Rugby is like a poker game. There are many hands to be played and many decisions to be made. It is the brain behind the operation that is clinical in determining the result. Ireland's performance Sunday morning showed us that Declan Kidney is a guru in tactical planning. He knows the ins and outs of the game. As well as playing his cards right, he was able to accurately predict Italy's run of play and capitalize on Ireland's response to any advance on the Italian front. Kidney made two crucial changes to his side with O'Gara starting ahead of Sexton and Conor Murray in for Eoin Reddan. For Kidney there is no player better in his eyes. He utilizes the full strength of his squad. Doing his homework previous to each game he revises what are his best options on the day. Sexton and Reddan started against Australia and for no fault of theirs were replaced against Italy. Every team is different and every player has certain attributes that make him a more desirable option for specific roles and tactics. Sexton is younger and fitter than O'Gara and more capable of running at the opposition and finding gaps which is probably why he was picked against Australia who are a skillful side and were expected to be playing at a high tempo. The Italian game was a gruelling battle as predicted with the scrum being a decisive factor in the run of play. O'Gara would be favored in these kind of games for his impeccable record from placed kicks and his precision kicking for touch in pressurized situations. Conor Murray is quick on the off-load and also very physical in his offensive approach taking on the opposition. This may have stunned the Italian side who may have expected Murray to be cautious like Reddan off-loading the ball to safer options which was advisable against Australia. Murray was keen to get stuck in, taking risks to gain every inch. In sport you can train all you want, you can revise all possible outcomes but at the end of the day there is always an element of luck involved. It is the team with the greatest heart that can adapt to the unpredictability of the game that will put luck on their side. In sport you have to be a gambler except you never fold your cards. You must go through with every decision; there is no point in looking back with regrets. Just know that you put in your best effort and will continue to do so. This seems to be the mentality we have seen in Ireland's world cup thus far and we hope they can sustain it all the way to the final.
Kidney knows that the psychological side to the game is just as important as the physical. The motivation of the team has been overwhelming with Australia crumbling to a hungry Irish side. Players are eager to prove their worth with O'Gara coming on against Australia to score two penalties and earning a starting place against Italy. Similarly Sexton came on against Italy to score two penalties. This competition ensures that players will do their utmost on the pitch to retain their place and Kidney can take comfort in the fact that any of his replacements will do the job he requests to the best of their ability. Ireland like the odds when they're the underdogs. It's what gave them the edge against Australia. It's what made them nervous against Italy as Ireland were underdogs turned favorites. Now they are in a quarter final of the world cup ranking fifth in the world. I don't think they can call themselves underdogs anymore. It's heads up against Wales. They won as favorites against Italy so hopefully Irish nerves have hardened and expectation won't falter their game plan.
With Sean O'Brien bursting through Italian defenses like a giant among men, Keith Earl's relentless pace earning him two tries and Cian Healy's determined strength in the scrum along with Mike Ross and Rory Best, Wales certainly have a lot to worry about. Tommy Bowe will be looking for a consolation in the upcoming match after the referee unjustifiably disallowed two tries which were perfectly fine. The first was called as a knock on when all he did was juggle it and the second should have been given as a penalty try when Bowe was clearly impeded on off the ball by the Italian defense. Cian Healy did well to keep his cool with Salvatore Perugini constantly hampering him off the ball. There was one incident where Perugini's fingers came in contact with Healy's eyes which some may say was an eye gouging attempt. Healy was angered but instead of getting involved in a scuffle he alerted the ref. He exchanged words with Perugini on a number of occasions but never got into any serious physical confrontation. He just posed a cheeky smile when the game was over knowing Perugini would shortly be on a flight home to the Northern hemisphere. Healy showed that discipline is positively enforced in the Irish squad and this is something we can be happy about for the remainder of the tournament. Gatland's side lead by Ryan Jones let Ireland win a grand slam before. They will be adamant in preventing Ireland getting a ticket to the world cup semi-final. Shane Williams is a record try scorer for Wales posing a big threat to the Irish defense. Stephen Jones will remember that kick he missed that granted Ireland the grand slam title. He won't want to relive that. Wales are a strong side with a good scrum and backrow and they can work well off their lineouts. It will be hard to break their backline with Jamie Robertson and Jonathon Davis doing everything to hold it together. It's going to be a tough game and it will be interesting to see what Kidney will bring to the table.
The support has been phenomenal and a huge boost to the players. Fifty thousand of the sixty thousand capacity stadium at the Australia game were Irish supporters. Australia are only next store yet Irish supporters filled the arena. Most of them are young people who emigrated to New Zealand and Australia and it's so uplifting to see them making the effort to support their Country when they need support themselves. They need something to celebrate about and Ireland have been giving them that and hopefully they can keep giving them something to be happy about. A lot of these people left Ireland in the depths of it's despair but our rugby team are showing them that there is still something to be proud about. The economy may be in tatters but our spirit remains strong. The beautiful thing about sport is it's not all about winning. It's about bringing communities together, it's about respectability and sustaining composure in the face of defeat. The pride will always be strong when we stand shoulder to shoulder. Our boys have suffered defeat many times but still stand tall. They will answer Ireland's call with the support of every Irish man and woman. In this world cup the chips may be stacked against us but Ireland can put it up to the best and they can win.The flop may favour the opposition but there is always a turn that can help the underdogs wade against the current and seal victory in the river. It's all in for Kidney and his boys. For the fans abroad; what better way to feel close to home then get behind the Irish squad in such huge numbers. Win or lose I'm proud of the team and proud to be Irish and I hope I speak for everyone Irish. It's that eighty minute rush and suspense and supporting each other that counts. As George Hook said after the Italy match: "This is my team, this is my Country, I'm absolutely bloody well delighted!".
