Mike Brown, Cardiff
SIMON EASTERBY anticipates a fierce back-row battle in Saturday’s clash of Ireland and Wales.
The English-born flanker won 65 caps for Ireland but has spent more than a decade living in west Wales and after 11 seasons playing for the Scarlets, Easterby is now the region’s defence guru.
Easterby pulled on the green jersey in eight World Cup matches, including all four in the disastrous 2007 tournament, but insists he has no split loyalties and has backed Declan Kidney’s to bury the ghosts of four years ago.
“I want Ireland to win because that is where my heart is. I’ll be pleased if Ireland get through to the semi-final and I’d also be over the moon if the Scarlets players get through to the semis," said Easterby.
“It’s plain that we underachieved in 2007. We came off the back of a very good Six Nations, hit a brick wall and got a lot of things wrong. Players like Ronan O’Gara, Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, Donncha O’Callaghan saw this World Cup as a chance of redemption to make up for what happened in 2007. They’ve done that so far, but they won’t be happy going out in the quarter-finals or even the semi-finals, they will be happy with gaining an opportunity to go all the way.”
But Ireland will first have to overcome Wales and Easterby reckons the match has all the hallmarks of a World Cup classic. The two sides have met each other just twice in the tournament, in 1987 and 1995, with honours even.
“It’s a difficult one to call. I like the look of Ireland’s pack over Wales, the back-row has a little more bite in their attacking rugby and with ball in hand, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip and Stephen Ferris are three of the best ball-carrying back-rowers there are at the moment.
“But I like the look of Wales’s backs, they’re playing with a lot of confidence, they’re getting the ball in the hands of Jamie Roberts and George North and are looking sharp. There’s a bit of contrast, Ireland’s pack versus Wales backs. The sharpness of some of those Welsh backs, if they get parity up front, could get the edge."
Easterby insists the mouth-watering encounter will come down to fine margins with numerous game-defining, individual battles across the park. The most hotly contested match-up is likely to be in the back-row, with Ireland’s experienced muscle going toe-to-toe with Wales’ youthful exuberance.
“There are little match-ups and battles that are going on throughout the game. That back-row battle will be fascinating. The platform of the front five will be really important, there’s nothing worse than trying to get into the game if your not getting parity. Ireland have players who play a bit looser and Sam Warburton and Dan Lydiate need to effect the speed of Ireland’s ball, slow it down to stop the likes of Heaslip and O’Brien from coming around the corner on those runs they have been doing.
“It’s going to be a fascinating 80 minutes of rugby. It’s like playing against your brother — You know his strengths you know his weaknesses. Ireland are used to winning big games but they have a huge hurdle to overcome in Wales.”
Simon Easterby’s back-row battles
Dan Lydiate v Stephen Ferris
“OUT of the three back-row battles, they are probably the two most matched because both players are quite similar. There’s not much between the pair of them and there will be some real collisions because they are both big, physical guys. They’re both quick and comfortable with the ball in hand and making an impact with offensive tackles. Ferris is very explosive. Dan carries the ball well and is very strong in the tackle.”
Sam Warburton v Sean O’Brien
“THESE two players have shone so far but have very contrasting styles. Ball carrying is definitely Sean O’Brien’s and we have seen him on those bullocking runs. He’s not a traditional openside but that isn’t much of an issue. Ireland plan their game around that and O’Connell and O’Callaghan do the work of back rowers as well. Sam will carry the ball but maybe that is not his strength. He’s proved himself as a fantastic leader at such a young age and is more in the mould of a Richie McCaw, who is strong on the ball and effective at the breakdown. Ireland have a game-plan to release Sean with the ball in his hands. But he also needs to do the primary work of a No. 7.”
Toby Faletau v Jamie Heaslip
“JAMIE has the edge in the experience stakes but has possibly been overtaken in the ball-carrying stakes by the other two Irish back-rowers. He’s good defensively, reads the game well and is good off the base. Jamie probably makes better decisions than Toby at the moment because he has more experience. But Toby has been outstanding and shone through in this tournament so far. The Ireland game will be a big test for him and if the Irish pack gain the ascendancy, it will be interesting to see how he copes.”
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/q-Z6_F9E3-w/post.aspx
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