By Gary Watton
April 16 2013
There was still no significant change in the fortunes of the Ireland rugby team, but they did come close to ending their jinx at the Parc des Princes. Instead of which, this would be another depressing whitewash season, to join other such fruitless campaigns as 1977, 1981, 1986, and 1992. I guess that euphemistically, Ireland were still 'a work in progress'.
IRELAND 16 SCOTLAND 17; 7th February; at Lansdowne Road
15 O'Shea
14 Wallace
13 Maggs
12 McCall
11 Hickie
10 Humphreys [drop goal, 2 penalties, conversion]
9 O'Meara
8 Miller
7 Dawson
6 Corkery
5 O'Kelly
4 Johns
3 Wallace
2 Wood (c)
1 Corrigan
A first-half try by Alan Tait helped to separate these teams. Scotland had led 11-10 at the halfway stage.
FRANCE 18 IRELAND 16; 7th March; at the Stade de France
15 O'Shea
14 Wallace
13 Maggs
12 Henderson
11 Hickie [TRY]
10 Elwood [3 penalties, conversion]
9 McGuinness
8 Costello
7 Ward
6 Corkery
5 O'Kelly
4 Johns
3 Wallace
2 Wood (c)
1 Corrigan
Ireland led 13-6 at the interval, but tries from Raphael Ibanez and Philippe Bernat-Salles prevented a famous victory.
IRELAND 21 WALES 30; 21st March; at Lansdowne Road
15 Clarke
14 Wallace
13 Maggs
12 Henderson
11 Hickie
10 Elwood [3 penalties, conversion]
9 McGuinness
8 Costello [TRY]
7 Ward [TRY]
6 Corkery
5 O'Kelly
4 Johns
3 Wallace
2 Wood (c)
1 Corrigan
Despite two first-half tries which yielded a 15-13 interval lead, Ireland lost to Wales for the first time since 1994.
ENGLAND 35 IRELAND 17; 4th April; at Twickenham
15 Clarke
14 Wallace
13 Maggs
12 McCall
11 Hickie [2 TRIES]
10 Elwood [penalty, 2 conversions]
9 McGuinness
8 Costello
7 Ward
6 Corkery
5 O'Kelly
4 Johns
3 Wallace
2 Wood (c)
1 Corrigan
Denis Hickie managed a try in each half, but triple-crown chasing England went one better, scoring two in each half.
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