A Review from Men’s Ireland Team of last year
We reflect on some of the highlights and low points of 2023 as we head into the Christmas break. The year started with the Ireland Men winning the Grand Slam and ended with an agonizing exit from the RWC quarterfinals. Rugby fans worldwide are called to book Six Nations 2024 tickets from our online platform ticketing. co. Rugby fans can book Ireland Six Nations Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
Ireland built on the momentum of winning their first-ever Test series in New Zealand during Andy Farrell’s fourth year as manager. After being undefeated through November, the coaching staff decided on a competitive team for the Guinness Six Nations in 2023. The sole player without a cap, Jamie Osborne of Leinster, was chosen because of his success in his home province.
His prior appearances for Ireland ‘A’ and Emerging Ireland. The squad’s depth was a key factor in the Grand Slam victory even if Osborne did not play on the field. It made it easier for them to deal with last-minute changes to starting lineups and, more specifically, the injuries they sustained during the Scotland match.
Stars of the recent Six Nations Championship
32 players were involved in Ireland’s 2023 Championship games. Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, and James Lowe in the back three, Andrew Porter and James Ryan in the tight five, and Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris in the back row were all constant starters. Farrell’s team established the standard in the first round, defeating France for the first time since 2019 and winning their first Six Nations game in Cardiff since 2013.
That same day, Porter, Ryan, and Dave Kilcoyne all achieved their 50th international cap. That decisive 32-19 bonus-point victory over Les Bleus was possibly the game of the tournament. It was the first-ever Six Nations match between the two best teams in the world, and the result set a new record for Ireland’s 13 straight home triumphs.
Stuart McCloskey was making an impact in midfield with back-to-back starts, while Finlay Bealham took advantage of his chance to play for the first time in the Six Nations after Tadhg Furlong was out due to injury.
Bealham played a memorable role in setting Keenan free for the first try against France, a play that won him a nomination for World Rugby Try of the Year. Mack Hansen, Bealham’s Connacht colleague, played brilliantly in the next two games.
Ireland Vs Italy
In a 34–20 victory over Italy on the road, Hansen scored two tries and was named player of the match. After the match, Jack Crowley and Jimmy O’Brien both won their Six Nations appearances. Hansen showed off his ability to both finish and set up plays as he crossed once more. By setting up Jack Conan’s game-winning try as the green team overcame hardship to win 22-7 at Murrayfield Stadium.
At halftime, head coach Farrell described the situation as “organized chaos” due to injuries that were plaguing his team. Particularly in the pack when van der Flier was thrown into the lineouts. Cian Healy was packing down at hooker for many scrums. A head injury sadly ended Garry Ringrose’s 50th cap. But his teammates rose to the occasion and gave “a special performance for Garry,” according to Farrell.
England Vs Ireland
Robbie Henshaw, who is back to full fitness. Jamison Gibson-Park was added back to the team for the Grand Slam final match at Aviva Stadium against England. The team’s third second-row pairing of the competition was Ryan Baird and James Ryan. Crucially, only six days after that attritional match against the Scots, Porter, Furlong, and Dan Sheehan were back in the starting lineup.
With a try in every half, explosive hooker Sheehan went on to have a player-of-the-match performance. Rugby fans can book England vs Ireland Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
The dependable Porter once again demonstrated his value to the squad by playing the entire 80 minutes in Edinburgh. By needing to be substituted with only five minutes remaining. Rob Herring sealed the victory shortly afterward, much as he had done in Wellington versus the All Blacks.
Herring scored the 13th try in the 2023 Six Nations for Ireland. Hansen and James Lowe, who each had three goals, were in the lead. Keenan, Ryan, and Sheehan also scored two goals each. Along with Doris, Hansen and Keenan were selected for the Six Nations Player of the Tournament title.
The Review of Grand Slam Victory
The Ireland Men’s side won their fourth Grand Slam, their first at home since 1948. Their first title at home since 1985 with a 29-16 bonus point victory over England on St. Patrick’s Day. In honor of van der Flier’s 50th cap. Ireland made history by surpassing Ronan O’Gara as the Six Nations’ all-time top point scorer with nine points in his final season. By becoming the first team to win both senior and U-20 Grand Slams in the same season.
“Growing up, all you desired to do was play for Ireland, and me, I don’t know why, but I always wanted to captain Ireland,” Sexton said, summarizing what it meant to lead Ireland to the Grand Slam in his final Six Nations game.
With just six tries given up in the course of the five matches. Ireland’s defense played a major role in their victory in the spring. Scotland, with twelve, was closest to that total. Maintaining those elevated benchmarks would be crucial coming into the World Cup.
Under Andy Farrell’s Leadership
Farrell’s charges were in top form going into August’s Bank of Ireland Nations Series thanks to a well-tailored preseason training. Calvin Nash, Ciaran Frawley, Tom Stewart, Osborne, and the other members of the 42-man training squad, Osborne, received caps against Italy at home. Warm-up matches included victories over the Azzurri, England, and Samoa.
Though reportedly “broken but not beaten,” the joyous atmosphere in the camp was dampened when Healy. He was left out of the Rugby World Cup squad and sustained a calf injury. This happened after Keith Earls’ diving try finished versus England on the previous Saturday. It was his 100th Test for Ireland.
Ireland announced their 33-man World Cup roster less than 24 hours after the Samoa encounter. Sexton, Conor Murray, and Earls were selected to represent their country in their fourth World Cup. While the touring party comprised 18 tournament rookies overall.
Following an intense eight-week preseason at the IRFU High-Performance Centre in Blanchardstown and warm-weather training at Quinta do Lago in Portugal, Ireland headed to Tours. Their base for the World Cup pool stages.
The team’s enjoyable stay in the Centre-Val de Loire region. The encouragement of 12,000 residents during an open session. It allowed them to get off to a fast start in Pool. By emerging victorious over both Romania (82-8) and Tonga (59-16). The world’s top-ranked team had control over their destiny after defeating the Springboks. As they attempted to defeat a formidable Scottish squad and win their pool.
Standing ovation of Peter O’Mahony
When the team returned to the Saint-Denis cauldron, Farrell’s team outperformed the Scots 36-14 with a scorching six-try showing. Player of the match Gibson-Park made it all happen. New member Peter O’Mahony received a standing ovation upon joining Irish Rugby’s 100-cap club.
On October 14, thousands of Ireland supporters painted the city green in advance of the highly anticipated seismic rematch between Ireland and Pool A runners-up New Zealand. The event was marked by an extraordinary display of color, noise, and passion. All roads headed to Paris once more.
Ireland’s 2022 tour began with quick beginnings, but the All Blacks took the lead in the first half. Despite Ryan’s injury, Ireland scored twice before Aaron Smith’s sin bin. The match was tied at three tries apiece, with Codie Taylor and Ronan Kelleher seeing yellow cards. In the quarterfinals, Ireland faced intense competition, with Kelleher nearly putting them ahead with eight minutes left.
The Kiwis eventually won 28-24, despite Ireland’s mistakes. It was a bittersweet way for Sexton to end his career, having failed to reach their ultimate objective. When the dust settled on this most recent World Cup exit, many of the supporters could relate to his own words:
“We lost, but we won.”
Ireland’s record of 17 Victories
Ireland’s 2023 class has achieved a record 17 victories, fulfilling Sexton’s wish to inspire the nation. With Farrell in charge, Ireland’s playing group remains intact, with anticipation for the new captain. Six Nations championship defense, and potential replacement. Mike Catt will leave the Ireland squad, while Mick Kearney resigns as team manager.
Andrew Goodman will replace Catt as backs coach after the summer tour. With the World Rugby Coach of the Year title and the news of his new, long-term IRFU contract. It would keep him as Ireland’s head coach through the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, 2023 came to a close for Farrell.
Regarding 2024 and the future, the Wigan guy stated: “Working with such a gifted and dedicated group of players is a pleasure, and it will be interesting to watch more individuals pass through the system as we start a new cycle.”
“I am excited to watch how the most recent Ireland Under-20 squads will perform and contend for international honours shortly. There is a talented bunch of seasoned internationals who are committed to succeeding at the international level for Ireland. All of this points to an exciting new chapter, which my family and I are thrilled to be starting.”
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