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From Borneo Eagle to Grand Slam contender
By Neil Best
It’s a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.
By Saturday Ireland will have arrived at the last link. Since Jonny Sexton’s very late drop goal in Paris, it has felt that Ireland’s destiny was a Championship defining St Patrick’s Day showdown with England. What wasn’t scripted however, was England no longer being a contender by the time they got there.
It says a lot about England’s snakes and ladders rise and fall under Eddie Jones that their Twickenham role has been reduced to that of -at best the spoiler at a Grand Slam party. For many seasons providing a bump in the road for the eventual Champions was the role of the Irish in front of a vociferous Dublin crowd. And it’s hard to see English pride at Twickenham lifting their team to the level of upset that the Irish once made their signature.
But that signature has changed and the Irish under Joe Schmidt are a very different beast. Schmidt has created a team with the knack of winning tight games and the knack of winning when not at their best. But on Saturday I fully expect this Irish team to be at their best and the English to offer only temporary resistance. Ireland don’t only want to win, they will want to win in style.
Unlike Ireland England’s enforced changes has weakened their starting fifteen. Ireland have coped incredibly well with injuries which bodes well for Japan next year.
For all the superb individual Irish performances at different stages of this year’s Championship maybe the role played by Bundee Aki has been the most significant. We all know that Joe Schmidt likes a Kiwi in midfield and in recent seasons Jared Payne has filled that role. But the unavailability of Payne and others gave Aki a chance to stake his claim and he’s done much more than that.
For a guy who used to turn out for Borneo Eagles -a friend recalled this week -and played for them on the pitches of Singapore Cricket Club in seasons past, Aki’s journey to mainstay of a potentially Gram Slam winning Irish team has maybe been the most remarkable. His performances have arguably elevated him to first in line of Schmidt’s midfield options and it will be intriguing to see what the first-choice combination will be when the likes of Ringrose, Farrell and Henshaw are all injury free at the same time.
Last November, amongst others Neil Francis was stinging in his criticism of the selection of Aki for Ireland. Francis has been consistent but from some quarters it was a level of criticism that felt greater than that of the likes of Payne, Stander and Strauss. But another strong performance and a win on Saturday will make Bundee just as Irish as anyone who’s ever worn the green jersey.
The greatest danger to Ireland is being overly cautious and giving England too much respect. Providing they avoid that pitfall and back themselves from the start, this weekend will provide an Ireland Grand Slam and hats off to Joe Schmidt.
The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is better to abandon one’s self to destiny
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Yep playing in USA or UK would be the money spinner. I can only presume that the amount being offered just wasnt worth the hassle for NZR, its schedules and its players, but tbh if they can extend the SR season Id much rather see a fairer draw where all teams play each other twice. I cant see why a Bledisloe in USA or UK cant be played outside the Test window ( doesnt effect NZr or RA players ) and have it played before the UK tours start.
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