Pass, move. Pass, move. Perpetually advancing. Always forward. Like the cogs of a Swiss pocket watch, Ireland’s attack operates with machine-like precision. Johnny Sexton retires, Jack Crowley keeps the enterprise thrumming. Andy Farrell makes five changes to a pack that crushed France in Marseille and Italy’s forwards get the same treatment a week later. Tick, tick. Pass, move.
As revealed by Sage analytics, Ireland are averaging 5.8 metres per pass in this year’s Six Nations. Against Italy, 122 of their passes travelled less than five metres. No other side last week played more than 66 short passes. By shifting the ball around the fringe and targeting the outside shoulder of the close-in defender, Ireland’s ball carriers are able to rumble on with a continuity that at times seems unstoppable.
