Hooker’s display against Pool B opponents a timely reminder of player’s ability and potential when freed from shackles of injury
Ireland’s James Ryan competes in the lineout with Tonga’s Vaea Fifita. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Compare that to an 85.7 per cent success rate when Andy Farrell’s side won the Grand Slam earlier this year or a lineout running at 81.3 per cent across last month’s warm-up fixtures. A hooker is at the pointy end of the unit skill. As a rule of thumb expressed by those forwards who participate in the set piece, the solution is generally to tweak here and there. It’s a default explanation that leans on brevity rather than insight.
Tongans check for loose fillings in the tackle, especially for opponents who don’t use footwork and or bring a degree of subtlety to running lines, but there are occasions when a full-frontal collision can’t be avoided. Kelleher, and man-of-the-match Bundee Aki, excelled in heavy contact to ensure that their team-mates kept looking and moving forward.
He might have grabbed Ireland’s second try of the match but a lineout maul stalled heading towards the Tongan line. After a brief reorientation, Doris took over from Kelleher as tailgunner to score. Mack Hansen’s delightful matrix-like finish for his try understandably drew many admiring glances but its genesis can be traced to the impetus that Kelleher’s carry generated.
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