What is Rugby?

While I am overjoyed and still amazed with Ireland’s victory over Wales to capture the 6 Nations title, Grand Slam and Triple Crown, I am even more amazed that the Grand Slam has eluded Ireland for 61 years. One would think the words “61 years since a grand slam” would be more fitting for Italy (despite that they’ve only been in the 6 Nations for less than10 years) and not Ireland. But indeed, it had been 61 years up until Saturday March 21st that Ireland had won a Grand Slam and 24 years since a 6 Nations title. Ireland have finally shaken the label as choke artists after hanging on to their 17-15 lead after a missed penalty kick attempt by Stephen Jones from 48 meters.

Ronan O’Gara who often draws criticism for not showing up in big games laid all doubters to rest (for now) after he came back in the second half with some brilliant kicking. O’Gara began the match a little shaky not being able to direct his kicks and missing a penalty kick early. In the second half though he made up for it ten fold with a perfectly executed chip ahead to Tommy Bowe at full pace for Ireland’s second try. O’Gara converted both tries and saved the best for last when he slotted a drop goal at roughly the 78th minute of the match to give Ireland the lead.

As good as O’Gara was though, there is no other player on the Ireland squad that came close to matching what Brian O’Driscoll did for this team. O’Driscoll scored four tries in the tournament, hit a drop goal and put his team on his back in the England match and led them to victory, a true mark of a captain. More so than his scoring in the tournament, what really defined O’Driscoll in the tournament was his stout defense, which has always been his strong point. O’Driscoll continually made big tackles, stole ball and physically imposed himself on teams, never backing down and setting the tone for his side. Perhaps the highlight of the tournament for O’Driscoll was not any one of his four tries, but a potentially game saving tackle that was made in the match against Scotland. It’s efforts like these put a smile on my face to see O’Driscoll regain his form and put all doubters to rest that called into question his claim to the Irish captaincy. In my mind there is no question who the player of the tournament is and who should be leading the Lions in South Africa in May.

For the sake of not sounding completely biased, I feel obligated to at least appear to be partial. Ireland conceded 15 penalties in this match which kept me on the edge of my seat. One penalty after another it seemed, Ireland allowing Wales to stay in the match despite them not being able to muster any sort of attack. If you were to ask me who won a match where one team conceded 15 penalties and the other 5. I wouldn’t have hesitated to say the team that conceded 5. Donncha O’Callaghan provided one of the stupidest penalties of the match and showed a severe lack of discipline throughout, something that may hurt his chances come selection time for the Lions.

Overall the 6 Nations didn’t provide too many thrilling matches. But the finale to decide who would win it all more than made up for what I thought was a rather dull 6 Nations (with the exception of Ireland v. France). I’m extremely happy for Brian O’Driscoll, a player I’ve looked up to for many years and I’m even more satisfied with Warren Gatland’s arrogance being thrown back in his face. Ireland have finally delivered the 6 Nations championship and Grand Slam after many missed opportunities and now sit at #4 in the IRB world rankings leaving many to wonder, including myself, what other feats they can achieve under the tutelage of Declan Kidney.