Green Energy Overpowers Wales

This was always going to be a difficult opening match for Wales in the Six Nations Championship. Ireland and its provincial teams are playing top class rugby and are brimming with confidence. Wales and the Regions on the other hand are not after a mediocre showing so far this season.

Wales duly got a drubbing as the high power and high pace of the Irish was too hot too handle. If they were to do anything Wales needed to get off to a good start but the opposite happened with a very early try to the Irish setting the tone for the match. From then on, the result was never in doubt somehow and Wales were on the rack.

It is easy to highly critical of Wales but we should not forget that this is a really good Irish side with few weaknesses. It was almost an achievement for Wales to only concede four tries as they eventually went down 29-7. Wales never gave up and tackled themselves to a standstill with Basham to the fore as the rampant Irish battered them. Wales just could not match the Irish physicality on the day.

If you add the fifty point defeat of the Welsh Under 20s by the Irish to this rout it has been a worrying weekend for Welsh rugby. This will surely raise all sorts of questions about structures etc. but we are only one game into the championship and less than a year away from nearly winning the Grand Slam so is there any need to panic? You do have to ask the question as to how the Irish seem to have got things so right at the moment and try and learn from it. Their four provinces do roughly divide the country into quarters geographically where the Welsh regions do not.

In the other game on the opening Saturday, Scotland pipped England 20-17 in a really close game that turned on a penalty try awarded to Scotland. The Scots are coming to Cardiff next Saturday and on this form will pose a major threat to the battered Welsh team. With matches against England and France to follow Wales have it all to do to get back on track.

Wales are beset by a long injury list which may well be longer after yesterday’s bruising encounter. There will be calls for wholesale changes I have no doubt, but it is quite difficult to see who Wales turn to. The forwards were second best to the Irish and are lacking in ball carriers. The backs were found wanting in defence at times and never threatened in attack admittedly with limited quality possession. The experiment of playing Josh Adams at centre was not successful although with more experience in the position it might work. Adams should return to the wing for the time being. In the forwards I think we need a better blend with a bulkier No 6 or 8 who can carry the ball more effectively. Lord knows who that is, but if Moriarty is really match fit it could be him. In my view, major changes in personnel are not the way forward and we should let the nucleus of the team have another shot at redemption.

I was saddened to hear of the sudden death of Robin Davey who reported on rugby for the South Wales Argus for many years. I knew Robin reasonably well and he was true rugby man who wrote it as he saw it. My condolences to his family.

For Pooler fans, we are two weeks away from that trip to Bargoed on the day that has a red ring drawn on it on my calendar. This should be a humdinger with two sides battling for bragging rights and possibly the Championship. I can’t wait.

Good luck to Wales against Scotland next Saturday.  Hope the fans behave and enjoy the weaker beer. The WRU can always turn to Welsh Bitter or Courage AK if the beer is still too strong or maybe even a compulsory dash of lemonade.

Come on Wales!