How Ireland Nearly Beat the All Blacks

All you need to do is watch the first five minutes of the recent international between Ireland and the All Blacks to work out how the Irish came so close to winning.

Quite simply Ireland was prepared to put more players in to the tackle zone to ensure quick ball when they took it in and to place pressure on any All Black ball when the All Blacks took it in. This is a very simplistic view but a great starting point for your team.

Committing physically and with technical efficiency, as well as running at pace from a slightly increased depth and having simple changes of angle was the key to keeping the ball and creating the ‘go forward’.

Following a good take by Tommy Bowe at the kick off Ireland won quick ball at the first ruck with 3+1 attackers against 2 defenders.
The ruck in midfield was won with 2+1 v 1; the next ruck was quick with 3+1 v 2; unfortunately a forward then ran from too deep and back to a congested area which required 5 forwards to battle for the ball because the All Blacks had had time to move forward and already had a number of defenders at the tackle. They had 3 players on the tackle and another 2 arriving to assist the go forward.
Technically the player was too high and too slow. Tactically he was too deep with many of his players already in front of him.

However, the All Blacks ran the blind when most of their players were lined out ‘open’ and Israel Dagg was isolated and with Steven Luatua expecting a pass he could not get in an effective position to clean out the the Irish player who was after the ball. Ireland had 3+1 defenders against 2+1 attackers. Turnover and penalty to Ireland.

Following the lineout the sequences went like this: Ireland 4+1 v 1+1 (quick ball) / Ireland 2+1 v 1+1 (quick ball) /  at the next tackle the runner was from depth and stayed on his feet an extra few seconds so that support had time to arrive – 4+1 v 2+1 (quick after hitting the ground – All Blacks not sufficient players to keep the runner on his feet)  /  the next runner was isolated so he ran back towards his support – 4+2 v 1+1 (quick ball)  /  3 v 1+1 (quick – followed by a chip kick which created a knock on and a scrum 10m from the Irish try line.

The Irish hit in close from the scrum with a scissors pass to create a 1 v 1 tackle situation.  /  then: 3 v 1+1 (quick ball)  /  3 v 1+1 (quick ball)  /  3+1 v 2+1 (quick ball)  /  3 v 1+1 (quick ball)  /  4 v 2+1 (quick ball – Halfback snipes and scores with three tacklers on him!)

5 minutes was not yet on the clock. Sometimes the simplest plan, if carried out with accuracy and intensity, is by far away the most effective.

I guess if the Irish played like this every week they would have by now had the physical and mental capacity to keep it going. Of course as they slowed down the plan could not operate with this same efficiency. Your team will need to be really fit and have a clear understanding of when to go to the tackle zone and when to position for phase. If you look at the numbers, Ireland always had only 1 or 2 more at the tackle. Looking and thinking are just as important as the aggression and technical expertise.

Plenty of practice against opposition will be useful.

Good luck.