By Gary Watton
April 23 2013
England and the all-conquering French ruined Ireland's 2002 Six Nations campaign. However, this was still a team making progress, assisted by a core of Munster players in the pack, including Anthony Foley, John Hayes, an emerging Paul O'Connell, and David Wallace. Meanwhile, in a re-run of the Campbell versus Ward debate, the talking point now was which fly half was worthy of a starting place: Ulster's David Humphreys or Munster's maestro, Ronan O'Gara? For the time being, the selectors kept faith with the experienced Humphreys.
IRELAND 54 WALES 10; 3rd February; at Lansdowne Road
15 Dempsey
14 Murphy [2 TRIES]
13 O'Driscoll
12 Maggs
11 Hickie [TRY]
10 Humphreys [6 penalties, 2 conversions]
9 Stringer
8 Foley
7 Wallace
6 Easterby
5 O'Connell [TRY]
4 Galwey (c)
3 Hayes
2 Sheahan
1 Clohessy
Substitutes O'Gara and Gleeson added to the tries' avalanche. Paul O'Connell and Keith Gleeson won their first caps.
ENGLAND 45 IRELAND 11; 16th February; at Twickenham
15 Dempsey
14 Murphy
13 O'Driscoll
12 Maggs
11 Hickie
10 Humphreys [2 penalties]
9 Stringer
8 Foley
7 Wallace
6 Miller
5 O'Kelly
4 Galwey (c)
3 Hayes
2 Sheahan
1 Clohessy
Unstoppable England amassed six converted tries. Ireland's only response was one from the replacement Ronan O'Gara.
IRELAND 43 SCOTLAND 22; 2nd March; at Lansdowne Road
15 Dempsey
14 Horgan [TRY]
13 O'Driscoll [3 TRIES]
12 Maggs
11 Hickie
10 Humphreys [4 penalties, 2 conversions]
9 Stringer
8 Foley
7 Wallace
6 Miller
5 O'Kelly
4 Galwey (c)
3 Hayes
2 Sheahan
1 Clohessy
Full back Brendan Laney kicked 17 points in a losing cause. Replacement Simon Easterby added to the tries' bonanza.
IRELAND 32 ITALY 17; 23rd March; at Lansdowne Road
15 Dempsey
14 Kelly [2 TRIES]
13 O'Driscoll
12 Horgan
11 Hickie [TRY]
10 Humphreys (c) [4 penalties]
9 Stringer
8 Foley
7 Wallace
6 Easterby
5 O'Kelly
4 Longwell
3 Hayes
2 Byrne
1 Clohessy
Italy replied with two second-half tries but Ireland were leading 17-0 at the halfway stage. John Kelly won his first cap.
FRANCE 44 IRELAND 5; 6th April; at the Stade de France
15 Dempsey
14 Horgan
13 O'Driscoll
12 Henderson
11 Hickie
10 Humphreys
9 Stringer
8 Foley
7 Wallace
6 Easterby
5 O'Kelly
4 Longwell
3 Hayes
2 Wood (c) [TRY]
1 Clohessy
Betsen and Brusque shared four tries and Gerald Merceron kicked sixteen points as France clinched un autre grand chelem.
View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.