SerpApi.Org
Former Welsh rugby player Dan Biggar believes he has identified a key problem that has caused Ireland’s recent fall-off in quality.
Ireland won two out of three Nations Championship games to start their campaign, and while it is hardly a bad start, there have been some concerns about the team’s recent performances.
Handling errors and poor mistakes have been a cause of worry for the team, and with their most recent defeat to the All Blacks, Ireland have now lost the last six games in which they have faced New Zealand, France, or South Africa.
Speaking on The Rugby Pod, Welshman Dan Biggar identified a former ‘super strength’ that he feels is no longer present in the Ireland team and might explain their recent dip in form.
‘Ireland’s super strength over the last ten years has been detail, detail, detail, structure, structure, structure. Connections and pods.
‘Some of the handling errors they made were from not being in shape, the ball going to the third man and not expecting it, instead of the second guy in the pod. Jamison Gibson-Park wasn’t hitting the right guy, no connections out the back.’
He added: ‘I thought on the weekend a few of their handling errors were caused by them not being as structured or clear in what they were doing.
‘The last six matches they’ve played against South Africa, France, or New Zealand, they lost. That’s the difference. That’s not necessarily a criticism of Ireland. They’re playing against the very best, and they’re a tiny bit below that.’
Dan Biggar’s analysis seems to be a fair one, with Ireland’s lack of accuracy in attack evident, compared to that of previous teams, in which attacking was a huge positive of their game.
