Replay '82?

One hardly dare say it, one hardly dare think it even, but it's staring us right between the goalposts. With four games played in the international championship, it would seem that, as in last season, there is no outstanding side in the series. And you have to have a very short memory not to realise what that assessment means in a contest of handicappers, Ireland remain the most effective match winning side in the championship!!

Tom Kiernan, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Ollie Campbell et al were probably the only observers to derive any comfort from the events of Saturday February 5. In Cardiff, England and Wales vied with each other to see who could fail to find touch most often in a game of so many mistakes that the final whistle came as a relief.

Meanwhile in gay Paree, the only consistent flamboyance of French rugby these days seems to be the gay abandon with which the French selectors decide that half backs should come and go. Irish hearts must have been cheered by the ability of the Scottish pack to shove where they willed. That performance augured well for the chances of the Irish pack against France at Lansdowne Road on February 19.

Any assessment of Ireland v France is of course complicated by the remarkable enthusiasm of those same French selectors for chopping and changing the gallic melange. At press time one does not know exactly who will and will not be in the French team. Given the laboured nature of their last gasp victory over Scotland, one suspects that the selectors will get out their slates and chalk again and produce a few different names for the Irish game.

Some things are clear about France v Ireland, though. There is among some members of the current Irish side the feeling that France's victory last year in Paris was not achieved in the most honourable fashion. Put simply, the French decided that if the ever effective and fough Irish pack were taken on and "duffed", then they had the players to run in the tries. So the French tough men, particularly the front row of Paparemborde, Dospital and Dintrans (recalled as a unit for that game) took on the Irish pack and duffed them.

Ciaran Fitzgerald was the specific target for several well aimed French fists. Magnificent rugby player though he is, Fitzgerald proved to be less successful as a pugilist. He suffered dreadfully from the attentions of the French front row arid was never his usual self. With the battle lost up front, with the captain literally punched out of the contest, Ireland capitulated tamely.

It takes rather less than the powers of a Delphic oracle to predict that perhaps one or two of the Irish side may be keen to avenge that bitter defeat, to erase the painful memory and in the process maybe erase the odd Frenchman. Such is the tough world of 'international rugby amongst the forwards. The referee might well be entitled to claim for overtime by the end of this Ireland-France game.

Even disregarding any grudges held over from last year, this match has to be a tough forward battle. The success of Ireland in '82 and '83 has been clearly based on their ability to keep the game tight, to revolve play around the back row and Ollie Campbell. The last thing Ireland want is a game in which there are a succession of fluid running movements with the ball travelling from wing to wing. The rationale for this is obvious play to your strengths. There is notougher, more experienced back row than the triumvirate of O' Driscoll, Slattery and Duggan. There are, however, at least two faster, more mobile back rows. The Frenchmen, Laurent Rodriguez, Jean-Luc Joinel and Jean Pierre Rives provide one and the Englishmen, John Scott,Nick Jeavons and Peter Winterbottom provide the other. Wise old Irish heads do not want to allow these boys room in which to stretch their legs and let their blond curls catch the wind.

The advent of Donal Linehan has changed the shape of Irish rugby. His magnificent jumping has ensured Ireland, for the first time in living memory, consistent middle of the line lineout ball of quality. There was nothing in the performance of either Orso or the unfortunately named, Condom, against Scotland to suggest that Ireland will not continue to enjoy plenty of good lineout ball.

That being the case, then there must be the possibility that Campbell will continue to prove that near perfection is his basic game. Given any sort of decent possession it will be interesting to see just what kicking delicacies Campbell can offer up to the unpredictable Serge Blanco, the French full back (selectors allowing).

Ireland will want to play their habitual tight game for not only the French back row but also the French trio of wingers, Patrick Esteve, Patrice Sella, and full back, Blanco have all got the pace which could stretch the Irish cover defence beyond breaking point. Tom Kiernan will not need reminding, after France's last visit to Dublin, of the dangers of kicking ball straight at any French back. Against both England and Scotland, the above trio of wingers and full back, showed an alarming ability to make a chance out of nothing. Beware counter attack!

Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the France-Scotland game was that the Scottish front five managed to dominate the French front five in the scrummage a great deal more effeotively than they had done against Ireland, a fortnight earlier. The recall of Jim Aitken in place of Gerry McGuinness doubtless had some part in this improved aspect of Scottish play. But the Scottish performance leave. some Irish hope that Ireland will be able to hang on in there in the serums, while they look for good possession in the lineouts.

Given the run of the four internationals played so far, it is possible to suggest that France will represent Ireland's most difficult opponents this year, as last. England still seem to be missing the power and control of Billy Beaumont at lock and Phil Blakeway at prop. Outside the pack there is always the possibility that Dusty Hare will find the Campbell kicking show too much. Well though Hare has played against both France and Wales, he can still be a fallible defender if consistently attacked.

England's problems seem small when compared with those of Wales, who managed to look just as miserable against England as they had done in that historic drubbing from Scotland last April. Back row and lock must be definite areas of worry for the selectors. It would be difficult to suggest that either Norster in the second row or Pickering at wing forward had made auspicious international debuts. If these two are persevered with, then perhaps Donal Linehan and Ollie Campbell could, respectively, give them very miserable afternoons.

International sides have to take their games, one at a time. France is the first, and probably the most difficult for Ireland. But if Ireland manages to survive with the French, then, dare one say it, a second triple crown is not beyond the bounds of rugby's possibilities. Ireland have got the specific blend of experience and fight in the pack, lineout winning ability, resolute defence and the peerless Ollie Campbell. That combination was too potent for Scotland. It could be too strong for both England and Wales as well.