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'He's got three bad games in him now before the shepherd's crook'

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ireland rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll has hailed the recent performances in New Zealand of Tadhg Beirne, reckoning that the lock has now got huge credit in the bank with Andy Farrell ahead of Iain Henderson in the battle to partner James Ryan. The performances of the Irish tight five were integral in their 2-1 series win over the All Blacks and, by the sounds of it, no one was more impressed with the efforts of Beirne than O’Driscoll. 

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The legendary midfielder’s Test career ended in 2014 without ever being a part of an Ireland win over the All Blacks, but the pattern of results between the two countries has since tilted with the Irish winning five of the last eight matches between the teams

Beirne has featured in the last three Ireland successes. However, while he was only a replacement in last November’s win in Dublin, he laid claim to the No4 jersey in the absence of the injured Henderson in New Zealand this month and O’Driscoll believes the lock is now the first choice pick alongside Ryan heading into an Autumn Nations Series featuring games against South Africa, Fiji and Australia.   

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Speaking about Beirne during an interview on Newstalk, the Irish radio station, O’Driscoll said: “It’s a real find that he has gone the circuitous route (from Leinster to Munster via Scarlets) to come back and be a mainstay of this Irish team. Sometimes you just need those performances. 

“There were question marks around is it Henderson starts, is it him? This has blown that out of the water. He has got three bad games in him now before he gets the shepherd’s crook because that was such an excellent performance.

“Coaches do look to big moments when players really need to stand up and deliver. They go back to the well and go, who did it? Henderson has been very good but nothing on that level of performance and so that partnership now is the two boys, (James) Ryan and Tadhg Beirne for a while.”

The turnover ability of Beirne at the breakdown was an especially effective weapon for Ireland against the All Blacks and O’Driscoll believes it is something that future opposition will focus hugely on. “Teams all over the world now will be paying credence to the fact that he is the first guy (at the breakdown), if he wins the ball, if he wins the shoulder, you are not moving him. 

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“It is his ability to get down and not just lock onto the ball because referees now need you to steal the ball, he steals it in no time so his ability to get into that position and then turn it over really quickly before the player fighting on the ground is aware they have even lost it is a real point of difference. 

“There was also his intercept, the timing on the counter ruck was outstanding, very good lineout steals, he was immense, he really was – the best I have ever seen him play for Ireland. He has been very consistent. 

“I always would have worried about him from a physicality point of view. He runs really clever lines and has good footwork. He uses his strengths as best possible but sometimes it is just hard to deal with that huge physicality that he doesn’t really possess, but he was really outstanding and didn’t in any way, shape or form on that side of things look out of place against what was meant to be one of the most ferocious tight fives.”  

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

8 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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