| Against the head
By Johnny O'Connor
I was delighted to score my first try for Ireland on Saturday and while
I didn’t have the best of the games you have to give credit to Romania’s
front five who played really well. Ireland scored six tries and although
we came close to conceding a try I believe the team performed reasonably
well at the end of what I felt were three hard games.
I am quite baffled by all the negative media reaction at the end of the
latest autumn internationals. Some of these so-called experts don’t seem
to realise that players also have feelings. The media reaction to Matt McCullough’s
introduction against the All Blacks was totally unjustified. He’s a great
lad and he knows he had a nervous start to this international career but
what right have some of these experts who have never been on a rugby field
to come out with such hurtful criticism of him in his opening game for his
country?
I didn’t escape the criticism either but I know better than to take any
notice of criticism from certain quarters. I don’t have to be told I have
had a bad game and one off-day doesn’t make me an average flanker. My next
objective is to take my club form on to the international stage and whatever
my critics have to say about my capability of achieving that I know I can
build on my recent performances in the forthcoming Six Nations.
It was disappointing to lose the opening two games and especially against
Australia which we know we should have won but the important thing is that
we have learned from these two setbacks. Andrew Trimble has been successfully
introduced into the international stage and he will have benefited enormously
from his two appearances.
I think both Denis Leamy and I have improved over this series and we
are both looking forward to the Six Nations opener against Italy.
I am currently enjoying a few days rest in the west of Ireland before
I return to club duty this weekend. I’m even thinking of braving a bit of
surfing in Lahinch before taking on Saracens in the Powergen Cup at the
Causeway Stadium this Sunday.
My Wasps colleagues were denied by a disputed late penalty decision against
Newcastle on Sunday. At least we had the consolation of also seeing leaders
Sale lose narrowly to an improving Bristol team while London Irish’s recent
revival was brought to a shuddering halt by Leicester Tigers at Welford
Road on Friday.
The Saracens game couldn’t be more crucial with a semi-final place up
for grabs and a trip to the Millennium Stadium next March. Immediately after
the Powergen Cup we’re back in Heineken Cup action against Llanelli home
and away. The trip to Wales on December 11 could well decide our destiny
in Europe this season but we’re confident we can get a result there in order
to keep ourselves on course until the New Year.
These are all tough games but we are more than capable of progressing.
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