Rob Baloucoune reveals Ireland plan to stop George Ford drop goals

Scotland were quick to react to England's game-plan, which has steadily become a trademark with Ford in the driver's seat. A second half drop goal attempt was charged down last Saturday, as Matt Fagerson telegraphed the play, to spill the ball into open field. The Glasgow Warriors man then found Huw Jones in support, for the centre to break away unscathed for a stunning counter-attack try.

Ireland are no strangers to the sting of an English drop goal, as the 2024 Six Nations clash at Twickenham was decided by the last-grasp strike from Marcus Smith. Speaking in the week, Rob Baloucoune shared how Ireland have poured extra attention into nullifying this tactic, ahead of the third round match-up.

“I'm just in from training there, so we've done a bit of focus on trying to put kick pressure on and how we can slow that down." Baloucoune said in the week, at Ireland's training camp. "It's definitely something that we've focused on, and something we'll try and stop at the weekend."

Baloucoune retains his place on the wing for today's fixture, having impressed upon his long awaited Six Nations debut this past weekend against Italy. The 'Cat' as he is so well known in Ulster circles, stole the show with a stunning solo try, after collecting the quater-back style pass from his provincial teammate Stuart McCloskey. Baloucoune revealed how such moves are commonplace in Belfast, with the Ulster duo out to replicate their efforts today at the Allianz.

"If you look back at a few tries, you'll see with Ulster that I’ve received a lot of passes from him like that, a basketball loop or an NFL pass. It's something he's good at and something I look for and it's a good way for me to get tries off him as well.”

“There's a bit of space in front of me and I was able to beat the defender as well. I was just trying to get to the tryline and do what I do and beat them for pace.”

The 28-year-old starts on the right wing, as he makes up an Ireland back three alongside the Leinster duo of James Lowe and Jamie Osborne. The trio are unchanged from the starting side that brought the fight to Italy, yet Baloucoune explained how the game-plan has been altered to deal with England's expected areal bombardment this afternoon.

"We've looked at the way they play. [We are] Certainly trying to get up in the air and disrupt the game. We'll trust our systems. We kind of focus on ourselves at the start of the week, do our systems and we'll build on what we did against Italy. We'll try and focus on areas that we've maybe missed opportunities to go and get teams and it's something we'll build throughout the week.”

After witnessing their 12-match winning streak come to an end this past Saturday up in Edinburgh, England were left dejected upon their trip back home from the Scottish capital. Baloucoune did not shy away from how he expects Steve Borthwick's side to be 'hurting' from the loss, which sent all hopes of a 2026 Six Nations Grand Slam up in smoke for the England team.

“To go to Twickenham, and it’s always something you can get up for as well. They'll be hurting, so we know what type of game that's going to be. It's going to be physical and we know what we have to bring. We've looked at their kicking game and I think it's something that we actually dealt well with in the Italy game. We dealt with their kicks and it’s a good way for us to get back into the game, so we've got the plan set in place and, yeah, we'll go with it.”

Turning his attention inwards, and Baloucoune spoke candidly about how he once thought that his time was done in the Ireland jersey. After making his international debut in a 2021 Summer Test against the USA, Baloucoune endured a spotted run of injuries, which hindered his consistency within the Ireland side. However, this latest resurgence with an in-form Ulster side, has propelled Baloucoune back into the Test match scene, as he prepares to make his seventh cap later today.

“To be honest, yeah, probably [I thought I was finished with Ireland]. It had been a while and playing for Ulster was even looking a bit dreadful. I only played two games last season, I got a good run of games this season and was playing well and the team was playing well, which helped my ability to get back into the team - scoring tries always helps! I was surprised after getting selected for the camp. When I got the opportunity, I wanted to put my best foot forward and I felt like I did that on the weekend.”

As Baloucoune prepares to run out for a magnificent seventh cap, he feels a great sense of personal pride to wear the iconic green jersey.

“It's an honour for everyone. It's unbelievable. I probably didn't see myself really playing rugby because I started late - the Irish jersey felt so out of place for me. But my first cap, I'll remember it for the rest of my life. It was so memorable and the amount of family and support that came down and the people wishing you good luck, it's unbelievable. Playing for your nation, it's class.”