Irish Storm Hits Cardiff

We are well used to Wales starting the Six Nations Championship slowly. Sometimes they get away with it and eke out a win if the opposition is not too stiff. In some years this has even led to grand slams. A slow start just won’t do against Ireland in this kind of form. Ireland are not ranked number one in the world for nothing and their demolition job on Wales in the first half in this year’s opener showed pace and power that Wales could not remotely handle. It soon had me hiding behind the couch as any sort of winning score for the Irish seemed possible.

As it transpired, Wales were losing 3-27 at the interval with no real prospect of victory. It is hard to single out particular players for criticism as the whole Welsh team looked shell-shocked and off the pace. For the Irish, it was a consummate team performance of the kind that had so upset the All Blacks in the summer.

Thank goodness the second half showed a marked improvement for Wales and an Irish team that rather took its foot off the gas. Wales huffed and puffed and created many scoring chances but made mistakes at critical junctures with the lineout one key area that needs urgent improvement. We began to see some signs of life with Liam Williams prominent in defence and attack and new boy Hawkins showing promise.

Indeed, it was Williams who scored Wales’ solitary try after a nice move from the backs. It was also in Williams’ absence for a rather marginal yellow card that Ireland scored their only points of the second half with a try to clinch their bonus point.

Yes, the second half was a 7-7 draw which hardly seemed likely after the first half. Wales had blown chances to score too and could have closed the gap further with a bit more poise. You were however left with the nagging feeling that the Irish could have stepped step up a gear if they felt they had to. As it was, the Irish left Cardiff with a 10-34 bonus point victory and in good shape for taking on the French in Dublin next week.

As for Wales, they will face the rather daunting prospect of a visit to Edinburgh to face a Scottish team brimming with confidence. Yes, Scotland got the better of England at Twickenham in an exciting encounter that had the result in doubt right to the end. The Scots looked devastating in attack at times and got their noses in front in the last few minutes to clinch the Calcutta Cup. England looked lively too and will test their future opposition (including Wales) to the full. They can only improve under Borthwick’s tutelage

Warren Gatland and his coaching team will have to put on their thinking caps to put together a team to challenge Scotland. The policy of picking lots of tried and tested old heads was not really a success so more young players should get the call to try and spice things up. There is surely nothing to lose now. Replacements for North, Biggar and Alun Wyn Jones might be a good place to start.