The Tullow Bus
By fatlad76
January 31 2022
So, after missing out on the Bath game and an enjoyable outing against Edinburgh with a changed side, I was really looking forward to this encounter. Looking at the team sheets despite having several noticeable absences the Exeter side still looked strong particularly in the back 5 and you can’t underestimate Hogg, Simmonds, O’Flaherty, Woodburn in the backs. Where were they weaker? Maybe the front row and the bench. For us it looked like just a small jiggle of the troops and I don’t know if it is just me but unlike previous years I have started to not be too bothered. There is always a nucleus. So the front row get rotated, second row rotation .. all are performing. Back row …. What’s this are my eyes deceiving me? Do I see Sean O’Brien at 8? Then I look closer. Perhaps we should rename the Tullow Tank, the Tullow bus! We have waited a long time to see SOB on the team sheets and now two appear to have come along together!
I went to the game with my son and his friend who likes the Northern pickup fall over version of the game and I was asked before the start who would win. I obviously said Irish! Now was that my green tinted glasses or hope? The first 5 minutes saw immense pressure from Exeter but some strong tackling that focussed on strength first rather than rip then ground. It meant that they had to work hard to breach the gain line. However, after a mistake of getting in front of Stokes the resultant penalty put us on the 5 metre line and after 4 minutes the first try when Woodburn steps past Rogerson. The pressure did not end there and a pushover try resulted from subsequent play after Stokes could not get to a 50-22 kick.
A score of 0-14 after 17 mins and I get the look questioning my confidence. “Patience! We will not give up” is my response.
Now we started to play and good movement across the field. Fast hands … crisp passing .. and a 5 metre line out. Working the phases across the field and Cornish is over. Paddy unfortunately missed the kick. Will that be costly?
Irish were now dominant and a kick through from Rona sees O’Flaherty gather in goal. Did he touch it down after being beyond the back line? I think he did. Missed by all!
We then get a TMO penalty reversal and Paddy kicks the 3. Game on!
A second penalty makes it 11-14 on the 30 minute mark.
Poor discipline and chat, sees us walked back onto our goal line but after a couple of phases we get the penalty and clear. This might be an important turning point.
We get to the end of the half and the try of the game. Quick ball sees a break on the wing, an offload from Loader just as he is pushed into touch and a dive towards the flag with feet raised gives Stokes a really, well taken dot down. Half time and we have the lead 18-14.
On to the second half. Now this was odd. I don’t know when I have ever enjoyed a 0-0 half of rugby so much it was riveting play and totally unlike the normal London Irish try-fests. Rather than commenting on time line events these were my thoughts on the game as a whole.
The forwards were outstanding today. The set piece functioned well in the scrum and the lineout. I think Cornish only missed with one arrow and the front three as a collective showed power in the tackle and energy. How did they all keep going until the 71st minute?
Tackling and defence was solid today. The power of hits from Coleman and Pearson was a joy to watch causing several metres to be lost each time. The midfield was well controlled with fast ball from Phipps and Paddy controlling the line well. Rona and Van Rensburg were dominant breaking the gain line on numerous occasions and acting as two extra forwards when needed with power in the hit. After a shaky first 15 minutes, Stokes made up for it with the try and it was great to see Ben back with some good attacking runs. Cinti also looked assured.
The bench also played its part. The change in the front row had no impact. Munga had a good break. Cracknell, say no more, continues to be a beast and was everywhere. Finally, Rowe! I lamented in a thread about his catch in the last 5 minutes, but it truly was amazing. It looked like a sequence from a cartoon character in Space Jam. From 30 metres away, he believed … and he flew! It was never in doubt he was going to make the catch.
As I said to my two compatriots, “Never in doubt”. Others should watch this game and the fact that we basically out muscled Exeter (something they are renowned for) is huge and they should take note. There was a statistic put up on the second half on about 60 minutes, which I don’t think really changed in the last quarter, but only 1% of the play had been in our 22. Wow great defence!
I think we have a London Irish to be really proud of.
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