Ireland wraps up series

Press, 18 June 1979, Page 30

Ireland wraps up series

NZPA Sydney Ireland’s goal-kicking phenomenon, Ollie Campbell, produced a three-card trick to ace Australia, 9-3 in the second and final test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Campbell, the understudy who has almost achieved rugby immortality in a fortnight, kicked two field goals and a penalty to wrap up the series.

The magnitude of the frail, pallid five-eighth’s contribution was almost incalculable, following as it did his 19-point tally in the first clash at Brisbane where the Irish inflicted a 27-12 drubbing.

On Saturday the Australians, chastened by the Ballymore debacle, turned m a display of unrelenting aggression that at any other time or place would probably have proved irresistable. But 80 minutes of uncomprising effort yielded only a meagre penalty goal by Paul McLean, Campbell’s opposite number.

McLean missed four other shots at goal although one of them hit the crossbar. “I can’t believe it,” bellowed the Australian coach, Dave Brockhoff, over and over again as he stormed into the dressing room. “We had it won in every way — territorially, possession, everything.” While acknowledging Mr Brockhoff’s bewilderment most would agree that in the final analysis it was simply an inability to exploit opportunity that has toppled the Australians off the pinnacle they scaled in last September’s historic win over the AH Blacks, at Eden Park. As Mr Brockhoff said his players lifted their game 250 per cent on Saturday but as it turned out they lacked the skill to penetrate a magnificent Irish defence. Indeed it was a confrontation of two superbly drilled packs yet, throughout, Australia had the edge in the se<- pieces with the locks, Peter McLean and Keith Besomo, shading their more illustrious opponents, the British Lion, Moss Keane,

and Ballymena’s Harry Steele in the line-outs.

Additionally the Australian back row of Mark Loane and the flankers, Greg Cornelsen and Tony Shaw, marauded magnificently in the loose to create ample second-phase possession.

But time and again it was the Australian three-quarters who were found wanting. Indecision, at times the inside backs showed as much initiative in attack as an echo, and a superb Irish cover defence negated the herculean efforts up front.

Too often Paul McLean kick’-! away possession while the centres, Tony Melrose and Bill McKid, appeared at times to lack pace and penetration. It is doubtful whether Ireland’s legendary Mike Gibson has tackled as much in any of his previous 80 internationals. And Ireland’s full-back, Rodney O’Donnell, shrugged off his hamstring worries to turn in a faultless performance.

Hii positional playing was impeccable, gobbling up every high kick that came

his way and returning most of them with interest. The halves, Colin Patterson and Campbell, worked up a fine understanding and Patterson’s astute line kicking was a telling factor. Territorially Australia dominated from the outset and Campbell ventured into easy kicking range only twice in the first half. The second occasion was on the stroke of half-time and he duly angled over a 20m field goal to put Ireland three-nil up at the break. A minute into the second half Paul McLean landed the simplest of penalties from directly in front after an Irish forward had been caught off-side at a ruck.

But four minutes later Campbell edged Ireland ahead again with a 25m penalty and ultimately sealed Australia’s fate with a second field goal two minutes from the end.

The Irish coach, Mr Murphy said that Australia should not be too despondent about the future. He said he still rated Australia a 50-50 chance of beating the All Blacks at Sydney next month.