Big Bowe Celebrates

By Gary Watton
November 9 2014

Statistics can be misleading, and indeed Ireland's convincing score against South Africa is indeed a bit flattering, but nevertheless the hosts can derive much satisfaction with a remarkable triumph which emphatically proved that there is life after O'Driscoll. Furthermore, the hosts demonstrated their strength in depth and sheer strength of character by prevailing in spite of a depleted squad.          Time will tell whether or not Henshaw and Payne are the long-term answer to the tried and trusted D'Arcy and O'Driscoll axis, but one partnership which improves with every outing is the pairing of the outstanding Sexton with the equally impressive Murray. Each has had his share of critics, but while nobody doubts Jonny's position amongst the elite of international fly halves, it's Conor, his sidekick, who has also made rapid strides, particularly during and since the last Lions tour. If Murray and Sexton can remain injury-free for the next twelve months, then Ireland are going to be blessed with a couple of exceptional players in the pivotal half back department in the forthcoming Six Nations and World Cup tournaments. The decision-making, tactical kicking, defence, and general manoeuvring of the half backs is of huge importance, and fortunately Ireland now have two of the best in the business.

It's not that the South Africans were woeful - far from it. Instead their enterprise (which some might consider to be bordering on arrogance or at least strategical naïveté) was constantly repelled by a determined display of bloody-minded defence from the home team. In fact, Ireland's efforts amounted to one of the best demonstrations of clinical rugby, consisting of resolute defending, allied with the streetwise knack of converting your own chances. Ireland now have gone on to the level where every time that they advance into enemy territory, their incursion results in more points on the scoreboard. If the Oirish maintain this good habit and continue to excel at stout resistance, then the term 'dark horses' can plausibly be ascribed to their World Cup ambitions. While the next encounter against Georgia will primarily be an opportunity for the fringe players to pass their auditions, the meeting in two weeks time with Australia will prove to be an accurate indicator of whether the victory against South Africa was a freak result or a foundation for glory in 2015. It certainly should not be forgotten that the visitors were battle-hardened, having successfully locked horns with Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand in recent weeks. Ireland by contrast were expected to be rusty, but they well and truly exceeded expectations and even led 29-10 before conceding a late try which partially concealed South Africa's apparent humiliation.

As for Mr Sexton, even his goal-kicking clicked, presumably a consequence of a gent oozing with confidence. Suddenly the apprentice of recent years is now an accomplished pro whose general game merits favourable comparison alongside such luminaries as Campbell, Ward, and O'Gara.

If only Ireland had kept this performance for next year's World Cup, but with Joe Schmidt managing his troops impeccably well, such displays could conceivably become commonplace, regardless of who might be on the treatment table.

IRELAND 29 South Africa 15; at Dublin; 8th November 2014

15 Kearney

14 Bowe (TRY)

13 Payne

12 Henshaw

11 Zebo

10 Sexton (4 penalties, 2 conversions) replaced by Madigan (penalty)

9 Murray

8 Heaslip

7 Ruddock (TRY)

6 O'Mahony

5 O'Connell (captain)

4 Toner

3 Ross

2 Cronin

1 McGrath