Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
By Babs O
May 17 2009
So Close and Yet a Frontier too Far
So... we had finally made it to the showpiece of the Guinness Premiership season. No longer were we the unfashionable team from London, we had shown over the course of the season that we could hold our own and more against any team in this league.
May 17 2009
So Close and Yet a Frontier too Far
So... we had finally made it to the showpiece of the Guinness Premiership season. No longer were we the unfashionable team from London, we had shown over the course of the season that we could hold our own and more against any team in this league.
The form guide suggested that the Tigers who were more experienced getting to this stage would easily win but we had only been beaten by 2 points in both league encounters so maybe, just maybe Irish could do the business.
So here we were, the Ojo clan were excited and nervous about the events about to unfold before us. The London Irish contingent were in good voice and flags were waving high and there was the belief that we could do it. The key would be to start well, take the game to the Tigers and not let them get ahead.
Kick off! and well could we have wanted a better start than we got, 22 seconds on the clock and Peter Hewat collects a kick from Vesty and drops a goal from 40 meters to make the score 3-0 Irish. Game on! the next few minutes were very scrappy but what was clear to see was that the Tigers were looking to run the ball as much as we were and there were a few occasions were the Leicester backs found space they caused Irish a lot of trouble specifically Hamilton and the consummate Geordan Murphy. 11 min in and a ruck offence gives us a pen from just inside the Leicester half but Delon pushes his kick wide. the game of this magnitude resembles a game of chess as both teams try to work each other out and mistakes are being made on both side. 16 min and a penalty to Leicester kicked by Dupuy makes it 3-3. the pace of the game starts to pick up and after good play from dodge and Maps we get a penalty in the 22 from near enough in front of the posts. the kicking mistakes from the semi final come into play as Hewat misses the kick. WE start to pick the pace up in the game and Hewat creates space for Hudson with a 2 man overlap which doesn’t get used and again we come away with no points. Delon misses another kick 33 min in from close to half way again and i start hoping that we don’t end up paying for these misses. we spend the last 5 mins of the half camped in Tigers 22 and the pressure tells so much that they are reduced to 14 men when Jordan Crane is sin binned. we huff and we puff with penalty after penalty but rather than go for the 3 points we take the scrums and the half ends 3-3 with us not getting anything from the possession and territory.
So all square with 40 mins between us and glory. we had been the better team at the end of the half, a man advantage as well. Surely we had to start off well and take the game to Leicester. we start the half well and we get a penalty after 8 mins which is taken by Delon, 6-3 Irish and we have the lead we deserved. The tigers then raise their game and make good progress into the Irish 22 but we defend stoutly with honourable mentions to Steff, maps and dodge for aggressive defence. However the pressure tells after 61 mins when Jordan Crane crashes over from close range. From where i am sitting it looks a try but Wayne Barnes goes upstairs to check but it is given. Dupuy converts to make it 10-6 Tigers and we are in the position we didn’t want to be in which is chasing the game. All our hard work and we didn’t come away with points but Leicester are clinical and with 20 to go, its all on us to go and win this game. we keep trying to play the game in the right areas with kicks to the corner and getting in the faces of the Leicester players. 71 mins and we get a penalty just past half way which Delon kicks again to make it 10-9 and 9 mins to win this game. Do we have what it takes? Can my nerves handle it?? so on we go and its to and fro with players putting their bodies on the line for their teams, and all we need to do is get into range for a drop goal or penalty. we start giving away silly penalties and critically our decision making lets us down as we win possession with 2 mins remaining but decide to kick the ball away. you can hear the groans from the Irish fans as we are all thinking hold on to it!! Leicester win the ball and count the clock down, Dupuy kicks the ball out and the Tigers are champions.
So... as always my overall thoughts on the game. Being honest and impartial, Irish should have and could have won the game. Our decisions on the day at the critical moments cost us the game, specifically at the end of the 1st half where we were camped in the Leicester 22 and came away with no points after taking scrum after scrum. The Tigers defended well and congratulations to them for their win and their season overall.
Now with my green tinted specs on, congratulations to each and every one of the playing and coaching staff for this seasons achievements. If back in Sept when I was sat at Twickenham waiting to watch the double header and someone had said we would be runners up, I would have taken it and I think most Irish fans would have done too. What is clear is that with this group of players and coaches, we have shown that we can compete for seasons to come and I have no doubt that the experience will stand us in good stead. The fans inside Twickenham were excellent and kept singing for the boys all day long.
So I doff my hat to everyone involved in the club and will finish this report by saying this... London Irish - Guinness Premiership champions 2009-2010. You heard it here first!!!
So here we were, the Ojo clan were excited and nervous about the events about to unfold before us. The London Irish contingent were in good voice and flags were waving high and there was the belief that we could do it. The key would be to start well, take the game to the Tigers and not let them get ahead.
Kick off! and well could we have wanted a better start than we got, 22 seconds on the clock and Peter Hewat collects a kick from Vesty and drops a goal from 40 meters to make the score 3-0 Irish. Game on! the next few minutes were very scrappy but what was clear to see was that the Tigers were looking to run the ball as much as we were and there were a few occasions were the Leicester backs found space they caused Irish a lot of trouble specifically Hamilton and the consummate Geordan Murphy. 11 min in and a ruck offence gives us a pen from just inside the Leicester half but Delon pushes his kick wide. the game of this magnitude resembles a game of chess as both teams try to work each other out and mistakes are being made on both side. 16 min and a penalty to Leicester kicked by Dupuy makes it 3-3. the pace of the game starts to pick up and after good play from dodge and Maps we get a penalty in the 22 from near enough in front of the posts. the kicking mistakes from the semi final come into play as Hewat misses the kick. WE start to pick the pace up in the game and Hewat creates space for Hudson with a 2 man overlap which doesn’t get used and again we come away with no points. Delon misses another kick 33 min in from close to half way again and i start hoping that we don’t end up paying for these misses. we spend the last 5 mins of the half camped in Tigers 22 and the pressure tells so much that they are reduced to 14 men when Jordan Crane is sin binned. we huff and we puff with penalty after penalty but rather than go for the 3 points we take the scrums and the half ends 3-3 with us not getting anything from the possession and territory.
So all square with 40 mins between us and glory. we had been the better team at the end of the half, a man advantage as well. Surely we had to start off well and take the game to Leicester. we start the half well and we get a penalty after 8 mins which is taken by Delon, 6-3 Irish and we have the lead we deserved. The tigers then raise their game and make good progress into the Irish 22 but we defend stoutly with honourable mentions to Steff, maps and dodge for aggressive defence. However the pressure tells after 61 mins when Jordan Crane crashes over from close range. From where i am sitting it looks a try but Wayne Barnes goes upstairs to check but it is given. Dupuy converts to make it 10-6 Tigers and we are in the position we didn’t want to be in which is chasing the game. All our hard work and we didn’t come away with points but Leicester are clinical and with 20 to go, its all on us to go and win this game. we keep trying to play the game in the right areas with kicks to the corner and getting in the faces of the Leicester players. 71 mins and we get a penalty just past half way which Delon kicks again to make it 10-9 and 9 mins to win this game. Do we have what it takes? Can my nerves handle it?? so on we go and its to and fro with players putting their bodies on the line for their teams, and all we need to do is get into range for a drop goal or penalty. we start giving away silly penalties and critically our decision making lets us down as we win possession with 2 mins remaining but decide to kick the ball away. you can hear the groans from the Irish fans as we are all thinking hold on to it!! Leicester win the ball and count the clock down, Dupuy kicks the ball out and the Tigers are champions.
So... as always my overall thoughts on the game. Being honest and impartial, Irish should have and could have won the game. Our decisions on the day at the critical moments cost us the game, specifically at the end of the 1st half where we were camped in the Leicester 22 and came away with no points after taking scrum after scrum. The Tigers defended well and congratulations to them for their win and their season overall.
Now with my green tinted specs on, congratulations to each and every one of the playing and coaching staff for this seasons achievements. If back in Sept when I was sat at Twickenham waiting to watch the double header and someone had said we would be runners up, I would have taken it and I think most Irish fans would have done too. What is clear is that with this group of players and coaches, we have shown that we can compete for seasons to come and I have no doubt that the experience will stand us in good stead. The fans inside Twickenham were excellent and kept singing for the boys all day long.
So I doff my hat to everyone involved in the club and will finish this report by saying this... London Irish - Guinness Premiership champions 2009-2010. You heard it here first!!!
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Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)
Date: 17/05/2009 16:33
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Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: lawnmower (IP Logged)
Date: 18/05/2009 09:46
I'm surprised anyone was willing to risk missing any of the action and atmosphere by making notes for a match report, but I suppose someone had to do it, so thank you Babs.
Under my LI shirt I was wearing a t-shirt printed with "London Irish, Guinness Premiership Champions 2008-9", but it never got an airing! I'm gutted that we were so close to achieving that goal, and so proud of the team and all the LI staff for their efforts and what they've gained this season, so I'm really looking forward to next season, and who knows? Maybe Babs' prediction will be correct!
Thank you LI, see you in September.
Colin
("Me? I'm just a lawnmower, you can tell me by the way I walk!")
Quote:Babs O
London Irish - Guinness Premiership champions 2009-2010.
Under my LI shirt I was wearing a t-shirt printed with "London Irish, Guinness Premiership Champions 2008-9", but it never got an airing! I'm gutted that we were so close to achieving that goal, and so proud of the team and all the LI staff for their efforts and what they've gained this season, so I'm really looking forward to next season, and who knows? Maybe Babs' prediction will be correct!
Thank you LI, see you in September.
Colin
("Me? I'm just a lawnmower, you can tell me by the way I walk!")
Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: Babs O (IP Logged)
Date: 18/05/2009 17:19
your welcome! always enjoy it and next year will be our year for silverware
Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: JamesC (IP Logged)
Date: 18/05/2009 17:56
Top report - thanks. I think Leicester felt the same as we did at half time the previous week.
Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: Props are not stupid (IP Logged)
Date: 18/05/2009 19:41
I feel the same way, Babs. We coould have and should have won. Thanks for your honest report and well done for finishing on a positive note.
Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: russell o'callaghan (IP Logged)
Date: 18/05/2009 19:52
Yup! 
Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: Stopsy (IP Logged)
Date: 18/05/2009 20:57
Excellent report, thanks, it sounds like the game I listened to but have yet to watch.
20:20 rose tinted hindsight is a wonderous thing but respect to Bob Casey for the Scrum decisions after 30 mins in the 1st half. He knew we were creaking and had the balls to call it.
20:20 rose tinted hindsight is a wonderous thing but respect to Bob Casey for the Scrum decisions after 30 mins in the 1st half. He knew we were creaking and had the balls to call it.
Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: MadMonk (IP Logged)
Date: 19/05/2009 11:20
If we had scored before half time his decision making would have been spot on. Further reflection on the events that led up to the decisions would not IMHO change those decisions.
Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: Babs O (IP Logged)
Date: 19/05/2009 11:31
Absolutely MM, as captain those are the things you either live or die by. guaranteed if we had taken the 3 points on offer and still lost, we would be questioning why we didnt go for the jugular and go for 5 or 7 points rather than 3.
Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: GMC_LI (IP Logged)
Date: 21/05/2009 09:37
The one thing I've heard no-one comment on why the option for a 5 metre line-out was not taken. Some may recall how effective that was for Wasps against Tigers last season with 2 tries scored from those.
Well reported Babs, reflecting just how far our expectations have risen.
Hope that Topsy's recovery to full fitness goes well.
Well reported Babs, reflecting just how far our expectations have risen.
Hope that Topsy's recovery to full fitness goes well.
Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: Babs O (IP Logged)
Date: 21/05/2009 09:53
Thanks GMC. FYI Topsy had his operation yesterday on his knee. all went well so the hard work starts now and hopefully it wont be too long before we see him playing at his best again
Re: Decisions Decisions Decisions!!
Posted by: waltham (IP Logged)
Date: 21/05/2009 10:10
Yup - fine report - brings it all back. Hope Topsy does recover quickly: IMHO an on form Topsy would have changed the game on Saturday and ..... c'est la vie
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