This was a big weekend for Welsh rugby. Wales under a new coaching regime would be taking on Ireland the current Six Nations Champions in Cardiff. Not many people in Wales were expecting Wales to beat Ireland but they were desperate to see some signs of a renaissance after an absolutely abysmal year or so. Matt Sherratt the new head coach is not a miracle worker but hopefully he could instill some belief and organisation in the short time he had been with the squad. The changes to personnel that he had made promised to bring a different approach.
The weekend started with disappointment as Pontypool’s
fixture against Aberavon had to be postponed as the pitch at Pontypool Park was
waterlogged after heavy rainfall. There were no such problems in Cardiff with
the match played in the Principality Stadium with the roof firmly closed. I had
decided not to go to Cardiff as it would surely be too much of a test for my
new hip at this early stage.
Ireland quite quickly demonstrated why they are favourites
for the Six Nations Championship with an all action first quarter. They dominated
territory with strong carries and astute kicking and it came as no surprise
when they opened the scoring with a try from Conan. You feared for Wales at
this stage but gradually you started to see flashes of what the new team ethos was
in attack and there was a solid Welsh scrum that was a welcome source of
penalties.
Ireland added another penalty but Wales countered with
two of their own. Wales were giving as good as they got at this stage. A high
tackle and subsequent yellow card for Ringrose helped the Welsh cause and they
deservedly took a 13-10 lead when Jac Morgan touched down after a period of
concerted Welsh pressure. At half time, the Ringrose yellow card became a
twenty minute red card.
Wales took advantage of their numerical superiority
with a brilliant finish by Rogers who squeezed in at the corner. Wales were in
dreamland at 18-10 with the crowd right behind them.
Ireland are not champions for nothing and they used
their bench to inject energy. The gap was closed to 18-13 by a Pendergrast
penalty and not long after Bundee Aki came on to bring Ireland back to full
strength. The Irish kicking game was pinning Wales back and a pinpoint
crosskick from Gibson-Park was tapped back by Lowe to Osborne who touched down
in the corner. The conversion failed but it was 18-18 with the momentum with
Ireland.
Wales were beginning to leak penalties as the Irish
pressure told as they battled to protect their try line. Two more successful
penalties from Prendergast saw Ireland take a 18-24 lead. Full credit to Wales
as they threw everything at Ireland and Mee came within an ace of scoring a
dramatic try in the left corner after great combined play. Unfortunately, it
was chalked off and Ireland secured victory with yet another penalty from Prendergast.
Final score Wales 18 : Ireland 27.
This was much, much better from Wales who pushed their
illustrious opponents all the way. There were plenty of encouraging signs with
both young and old members of the team stepping up a few levels from the previous
matches. There were many more signs of organisation and cohesion in the backs
and the whole team played with pride and commitment. In the end, it was the
unity of purpose of the Irish that comes from playing together for so long
backed up by an excellent kicking game that won the day. Congratulations to
Ireland on winning the Triple Crown and a Grand Slam beckons if they can defeat
the French in Dublin. Congratulations too to the Wales Under 20s who beat their
Irish counterparts to increase the sense of optimism in the gloom of Welsh
rugby.
Wales play Scotland next in Murrayfield in a couple of
weeks which will be a tough challenge. The Scots were desperately unlucky not
to beat England in Twickenham. They played the better rugby and in the end they
lost be a single point and will rue the missed conversions.
No match for Pooler until March 14th when
they visit perennial rivals Newport in the Super Rugby Wales Cup. It looks like
a blank Saturday next week on the rugby front .
Come on Wales!
Come on Pooler!
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