Schmidt’s tactics perfect
Tommy Bowe pounces to score late on. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO
IT MAY NOT have been the most aesthetically pleasing of rugby games, but that was never likely to be a priority for either side. Ireland flagged early in the week that they would look to kick plentifully, and that’s exactly what they did.
There weren’t too many risks involved in Ireland’s game plan, which focused on pressuring the Boks in the air, battering forward through the midfield and with inside passes and then taking their points whenever those chances arose.
They struck clinically for two tries that came straight out of the video analysis room.
Sexton delivered from the tee to reward Ireland’s forays into the Boks half, while he and the other key playmakers allowed the likes of Tommy Bowe, Simon Zebo and Rob Kearney to chase hard when kicking from hand.
World-class halfbacks
Sexton was in world-class form for Ireland. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton were utterly dominant in the half-back battle, bossing Ireland’s attack and kicking superbly. Murray came up with a big play at exactly the time Ireland needed it, dinking a perfect kick behind the Boks for Bowe to run onto and score.
Sexton was excellent with his kicking out of hand and was sublime off the ground, stroking over efforts from a wide range of positions. His defence was also of the highest standard, as he threw his body into contact repeatedly.
As Joe Schmidt builds towards the 2015 Six Nations and World Cup, he can be comfortable in the fact that his halfbacks are world class.
Defensive appetite
Ireland soaked up mountains of pressure from the Boks. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Schmidt’s men had to do a whole lot of defending throughout this fixture, much of it in their defensive third of the pitch. The Boks were as fearsome as ever when carrying the ball, and certainly won several one-on-one collisions, but Ireland always came back for more.
Strong breakdown competition helped Ireland to keep their defence in good shape. Even when there were no steals, the Irish back row slowed the Boks’ possession and allowed their teammates to get set-up for the next wave of attack.