By Gary Watton
April 11 2013
The start of a new decade marked the end of an era for the Welsh. Their dominance was replaced by a resurgent England who swept all before them, including their Welsh neighbours in a notoriously bad-tempered clash at Twickenham. Meanwhile, Ireland were still on an upward curve, in spite of a poor start at Twickers. Now a certain Ollie Campbell had emerged as the latest Oirish fly half sensation. Ironically, Ireland probably possessed the best two fly halves in the British Isles but could not for the time being accommodate both Campbell and Ward in the same starting XV.
ENGLAND 24 IRELAND 9; 19th January; at Twickenham
15 O'Brien
14 Kennedy
13 McKibbin
12 McNaughton
11 McLennan
10 Campbell [3 penalties]
9 Patterson
8 Duggan
7 Slattery (c)
6 O'Driscoll
5 Glennon
4 Keane
3 McLoughlin
2 Fitzgerald
1 Orr
This was not a happy debut for Kevin O'Brien nor Jim Glennon! Ireland had actually led 9-6 shortly before half-time.
IRELAND 22 SCOTLAND 15; 2nd February; at Lansdowne Road
15 O'Donnell
14 Kennedy [TRY]
13 McKibbin
12 McNaughton
11 Moloney
10 Campbell [3 penalties, 1 drop goal, 1 conversion]
9 Patterson
8 Duggan
7 Slattery (c)
6 O'Driscoll
5 Keane [TRY]
4 Glennon
3 Fitzpatrick
2 Fitzgerald
1 Orr
David Johnston managed two tries for Scotland while Munster's Moss Keane recorded his only international try in this win.
FRANCE 19 IRELAND 18; 1st March; at Parc des Princes
15 O'Donnell
14 Kennedy
13 Irwin
12 McNaughton
11 McLennan [TRY]
10 Campbell [3 penalties, 1 drop goal, 1 conversion]
9 Patterson
8 Spring
7 Slattery (c)
6 O'Driscoll
5 Keane
4 Foley
3 Fitzpatrick
2 Fitzgerald
1 Orr
Two second-half tries from the winger Jean-Francois Gourdon narrowly foiled a rare Irish win in Paris.
IRELAND 21 WALES 7; 15th March; at Lansdowne Road
15 O'Donnell
14 Kennedy
13 Irwin [TRY]
12 McNaughton
11 Moloney
10 Campbell [penalty, 3 conversions]
9 Patterson
8 Spring
7 Slattery (c)
6 O'Driscoll [TRY]
5 Foley
4 Keane
3 Fitzpatrick
2 Fitzgerald [TRY]
1 Orr
Ciaran Fitzgerald charged down a kick to record a rare try as Ireland emphatically built upon their 6-3 interval lead.
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