Kidney upbeat ahead of England finale
Ireland coach Declan Kidney believes his team is heading in the right direction after a 32-14 win at home to Scotland set them up in style for their Six Nations finale against England.
Kidney’s men outscored the Scots by four tries to one, with stand-in captain Rory Best, recalled scrumhalf Eoin Reddan and wing Andrew Trimble all crossing in the first half before replacement Fergus McFadden went over late on.
Equally heartening for Ireland, who might have been travelling to Twickenham chasing a Grand Slam had it not been for blown leads in a defeat by unbeaten leaders Wales and a 17-17 draw with France, was that, having gone 22-14 up at half-time at Lansdowne Road, they didn’t let Scotland back into the match.
“I think our decision-making is getting better all the time, when to move it, when to play position,” said Kidney, adding: “We are asking more questions of the opposition.”
But the ever-cautious coach also said: “When we’ve lost matches we didn’t get overly despondent; just because we’ve won one, we’re not going to get overly excited. “Today is a good win so you want to celebrate that.
“We met [International Rugby Board referees’ chief] Paddy O’Brien in the week, to find out that a few of the penalties were given against us [in Paris] were harsh and a few penalties we should have been awarded weren’t awarded.
“You’re asking me about the campaign as a whole, the best thing is to take one match at a time.”
Best, equalling Keith Wood’s Ireland record of 58 caps at hooker and leading the side in the absence of Paul O’Connell – one of several first-choice players missing through injury along with Brian O’Driscoll, Sean O’Brien and Conor Murray, said the Irish had only themselves to blame for not being better-placed in the tournament.
“Against Wales it was bitterly disappointing but the bottom line is we were six points up with eight minutes to go, at home, and we weren’t able to close that out,” Best said.
“In France, we were 17-6 up at half-time and didn’t score a point in the second half,” the Ulsterman added.
After two Greig Laidlaw penalties had given Scotland an early lead, Ireland hit back when fly-half Jonathan Sexton kicked a penalty to touch and from the ensuing lineout, where Best was throwing in, saw their stand-in skipper get on the end of a well-worked move for a try.
“It was something we talked about with Jonny in the week that, especially early on, any kicks that weren’t really kickable we would just try to keep territory and keep the pressure on them,” Best explained.
“It’s always nice when you go to the corner and it pays off with a try.
“It was a very good performance and result. We knew it was going to have to be. There’s no doubt the Scots’ results don’t reflect their performances. They are a very good team and we knew we’d have to play well to beat them.
“To score 32 points against this Scottish team, we’ll take a lot of confidence into next week.”
England, under interim coach Stuart Lancaster, face a tough test ahead of the Ireland match when they face World Cup finalists France in Paris on Sunday following a 19-12 defeat by Wales – their only loss this tournament to date – last time out.
“They are playing really well for one another and like all English sides at Twickenham, they will be a force,” Kidney said.
“Obviously, they have to go to Paris but I think they have been knocking on the door in most of their matches and come up with a few good results.”
AFP
