British & Irish Lions
• British & Irish Lions tour Australia in 2013
Ireland Rugby
Geordan returns to Normality
Georday Murphy has enjoyed some normality this week, and as much as he loves his country, being in Leicester may not have been the worst thing. The same goes for all the players, returning to their respective clubs has given them time to gain some perspective.
Eddie O’Sullivan doesn’t need to raise morale for his team, O’Driscoll, the captain, Paul O’Connell, his stand-in, and senior players such as Murphy, must emphasise that all is not lost and that a championship may be won.
“It will be a challenge to pick ourselves up,” O’Sullivan said. “But we must respect the fact that there is still a triple crown [Ireland are the holders] there for the taking if we can win our next two games, against England and Scotland.”
“We were massively disappointed,” Murphy, who won his 46th cap against France, said. “Not only because we had plans for this year, but it was such an historic occasion – the first time a rugby international had been played at Croke Park.”
“Maybe we were a bit intimidated by Croke Park – it’s a big stadium,” Murphy said. “But everyone was really looking forward to it. It was an emotional day and the guys were wound up pretty tight, but I wouldn’t have thought the change in venue would have been detrimental. We just didn’t play much rugby in that first half and sometimes that happens.
“But I have learnt that you have to leave what happens out on the field. When you lose, or play badly, it’s easy to become depressed and sulky, so it’s important to get on with other things. That’s why it’s nice this week for me to get back to my own home after three weeks living in a hotel.
“We have to remember the positive things that came out of Sunday and not become too downbeat. We managed to get ourselves out of a hole and I thought we had it won, but France really shifted up a gear and maybe they got the bounce of the ball. At that stage, of course, I was off the field, which made it all the more frustrating.”
Pat Howard, the Leicester coach, made the point that, in returning to what is now his home, Murphy has rejoined a happy camp. “Whatever happened for Geordan at Croke Park, last time he played for us we won in Munster,” Howard said.
What happened to the Grand-Slam?
- “Ireland lost this game because they made such a tactical mess of the match in the crucial third quarter. The wondrous comeback was wasted due to their failure to read the game properly.
“Despite all the ball they had and the passes and drives they made off rucks and mauls, Ireland managed to score only three points. Good sides like France make you pay when you fail to kill them off.
“Ireland had the chance to take them. That they didn’t tells us that their resources are still too thin and they have yet to acquire the ruthlessness all champion sides require.”
Belfast Telegraph
- “Rugby tactics be damned. If you are cursed, you are cursed.”
Irish Times
- “France cruelly killed the party in Croke Park just as it was about to begin . . . Ireland appeared flustered and indecisive in his [Brian O’Driscoll’s] absence.”
RTE.ie
- “Wonderful, unforgettable occasion. Lousy finish.”
Irish Times