By Jonathan Bowen
In what has been described as one of the great Irish test matches of all time, Ireland claimed a valuable bonus point victory in Dublin against France winning 32-19. The game was full of tension with Ireland needing to rely on the depth of its squad to ensure victory. The Irish squad games against the New Zealand Maori, New Zealand XV and the South African Provincial games last year paid off when the reserve players finished off the job the first team started. The Irish team’s depth of experience proved to be the key in winning the game.
Ireland started the game on the back foot when France took early possession of the ball and scored with a penalty giving the France a 3-0 lead. Ireland fought back and scored the first try of the game through some good work by Hugo Keenan which Johnny Sexton converted easily. In this arm wrestle of a game, France took back the momentum of the game and when they converted a penalty and scored a converted try within ten minutes Irish fans started to worry that this was not going to be their day. The Irish fans didn’t need to worry though when in the 20th minute of the game, James Lowe scored what will be classified as one of the great tries of all time. He ran towards the corner flag and launched himself into the air while getting the ball touched down over the try line without putting a foot out of play. It has been called the ‘Superman try’! This score brought Ireland within a point of France after twenty minutes of the game.
France looked to change the momentum of the game but when Uini Atonio was sent to the bin for a shoulder contact to Rob Herring head in what looked like a bad tackle effort on Uini’s behalf, Ireland looked to put their foot on France’s throat by taking advantage of their extra man. Andrew Porter scored a well worked try which Johnny Sexton converted to give Ireland a 19-13 lead, which swung the game back in Ireland’s favor. France hit back in the 33rd minute with a Thomas Ramos drop goal and when Antoine Dupont made arguably the tackle of the year when he individually held up Mack Hanson from scoring a certain try, (which will no doubt be replayed time and time again) France kept themselves in the game. It was only when Johnny Sexton scored a drop goal on half time that Ireland looked like a team in control.
France wobbled in the second half when Thomas Ramos missed a penalty and when Ireland started to ring in the substitutions (Byrne coming on for Sexton, Casey coming on for Murray and Conan coming on from O’Mahony) Irish fans started to wonder could their team could hang on to secure the win. Ross Byrne scored a drop goal in the 59th minute but only two minutes later France struck through Thomas Romas, trailing Ireland by only six points. Ireland finally secured the result when Garry Ringrose scored a try which Ross Byrne converted to secure Ireland the bonus point victory. The result went a long way to proving Ireland’s Grand Slam and World Cup credentials. This year’s Six Nations tournament is still very much an open competition which Ireland, with their two bonus point victories so far, have put themselves in the box seat to win. However, the win against France was very much a statement that Ireland can beat France and with a potential World Cup quarterfinal meeting with them in Paris, Ireland will not be intimated easily by a team they scored four tries against at home.
In other Six Nations results, Scotland kept up the pressure on Ireland securing a big bonus point victory against Wales, 35-7, at home in Edinburgh. It was a game Scotland dominated and Wales played as badly as I have ever seen them play. I don’t envy Warren Gatland’s job, as rebuilding Welsh rugby is going to take more than just a few key possessional changes and change of game plan. My pre-tournament prediction of Italy beating Wales is starting to look more like a certainty.
England bounced back after their loss at home to Scotland with a bonus point win against Italy at home. It was the result England desperately needed to get and was also Steve Borthwick’s first win in charge.
The Six Nations takes a break this weekend and returns the following week when Ireland will play Italy in Rome and Wales will play England in Cardiff and France will play Scotland in Paris. A Scottish win in Paris is a must if Scotland want to keep their Six Nations Championship and Grand Slam hopes alive. It will be the toughest game they will have played in years but if they get a result then suddenly a lot of things will change as far as rugby fans expectations are concerned.
Ireland kept their dreams of a Six Nations Grand Slam double alive with the Irish U20s securing a two-point victory against France at a sold-out Musgrave Park in Cork. In what was a classic game that went down to the wire when Sam Prendergast with nerves of steel converted a last-minute penalty securing Ireland the win. In the other results, Scotland secured a one-point victory against Wales at home and England secured a seven-point victory over Italy at home.
In rugby news closer to home, the reigning MLR champions the New York Ironworkers kick off their season this week with a replay of last year’s MLR Championship final game against the Seattle Seawolves. The Ironworkers will have a lot to prove with year, with Nehe Milner Skudder and Waisake Naholo leaving the squad, however with new coach James Semple replacing Marty Veale I expect New York to carry on their winning ways from last season. James Semple is the ex-coach of the Waikato women’s rugby side in New Zealand where they won the prestigious Farah Palmer Cup in 2021. James is also married to New Zealand Blackferns Rugby legend Chelsea Alley.
In other exciting news the New York Ironworks will start playing their home games at their new home ground Mount Vernon Memorial Stadium with their first home game being on February 27th at 7 pm against the Toronto Arrows. Tickets can be purchased through the club’s website.
One other bit of news for the week, Orla Fowley is looking to raise money for the CARI Foundation and CRY Cardiac Risk in the Young and The Mid-Western Cancer Foundation in honor of Munster and Irish Rugby Legend Anthony Fowley. If you can spare a few dollars this is a very worthwhile cause to donate too. As part of the fundraiser Orla has cycled 3000km around Ireland and counting. She is looking to raise 40K euro for this very worthy cause. Here is a link to the website where you can donate: www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/ORLASWILDWAYS.
If you want to keep up to date with all the latest rugby news you can find me on Instagram @jb052006 or and at twitter@Jonatha2590684 or email jonathan.joseph.bowen@gmail.com.