Ireland coach admits to 'loud roars' for Scots
Ireland assistant coach Andrew Goodman has admitted the Irish team were cheering on Scotland as they beat France to keep our Championship hopes alive.
Scotland surprised everyone by thoroughly outplaying Les Bleus, going up 47-14 at one stage in the second half as they went on to win a memorable 50-40 game – the first time both teams have scored 40 or more points in a Six Nations game.
It was a win that ended Antoine Dupont’s team’s hopes of winning a Grand Slam, but it also gave the Scots, as well as Ireland, a lifeline to win the Championship.
There are a few different ways they can win the title, but the main mission is simple: whoever wins between Ireland and Scotland on Saturday will be within a good shout of winning the Championship.
Jacob Stockdale of Ireland celebrates after team-mate Jamie Osborne scores. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
If either side wins the trophy, it’ll be a crazy turnaround from Round 1, as both sides suffered disappointing defeats to France and Italy, respectively.
Speaking ahead of the clash on Saturday, Ireland coach Andrew Goodman spoke about the atmosphere around the camp this week after Scotland broke the Championship wide open.
‘It’s an amazing buzz. It’s great to be part of a last week when there’s plenty on the line. As you can imagine, there was some quite loud roaring for Scotland on Saturday afternoon.
Assistant coach Andrew Goodman. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
‘So, yeah, it was great to sit back after getting the five points, still knowing that we didn’t get the performance we were chasing down, but it creates a good edge for the week.’
A trophy is guaranteed to be handed out on Saturday as the winner of the test will win a Triple Crown. For Ireland’s ninth Triple Crown of the Six Nations era, while for Scotland, it would be their first Triple Crown since 1990, before anyone in their current side was even born.
Goodman spoke about the importance of silverware for this team with the Triple Crown, as well as staying in the fight for a championship in one of the most unpredictable tournaments in a long time.
Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
‘We know there’s a Triple Crown within our control, and then who knows what’s going to happen the way this competition’s been going. What a great advertisement for the game. And I think it has to be one of the best Six Nations for a long time, with the competition week to week.’
Scotland come into this week full of confidence after their French demolition.
Star man Darcy Graham, who became Scotland’s record try-scorer in that win, said Ireland are ‘there for the taking’. Goodman is all too aware of the attacking talent Scotland poses and how his side will need to combat that.
Scotland wing Darcy Graham dives over to score. Pic: Stu Forster/Getty Images
‘It was good to watch. As a rugby fan, I enjoyed watching the game, 50-40. What a score! Plenty going on.
‘I thought they’d done a great job in terms of their attacking the ball to space and expressing themselves. I’m sure they’ll come here with lots of belief and confidence around what they’ve been able to do over the last three weeks after a tough start like we had as well.’
While Scotland’s attack last time out was flying, Ireland’s resorted to the norm against Wales, failing to build a lead and allowing their opponents to stay in the contest when Ireland could’ve been out of sight.
Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
It was a drop off from the clinical performance in Twickenham, and Goodman knows Ireland needs to reach those heights once again.
‘We want to try and get back to that level, but we want to use that as a benchmark that we can grow from. And if you look back at the Wales performance, we weren’t quite as sharp with some of our work off the ball.
‘That was something that was really impressive against England. We were working off the ball hard, which meant we were seeing pitches early, communicating things really well, and then off the back, you execute really well.’
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