2015 Six Nations Ireland vs England: 5 Comparisons with 2003

Ireland host England Sunday at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin in a Six Nations match with multiple parallels with the corresponding fixture in 2003. Here, Bleacher Report looks at the similarities and differences between that match, which England won 42-6, and this year’s eagerly-awaited encounter.

The comparisons relate to both teams’ status in world rugby and contrast the personnel at their disposal.

Stats are per espn.co.uk

As in 2003, Ireland and England will come together in Dublin with a Six Nations Championship and a prized Grand Slam on the line. Similarly, they have been the two most impressive teams in the tournament.

The World Cup is just half a year away, not that anyone needs reminding. In 2003, England, having won the Six Nations Grand Slam in Dublin, set themselves up perfectly for their successful assault on the summit of world rugby in Australia. They will look to do the same at the Aviva Stadium.

For Ireland, England are the main barriers between them and a second Six Nations championship in the two years of head coach Joe Schmidt’s tenure.

In 2003, England’s team selection was a foregone conclusion. The only players who made a late burst in time for the World Cup were Josh Lewsey and Trevor Woodman. Today, England have very few guaranteed starters for the World Cup, although injury has savaged Stuart Lancaster’s plans.

As a result, England possess more depth now than in 2003, but they lack the players who would make a World XV. In 2003, they would have half a dozen. Now they might get one: David Wilson, who, incidentally, will not feature against Ireland through injury. 

Ireland in 2003 were a good team. Particularly at home, they were hard to beat. Malcolm O’Kelly was the cornerstone of a strong set piece, and in the backs, Brian O’Driscoll and Denis Hickie were cunning runners.

But fast forward to 2015, and Ireland are a different beast. With all respect to 2003 coach Eddie O’Sullivan, Ireland’s current mastermind, Joe Schmidt is in a different league: He can claim to be the best coach in international rugby. Schmidt is Ireland’s trump card and has given his team a mental edge.

Martin Johnson, the 2003 captain, was a titan. A British and Irish Lions legend and an English lionheart, his mind games in 2003 against Ireland set the tone for a bullying England side (see video above). His actions were mirrored by the current incumbent Chris Robshaw in Cardiff against Wales during this season’s curtain-raiser through England’s refusal to walk onto the pitch until Wales were ready.

Robshaw, with 34 caps, does not have the same authority as Johnson had (he retired at the end of the year with 84 appearances, plus eight for the Lions), but he is slowly becoming a figure of comparable inspiration.

Like Johnson, Robshaw’s work-rate is outstanding, and he demands the same of his team-mates. In 2003 against Ireland, Johnson stood up. We can be confident Robshaw will too.

In 2003, a fresh-faced Brian O’Driscoll was Ireland’s talisman. Now, Johnny Sexton is a worthy successor.

A nomination for the 2014 IRB World Player of the Year award was just desserts for the Racing Metro fly-half. An incisive runner, Sexton is also an excellent tactical kicker. Add to those weapons a courageous defence (just ask France’s Mathieu Bastareaud, with whom Sexton had numerous collisions a fortnight ago—see above) and Ireland have a near complete 10.