1
'I don't see them being that dominant force that they have been'
By Josh Raisey
Former England scrum-half Ben Youngs has asserted that Ireland are “done” with being the “dominant force” in the Guinness Six Nations after “stumbling over the line” to finish third in this year’s Championship.
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Ireland entered this year’s tournament as the reigning champions looking to win an unprecedented third straight title, and looked on course to achieve that following convincing victories over England and Scotland in the opening two rounds.
However, a performance in which they failed to pick up a bonus point against Wooden Spoon winners Wales preceded a humbling loss to eventual champions France in Dublin. With only a slim chance of winning the title on the final weekend, Ireland stuttered to a win over an injury-ravaged Italy side in Rome that received two red cards and a yellow card.
In the wake of the final weekend, England’s most-capped player ever said on his podcast For the Love of Rugby that he believes France and England are at a “different stage” to Ireland now, who saw three centurions, Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony, retire from international duty at the end of the Championship.
Six Nations
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
France
5
4
1
0
21
2
England
5
4
1
0
20
3
Ireland
5
4
1
0
19
4
Scotland
5
2
3
0
11
5
Italy
5
1
4
0
5
6
Wales
5
0
5
0
3
Youngs’ co-host Dan Cole’s assessment was not as extreme, however, but he did question whether they have “left it a tournament too late” to phase out their veterans and bring through their next generation. He also queried whether they have the power to compete with the likes of France and South Africa, something that has been widely questioned since the round four defeat.
“Ireland looked disjointed,” Youngs said. “They usually do this layered attack and it looks so well-oiled.
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“Runners were getting in the way of each other, being done for crossing and all sorts.
“Ireland look like they’ve been highly affected from last week’s result. I know they made changes, but to think that after three rounds it was looking very much in their hands to win the title to really stumbling over the line to finish the tournament.
“There’s going to be some transition for Ireland, there really is. You start looking at France, you look at England, you look at Ireland and they’re in a different stage right now. I almost feel that for so long they’ve been such a dominant force within this tournament but I feel like – I really do, and I’m happy to say it – that is now done. I don’t see them being that dominant force that they have been for such a long time in this tournament.
“I feel that France and the more that England mature, will be the two teams to lash it out for the title moving forward.”
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Not sure I’d write Ireland off after one unsuccessful 6N campaign. That’d be a bit premature.
They really only looked very good in one game (vs. Scotland), and against both Wales as well as Italy, they looked pretty poor, but having the ability to win matches in which they play below their standard is a measure of a great team.
Ireland did not look great, they looked average at times. Yet they still won 4 out of 5, and that’s nothing to scoff about.
We were top of the World a couple of years before RWC 2023. Let’s come in under the radar this time. We have the players coming through and we have the skills to adapt our players to play any style.
To be fair Dan Coles made the opposing case.
He said Ireland had the system, smarts and players coming through to compete. What was of interest was how they might change their game plan.
Ben Youngs said he was happy about Ireland’s slide. He was talking about England’s prospects but in fact Ireland’s standards (and France’s) have forced England up. The stronger six nations you have the stronger the chance of six nations winners, semi finalists, quarter finalists etc. England had three tough matches in this six nations. That showed in their improvements.
Keep the talk positive peeps got a Lions tour that could be a big banana skin for Mr Young’s and all the above and below lots of good play and lots of good players but no real consistency from any of the Lions teams and for quite awhile Ireland been clockwork for y’all and it is your team so Beatles it aka come together
Oh, Ben Youngs, please do tell us more of that wise and balanced insight from that astute rugby mind of yours!
Do one Youngs, you were never rated you plonker.
Not that I necessarily agree with him in this particular case, but I think Youngs is generally rated.
Not an England fan, but guy’s won four 6N titles (including one Grand Slam), won a Lions’ Series, and has a bronze and a silver from RWC, on top of being a test centurion, and the most capped player for his country.
Suffice it to say, that only yesterday he’s forgotten more about rugby, than you or I will ever know.
Haha sounds like he hit a nerve with you