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2019 Ireland Off The Rails

2nd,

October After Defeat To Japan

| By Barry Coughlan point of tackling low. It was either that
EXAMINER “Iline in the Irish edition of the second receivers which showed all the
reland had all the subtlety of a
or a cut-back ball between the first and
school team” screamed a head-
subtlety of a schoolboy team and was
as easy to read as a children’s picture
Sunday Times earlier this week, top-
IRISH ping an article by former international book.
winger Shane Horgan.
“The Irishman in me is angered by
this lame defeat but the rugby fan in
A sub-heading on the same page
said: “Schmidt (Joe) faces some difficult me is delighted. To show progress,
conversations with big players who are rugby needs a minnow to upset a Tier moment against the Brave Blossoms. Schmidt has come under pressure
under-performing.” One nation at each tournament,” said In the eighth game between the coun- for not devising a game-plan good
All of which, in the circumstances, Horgan. tries, Japan looked in trouble after 20 enough to knock this Tier-Two
following Ireland’s shock World Cup Japan have now done that in succes- minutes when they trailed 12-3, but Japanese side over, but Jonathan
defeat to Japan, wasn’t really over the sive World Cups, having scalped South they went on to dominate the rest of Sexton jumped to the defense of
top. Horgan made it quite clear in the Africa in Brighton four years ago. the match and used quality possession departing coach Schmidt by simply
article that he wasn’t just having a pop Ireland should have known what to play quality rugby. saying that the team hadn’t executed
for the sake of it. Yet, he stressed, ques- was coming down the track but In the previous seven games against the game-plan.
tions have to be asked. Schmidt’s decision to largely stick with Ireland, they shipped an average of 31 “Joe is an excellent coach and we
His observations after the 19-12 the side that demolished Scotland in points against but that was never on have full belief in him. His record is the
defeat which throws Pool A wide open the opening game came back to haunt the cards this time out. best of an Ireland coach by a country
and threatens Ireland’s very survival in him. Japan now control the pool, know- mile and what he has done for us as a
the group – who is to say that Samoa, Weary legs and oppressive humidity ing that victory over Samoa and team for us as a team over the last six
even allowing for capitulation to clearly took its toll on Ireland, particu- Scotland will put them in pole position or seven years – and for me, 10 years –
Scotland, for instance, might not take larly on the ageing captain Rory Best and secure the quarter final fixture I don’t have to go and keep talking
inspiration from Japan and inflict who put in an unexpectedly long shift against South Africa that Ireland about.
Ireland’s second defeat upon them – against the Scots. In hindsight – and expected to get before the weekend’s “He had a great plan for the
were good. hindsight is a great thing – Schmidt game. Japanese game and we (Ireland) didn’t
“When Ireland recycled the ball, it might well have been better off to ring That would mean Ireland must win just execute it well enough,” said
was predictably released to one-off several more changes and trust the fact their last games against Russia and Sexton who missed the game through
runners in a pod formation, none of that he has, or should have, a quality Samoa to finish second and secure a injury.
whom looked like they would have squad rather than a quality first-choice place in the knock-out stage against The now veteran out-half is likely to
any penetration, especially against a team. holders New Zealand. feature in the remaining games against
Japanese defensive line that made a This was Ireland’s worst ever The reaction from the Irish camp Russia and Samoa as Ireland desperate-
was, predictably, one of grave disap- ly seek to maximize their return from
Sean Downes pointment with Irish try-scorer Garry those games; the pressure is on to
secure two bonus point wins to ensure
Ringrose observing that the defeat was
“up there” in terms of lows in his inter- they qualify and even, perhaps, still top
Attorney at Law national career. Pool 1.
The losing bonus point gained
“We’ll have to look harder at our-
67 Wall Street, Suite 2401 selves as to where we can improve. against Japan might still be very impor-
New York, New York 10005-3101 They (Japan) put us under pressure in tant as Ireland lick their wounds and
Telephone: (212) 248-3232 Fax (212) 248-2848 the right areas and our indiscipline let count the cost of injuries. Chris Farrell
Representing those injured in: them keep building into the game. is the latest victim and Schmidt will be
SCAFFOLDING ACCIDENTS CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS Then, when they took the lead, they hoping that Robbie Henshaw will have
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
AND ALL OTHER ACCIDENT CASES defended very well and made it very recovered to play his part in the
difficult for us to score.” remaining fixtures. C

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