London Irish
LI v Chiefs - Mascots and Musings
By Ozzy3213 (formerly PcPete999)
September 23 2013
As always I shall preface my report by saying that it is likely become less of a factual account of the match, and more my musings on the day as the report goes on. For me the build up this game began some time ago, when I realised I wouldn't make it to Twickenham or Sixways due to work commitments.
To say I had been looking forward to it would be an understatement, and my excitement was only heightened the Monday before the match when the club informed me that my three daughters would be mascots.
Seeing my three wee girlies out on the pitch just prior to kick off filled me with great pride, and as they were brought back to us in the West Stand, my nerves for what would follow in the next 80 minutes kicked in.
The early exchanges saw a bit of kick tennis, with debutant Alex Lewington fielding a couple of bombs before finding touch around halfway. Nic Rouse then stole the lineout cleanly, allowing us to maul it up before shifting the ball out. Sadly Fergus Mulchrone, also on debut at outside centre eventually knocked on and the Chiefs went through a few phases before Steenson put it in the corner, and we secured our own lineout ball before earning a penalty at the breakdown. With advantage being played Tomas tried a little chip and chase that didn't come off, but I was pleased to see us try something knowing that we had the penalty if it didn't come off. I was also heartened by the two lineouts, as my own view is that we've not been great in that area so far this season. iHumph however failed to find touch, but we won the ball back with an effective choke tackle earning the first scrum put in of the game. That scrum resulted in a free kick for us, and we were off with Tomas taking it quickly, before we then conceded a penalty (harshly in my view) for crossing, which Steenson slotted for a 3-0 lead for Chiefs.
Now we all know that supporting London Irish is a rollercoaster ride, and it struck me that the the opening few minutes was almost the lifetime of being an Irish supporter in microcosm. Some moments of great skill and invention, mixed with the head in the hands and the scoreboard showing us behind.
The game continued, with Mr small spending a few minutes looking as if he was trying to direct planes in, but iHumph and Steenson both missed from the tee, and score remained 0-3. What was pleasing at this stage though, was that we looked as if we were trying to play ball in hand, rather than kicking the leather off the ball. With Exeter also attempting to do the same, the makings of an entertaining game were there, although at this stage handling errors from both teams meant that neither side was able to add to the score. It was us that registered on the scoreboard next, with iHumph slotting from the right side of the pitch after a good break from Lewington. We weren't level for long though, as Steenson restored the Chiefs lead with another penalty a few moments later. Before long he had extended it to 9-3, after matt Parr was penalised for sealing off at the breakdown. At this point I felt that we didn't deserve to be 6 points down, as Exeter hadn't really threatened us, and we'd played some decent stuff in attack.
We then almost scored from a driving maul, but the TMO ruled held up, and a 5 metre scrum followed. After securing our ball fromt hat set piece and going through a few phases Nic Rouse drove over from close range for the first try of the game. With iHumph adding the extras, we were in the lead, and I has ecstatic as on the balance of play, I absolutely felt that was where we deserved to be.
From the resulting kick off came a moment that may or may not seem pivotal in the game, dependant on your standpoint. Carrying the ball under his left arm Tom Johnson forearm smashed the tackler in the face in with his right. A hand-off it was not. I saw a similar thing happen last week, where Bismarck du Plessis received a 2nd yellow card and consequently a red, with some suggesting that it could easily have been a straight red on that occasion. The touch judge on this occasion saw it and indicated to the referee that an offence had occurred. After a discussion between him and Mr Small, a penalty was given, and a quick word from Small to Johnson about not doing it again. I have to confess I was incensed, and vented that in a tweet. I feel 100% confident in saying that had it been our own Mr Hala'ufia in that position, a card of one variety or another would have followed. The fact that iHumph badly shanked the penalty as well only added to my ire.
I certainly did not cheer up greatly moments later, when after winning a great turnover at the breakdown, Halani Aulika appeared to slip when carrying the ball, and had to be helped from the field with his left foot appearing to be at a strange angle. The half ended without much further incident and overall I was pleased with how we were playing, and that we were ahead on the scoreboard.
The second half started with us again showing good attacking intent, but the Chiefs also looked as if they'd had a bit of a rollicking at the break and were going to have a real go at us. This proved correct, and only some top goal line defence held them up after a 5 metre lineout drive. From the resulting scrum Matt Parr was penalised for dropping it, but I have since seen the replay, and Hoani Tui is clearly bound on the arm and drags him downwards. This should be seen by the TJ, who was less than 10 metres away, but it wasn't, and from the resulting shot at goal, Steenson put the Chiefs back in front.
The next major moment saw Chiefs winger Tom James yellow carded. Alex Lewington broke the defensive line and as Fergus Mulchrone tried to support was pulled back off the ball by the Chiefs winger. This time iHumph slotted the penalty to put us back in the lead 13-12. Almost immediately from the kick off Bryn Evans surged down the left only to be hauled down just short. The ball though was quickly shifted right through iHumph and Lewington to that man Marland Yarde for him to walk it in the corner. After a brief TMO interlude to rule if there was a forward pass the try was given, and the extras added to give us an 11 point lead.
Sadly, this was the high point of the game for us. Having survived the rest fo the sin bin period without conceding again, Gareth Steenson scored another penalty for the Chiefs the moment they were back up to 15 men to close the gap. We almost seemed to freeze at this point in the game, and the Chiefs then came on strong, and with about 15 minutes remaining John Yapp was yellow carded for pulling down a maul. Dean Mumm then scored their first try, followed by a second from Ben White, and with them both being converted 23-12 had become 23-29 in the space of 17 minutes.
Manfully as we tried at the end, I don't think we looked like pulling it back as the Chiefs kept their momentum to the whistle, and what had looked like a really good 4 points at one stage had suddenly become a disappointing 1.
A few things strike me when reflecting on the game.
1. There were two yellow cards, one for each side. We scored 10 points when they were a man light, and they scored 14 when we were. What might have been had Tom Johnson been correctly carded in the first half?
2. We lost the game, and we shouldn't have from the position we were in, but actually I am not too disheartened. We actually look like a team this year, as opposed to 15 blokes on the pitch. We will larn to close thse sorts of game out, but it will take time, and the hurt of losing for that to happen. The Chiefs are also no mugs, and we can learn from how they worked themsleves back into the game in the final quarter.
3. The scrum is still a bit of a lottery. Small guessed on a couple, rather than re-setting, but overall it is better than it has been, and for us personally we look as if the new law interpretations may suit us.
4. Matt Parr, Nic Rouse and Eamonn Sheridan may have come from the Championship, but make no mistake these guys are putting in a real shift when they go out there. Sheridan in particular has been very good, and added to that Lewington looks a real player.
We have two tough games coming up, and we may not pick up wins in those, but I genuinely feel we have more than enough to steer clear of the drop this season. With one or two additions, a bit of luck on the injury front and a couple fo decent bounces of the ball, there is no reason why we can't be challenging for 6th this season.
As always, win lose or draw, one thing is always true, I'll always rather be a paddy than Quin, and finally, in the words of Ciamh.....
COME ON YOU IRISH!!!!!
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Discussion started by The Craic www.londonirish.org , 23/09/2013 23:37
The Craic www.londonirish.org
23/09/2013 23:37
23/09/2013 23:37
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Very good write-up. I hope your daughters had a great day.
I particularly agree with points 2 and 4. Although I am less optimistic about getting a top six finish, I don't really mind. The main thing I want to see from my team is a desire to leave everything on the pitch. For me, this is already more obvious than last season. Like you say, if the team put in that effort every week then eventually the results will come.
I particularly agree with points 2 and 4. Although I am less optimistic about getting a top six finish, I don't really mind. The main thing I want to see from my team is a desire to leave everything on the pitch. For me, this is already more obvious than last season. Like you say, if the team put in that effort every week then eventually the results will come.
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