Coach Kidney has reasons to be cheerful
With France, Scotland, Wales and England all succumbing to southern hemisphere opposition, the most content of all the Six Nations coaches has to be Ireland's Declan Kidney.
Not because he was presented, somewhat to the embarrassment of this essentially modest man, with the IRB Coach of the Year award, but because Ireland earned a draw with the Wallabies, disposed of Fiji and tiurned over World Champions South Africa in one of the most physical games ever played at Croke Park.
Despite the cold and the freezing fog, not a single spectator was going anywhere until the final whistle, as Ireland held off a late surge by an exhausted Springbok outfit who, thanks to the outstanding scrummaging of Ulster's BJ Botha, had been the better outfit in the first half.
But as Rob Kearney fielded kick after kick and Paul O'Connell, one of many Irishmen with a point to prove following last summer's Lions tour, galvanised the Irish forward effort, the game swung Ireland's way, and if Johnny Sexton (pictured above) missed with two penalty attempts, he was forgiven, as the youngster kicked the goals that mattered.
In the end, it was Brian O'Driscoll who secured the win. His tackle on Zane Kirchner not only saved the game but was good enough, on its own, to have earned him the IRB Player of the Year award, and I do not think even the excellent Richie McCaw would have begrudged him the accolade. Would you have given O'Drscoll the gong?
It was not just as cold at Ravenhill last Friday, but the sight of hordes of Ulster fans leaving with 10 minutes of the game against Glasgow to spare was pretty unedifying and hugely disappointing, as was Ulster's display on a weekend which saw all four Irish sides lose.
Having beaten Glasgow home and away last year, there was not unreasonable expectation that Ulster would win.
If they had, Brian McLaughlin's side would now be sitting on top of the table. What a boost that would have been ahead of the Heineken Cup.
But from 13-3 up, Ulster blew it, conceding penalties galore to Dan Parks who banged them over from all angles.
What on earth happened to Ulster's line-out? Wobbly at best against Munster last time out, it was awful, as was the second half discipline.
As a frustrated McLaughlin stated afterwards, it was "totally unacceptable".
MInd you, I am not convinced as to the logic of replacing Timosci Nagusa with Paul Marshall prompting, not just one, but three positional changes when the Fijian winger went off before half time!
Knowing Ulster, they will improve this weekend against Stade Francais as the Heineken Cup resumes. Always a tad flaky at Ravenhill, the Parisians have been upset and outplayed in the past, but, hand on heart, I am not so sure about this one.
Still, you can always get a decent bet down on just what colour the Stade team will emerge in at half past one this Saturday!
Hello, I'm Jim Neilly and I have been covering Ulster and Irish rugby for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ for 30 years. I also cover boxing for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Television.
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