Passion Proves Potent for Exiles Performance

Paddy Lennon reports from Madejski Stadium.

The media pundits are always waxing lyrical about the importance of ‘passion’ in sport, well London Irish’s performance in outscoring an in-form, all star Sale Sharks team by three tries to none at Madejski Stadium yesterday afternoon would have had them drooling!

Written off by everyone bar the most loyal of supporters, London Irish turned in a performance that allied passion with intensity and no little skill that their much vaunted opponents struggled to cope with it.

The Sharks’ starting line-up featured 14 multi-capped internationals - the only un-capped player was prop, Lewis Roberts.  With players ranging from British and Irish Lion, Mark Cueto to All Black superstar, Luke McAlister in the backs, and from England’s mighty prop, Andrew Sheridan in the front row to France’s Rugby World Cup talisman, Sebastien Chabal at No 8, the visitors appeared to hold all the cards.

Encouraged by the majority of the 9,700 crowd on a perfect afternoon for rugby, Irish set the early pace and had the visitors reeling with the intensity of their approach and the pace at which they were playing.

There was less than two minutes on the clock when Irish received the start that their enterprise deserved.  Topsy Ojo, Declan Danaher and David Paice moved the ball right in the visitors’ 22 before it was switched left to Shane Garaghty.  He hit Delon Armitage with a 25 metre pass across the front of the Sale defence.  Having opened the stretched defence a little more, the full back took a tackle before passing to Sailosi Tagicakibau who powered over from ten metres for his third try in as many weeks.  Armitage added the extras with a superb kick from just inside the left touch-line.

Five minutes later the Exiles’ full back went from hero to villain in the referee’s eyes at least when he was sent to the sin-bin, some said harshly, for an attempted trip on Mark Cueto.  Sale failed to capitalise on the resulting penalty but McAlister made amends by kicking another one minute later when Irish were penalised for not releasing.

The exchanges were physical and uncompromising as Sharks tried to impose their physical presence; they seemed to be surprised to be met with like for like and reacted accordingly.  Irish’s blitz defence was not to the liking of the visitors’ backs with the result that they resorted time and again to up-and-unders or speculative long kicks downfield. 

The Sale fans and coaching staff shook their heads when Sebastien Chabal with a clear two-on-one try-scoring opportunity in the 15th minute “passed” the ball into the crowd!

As the game moved into its second quarter, Irish kept trying to move the ball at pace at every opportunity.  Steffon Armitage and Sailosi Tagicakibau combined well down the left wing only for the latter to be pulled up for having a foot in touch. 

Declan Danaher and Richard Thorpe worked diligently up the right to the frustration of Chabal.  While Sale as expected where having the better of the exchanges in the scrum, Irish continued to dominate the lineouts.  Clarke Dermody caught the eye repeatedly as he drove upfield. 

The touch judge on the right touch-line mystified everyone but himself by awarding a lineout to Sale 15 metres from their line when it was obvious to all that a Sale player had carried the ball into touch!  Referee Davey judged the resulting throw to be not straight and awarded Irish the scrum.  The scrum collapsed and the terrier like Paul Hodgson took the tap penalty quickly with the result that the Exiles were snapping at the Sale try line.  A second scrum was awarded to Irish 15 metres to the right of the posts.  Richard Thorpe bolted off the back of the scrum with the ball, he passed to Eoghan Hickey who found Geraghty.  The inside centre found Gonzalo Tiesi with a beautifully timed flick that set the Argentine international on his way for Irish’s second try in the left corner.  Delon Armitage missed the conversion but Irish went in at the break leading 12-3.

The opening exchanges of the second half mirrored those of the first indicating no let-up in the ambition of the Exiles. Julian Laharrague made a mess of a pass back to McAlister about 20 metres from his own line.  Shane Geraghty capitalised on the error and picking up pace moved left where he found Delon Armitage with another delightful long pass that allowed the full back to take maximum advantage of the great line he had taken through the defence to score left of the posts.  Regrettably he was unable to convert his try.

The score made the visitors realise that the game was slipping away from them and they mounted their first sustained period of pressure of the game.  Irish defended courageously and counter-attacked with aggression and speed.  Inevitably, the Sharks’ pressure told and penalties were conceded.  McAlister struck successfully in the 45th minute and again in the 54th and to reduce the deficit.

London Irish’s management were using the resources on the bench to telling effect.  Juan Leguizamon, on as a replacement for the excellent Thorpe, reminded Chabal of their clash in France in October when he relieved him of the ball in a maul!

The game had just moved into its final quarter when Delon Armitage was unlucky to be pulled back for a forward pass when he was clean through, the reverse applied when Chris Mayor was through for Sale minutes later only to be called back also.

Peter Richards, on as a replacement for the outstanding Paul Hodgson, combined with Topsy Ojo down the right only to be pulled up for a foot in touch.

Irish had to survive another onslaught by Sale.  A lineout five metres from the Irish line could have caused problems but replacement hooker Neil Briggs completely overthrew the ball and Irish were able to clear through the alert Tagicakibau.

McAlister kicked his fourth penalty in the 68th minute to reduce the Exiles’ lead and increase the tension but the home team refused to be cowed.  A drive upfield in the 71st minute resulted in a penalty which Eoghan Hickey calmly sent between the uprights to restore a two score lead and settle any Irish nerves.

The final minutes continued at the same frantic pace as Sale chased a bonus point but having been denied at Leicester last week Irish were in no mood to concede and defended to the final minute when a McAlister penalty attempt from half-way fell short.  In the dying seconds Hickey blocked a drop goal attempt by the All Black to send the visitors away empty-handed and to seal a courageous win for the Exiles.

Scorers: London Irish: Tries:  Tagicakibau (2), Tiesi (33), Armitage D (42); Conversion: Armitage D.  Penalty goal: Hickey (71). Sale Sharks: Penalty goals: McAlister 4 (8, 45, 54, 68).

Scoring sequence (London Irish first):  7-0, 7-3, 12-3 (half-time) 17-3, 17-6, 17-9, 17-12, 20-12.

London Irish: D Armitage (sin-bin: 7-17), T Ojo, G Tiesi (rep: N Mordt, 40), S Geraghty, S Tagicakibau, E Hickey, P Hodgson (rep: P Richards, 50), C Dermody (rep: D Murphy, 52), D Paice (rep: D Coetzee, 72), T Lea’aetoa, N Kennedy (rep: J Hudson, 74), B Casey (captain), D Danaher, S Armitage (rep: P Murphy, 68), R Thorpe (rep: J Leguizamon, 52).

Sale Sharks: J Larraghue,  M Cueto, C Mayor, L Thomas (rep: R Keil, 55), O Ripol, L McAlister, R Wigglesworth, A Sheridan (rep: L Faure, 72), S Bruno (rep: N Briggs, 60), E Roberts (rep: S Turner, 46), C Jones, B Cockbain (rep: D Schofield, 51), J White (C), M Lund, S Chabal.

Referee: Mr Sean Davey (RFU)

Attendance: 7,582

Match Statistics

T C P DG Player         Dermody         Paice         Lea'aetoa         Kennedy         Casey         Danaher         S Armitage         Thorpe         Hodgson     1   Hickey 1       Tagicakibau         Geraghty 1       Tiesi         Ojo 1 1     D Armitage         Murphy         Coetzee         Hudson         Murphy         Leguizamon         Richards         Mordt	Position 1. L/Prop 2. Hooker 3. T/Prop 4. Lock 5. Lock 6. B/Flanker 7. O/Flanker 8. No 8 9. Scrum-half 10. Fly-half 11. Wing 12. Centre 13. Centre 14. Wing 15. Fullback 16. Sub 17. Sub 18. Sub 19. Sub 20. Sub 21. Sub 22. Sub	Player T C P DG Sheridan         Bruno         Roberts         Jones         Cockbain         White         Lund         Chabal         Wigglesworth         McAlister     4   Ripol         Thomas         Mayor         Cueto         Laharrague         Briggs         Turner         Faure         Schofield         Cox         Martens         Keil