Rugby

Gibson-Park says Ireland will keep to the process as they seek to build on opening day win

Player of the match Gibson-Park says that sticking to the plan key to seeing off England.

Jamison Gibson-Park running
Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park on the way to scoring their side's first try of the game during the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Picture date: Saturday February 1, 2025. (Brian Lawless/PA)
By Paul McIntyre

Jamison Gibson-Park couldn’t have picked a better time to return to form.

Over the last number of the years the New Zealand born Gibson-Park has established himself as one of Ireland’s most important players. His eagerness to play at a high tempo is something that caught the eye of Andy Farrell when the English man stepped into the head coach’s position in 2020.

At the time, many were surprised at the Leinster man’s inclusion but in the years since he has proven to be more than a vital cog in the wheel in the green of his adopted homeland.

A dip in form earlier in the season saw question marks raised, but on Saturday afternoon against England, Gibson-Park capped off a player-of-the-match performance with a 35th minute try as Ireland set about going for a hat-trick of Six Nations titles in the best possible fashion.

“Yeah, it’s good but I’m not too sure who was picking it,” laughed the Leinster and Ireland scrum-half on his selection as the games stand-out player.

Instead, Gibson-Park was just happy to be able to do his part in achieving a positive result.

“It was good. It’s something that we got to earmark for a while.

“You obviously got to perform at provincial level but it’s always one to look forward to. You know, England at home, that means a whole bunch. But it was awesome to be out there.”

Gibson-Park’s first half try was just the tonic that Ireland was screaming out for in a first half when very little was going Ireland’s way in attack.

A slow start allowed England to take an early lead but when James Lowe managed to pick out Gibson-Park to go in for the first of four Irish tries, there was no looking back for the reigning champions.

“We kind of back ourselves in that area where things might not be going our way. You have to be process driven and a lot of that has been developed over the years working under class coaches and class players developing that as well. Like Johnny (Sexton) would’ve been big on that and try and stay in the moment the best we can.”

Tempers fray between England's Ben Curry and Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park during the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Picture date: Saturday February 1, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story RUGBYU Ireland. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.
Tempers fray between England's Ben Curry and Ireland's Jamison Gibson-Park during the Guinness Men's Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Picture date: Saturday February 1, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story RUGBYU Ireland. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire. (Brian Lawless/Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

Dominating possession but failing to find a breakthrough for much of the first half led to many wondering in a sold-out Aviva Stadium that Ireland may have left their best behind them.

But there was no sign of panic where it mattered and in the second half Ireland dug in to blow England out of the water.

The challenge now for Ireland is to raise the level of performance another gear as they face up to another tussle with Scotland, a team that Gibson-Park rates very highly.

“They are a classy side.

“I didn’t see much of their match today but they played some good footy and they are stacked with some really good individuals.

“It will be a tough challenge. I know it’s been a long time since they won but’s it’s going to be tough.”