The Irish in Britain, including those of Irish descent, make up a significant part of the UK population. Here, you will find news, entertainment, events, sports and features from the local Irish Post newspaper.

By Tony Tighe

Ireland’s final Six Nations game of 2008 takes place in Twickenham this Saturday with both sides left with nothing but pride to play for. Yet for coaches Eddie O’Sullivan and Brian Ashton another defeat could result in the end of their respective reigns.

Following dismal defeats to Wales and Scotland which saw their Championship hopes go up in flames both O’Sullivan and Ashton are under severe pressure to end the campaign on some sort of a high as they cling on to their posts for dear life.

The chance of a fourth successive victory on English turf remains for Ireland but unfortunately the chance of a fourth Triple Crown in five years is now beyond them. It is a stark contrast to the last time the sides met at the home of English rugby when Shane Horgan’s last-gasp try saw Ireland score a remarkable 28-24 victory over the auld enemy.

That famous win was a distant memory last Saturday when Ireland crumbled to a disappointing defeat at home to Grand Slam-chasing Wales. The Croke Park crowd were treated to a flat display by the home side who were comprehensively outclassed by their Celtic counterparts. They may have only lost by four points — and were still in contention until Bernard Jackman’s moment of madness but Wales were well worth their victory.

Wrote Jackman in his column for the Carlow Nationalist this week: “It was very frustrating watching from the bench and I was fired up waiting to get on the field and make an impact. I had been annoyed at their players lying on the wrong side of the ruck and slowing down Eoin Reddan from passing it out. They were playing the referee pretending that they were stuck and couldn’t move and Warren Gatland told me later that night that it was a tactic that they practice at training.

“I saw their captain Ryan Jones slowing the ball down by sitting on our side of the ruck and I gave him a good shot in the back to quicken the ball up and to make sure he didn’t try it again. He let a scream out of him that my 18-month-old daughter would have been proud of and rolled around for a minute like Ronaldo in the penalty area and the referee bought it. It was a silly penalty to give away in hindsight but sometimes you have to take the law into your own hands if the referee isn’t enforcing it properly. I spoke to the referee at the after-match ball too and he admitted that it was a 50-50 call.”

Even before Jackman gave away the late penalty, the contrasts between the sides were there for all to see with the line-out offering a perfect example.

Ireland would simply catch, drive and maul rarely opting to bring their backs into the game while Wales immediately sent the ball wide. Ronan O’Gara was instructed to kick for the corners and he did so at every opportunity.

As usual his kicks for touch were accurate, as were his shots at goal, but amazingly the out-half’s first pass to his midfield did not come until midway through the second-half. Stephen Jones’ wayward shooting meant Ireland remained in this contest until late in the game.

O’Sullivan went on the defensive after the defeat saying: “It’s easy to sit on one side of a laptop and demand somebody’s head on a plate. In this business it seems like you’re one loss away from being under pressure for your job. That’s the way it works. It is a game about results and every time you don’t get those results that question will come up. I just do the same thing, get on with the job.”

The game’s only try was scored on 52 minutes by Shane Williams and from an Irish point of view it was utterly preventable.

Andrew Trimble was brushed aside far too easily as the nippy winger went over to equal Gareth Thomas’ record of 40 test tries. O’Gara kicked Ireland back into contention but a James Hook penalty late on settled matters.

Rob Kearney was the one shining light in a disjointed Irish display. Switched into his natural position of full-back due to the withdrawals of Girvan Dempsey and Geordan Murphy, the Leinster lad was reliable under high balls and consistently broke the gain line.

In doing so Kearney has now given O’Sullivan further food for thought at No. 15.

With no silverware left to play for this season Ireland should now be looking to bring some young players into the set-up.

Players like Jamie Heaslip, Tommy Bowe and Kearney were only introduced when O’Sullivan had no-one else to turn to. But with O’Sullivan clinging on to his job for dear life it’s more than likely he’ll head down the old, somewhat unreliable route.

Ireland travel to England minus their captain Brian O’Driscoll who suffered a torn hamstring against the Welsh last Saturday. Luke Fitzgerald — who showed glimpses of his talent when introduced against Wales — could replace his Leinster teammate but it is more likely O’Sullivan will move Horgan inside to centre with Kearney returning to the wing to make room for Girvan Dempsey.

“We’ve always gone to Twickenham with the mantra that if you enter the final 10 minutes within one score you can win,” said O’Sullivan. “That’s what’s happened in the past. If it turns out any better next week then I’d take it.”

Anything less and it could mean the fatal wound for the man they call ‘Dagger’.