Irish Mentality
The Irish mentality has always been in my opinion to be happy with 2nd best and never to stride to become the best the number one side in any sport. Although in horse racing we are out in front in terms of excellence in the equine world.
In other sports though we do seem to settle for 2nd best, I know we have won a Grand Slam and a Six Nations title in the last 5 years. But in between 2009 and 2014 Ireland have underachieved and they need to beat both South Africa and Australia next November to send out a real statement of intent and to set down an early marker to all the teams in our Group for the 2015 World Cup.
Since the tour to Argentina has finished with two wins over an under strength Argentina side that are fully focused on the Rugby Championship that begins in August. They sent 13 players away to Florida for a short camp to prepare. Ireland won the first test 29-17 and they won the second test 23-17. Both performances were below par and there is plenty of room for improvement before next November.
I still believe Joe Schmidt has begun to change the Irish mentality and the evidence to back that up came last March with Ireland holding out to win 22-20. But you go back to November 2013 when Ireland faced New Zealand and they had their greatest chance to beat them. They led 19-7 at half time and although they did not score in the2nd half they just came up short in their quest to beat what is widely regarded as the rugby team in the world.
New Zealand have great players and terrific self-belief but I just feel Ireland failed to close out that game and showed a real lack of maturity that should be there at this stage of this teams development. Joe Schmidt was proud of his troops but I am sure deep down that he has a real tinge of regret that he and his side could not deliver the win that would have been a launch pad for an assault on the 2015 World Cup.
Then to use the momentum built up after that defeat to go on a beat the defending champions Wales in Dublin also to beat both Scotland and Italy at home and to go to Twickenham and only be beaten by 3 points against an improving England side. They travelled to Paris looking to win for a first win since 2000. They got that win by the minimum margin and they showed real hunger and desire. They showed a new side to them that seems to have developed between last November and February 2014.
Irish mentality does seem to have changed in Irish rugby circles. But in Football it still needs to change. We are now 70th in the current World Rankings. This means that we will be in pot 4 for the 2018 World Cup draw. Can Martin O Neill turn things around over the next two years firstly to qualify us for Euro 2016 and ultimately the 2018 World Cup, only time will tell I suppose….
Irish mentality has always been a problem. We can’t help it, is it an inferiority complex and will we ever break that barrier down. For the good of Irish Sport I really hope so.
By
Cian Mc Gibney.
17/06/2014.
