basic concept, how to go forward with ball in hand. The lineout maul and scrum will not go forward as it did yesterday.

It is very difficult to examine the individual performances of the Irish players based on the team performance but O’Gara and Reddan coming on did improve matters, although I noted on their arrival that they aren’t much noted for their rucking, which is exactly what Ireland need.

PS That bouncing ball from above hadn’t crossed the try line before sub scrumhalf Tim Usasz got his hands on it. Poor call referee, Irish scrum five metres out, certain fourth try and a bonus point!