Tight tussle: The Welsh again proved to be the Irish's nemesis
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Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny kicked a 79th-minute penalty to break Irish hearts and steal a 23-21 Six Nations win in Dublin on Sunday.
Revenge was on the menu for Ireland following their World Cup exit against the Welsh, but defeat is what they were served at the Aviva Stadium where they have now lost three games on the trot.
At 21-15, it looked like Ireland's game for the taking with five minutes left on the clock and Wales lock Bradley Davies in the bin. However, the visitors had other ideas and cut the deficit to a one-point ball game through a George North try.
Halfpenny missed the conversion to take the lead, but held his nerve to slot over a last-gasp penalty four minutes later - after Stephen Ferris was sin-binned for a tip tackle on Ian Evans - to deny the Irish and help open his team's Six Nations account with an upset win.
Wales played with an energy that Ireland failed to match for the majority of the first half, and were desperately unlucky not to have a try awarded early on by the TMO who - after several replays - decided it was "inconclusive" after a sea of red jerseys barged over the line.
But the Welsh weren't to be denied again by the TMO following centre Jonathan Davies's well-worked try in the corner that was set up by Rhys Priestland, but which the pivot failed to convert.
Priestland, in doubt for this match before he was declared fit to play on Friday, showed no signs of discomfort from the knee injury that kept him out of action for two weeks with ball in hand.
However, he was off-target with the boot after missing his second shot at goal with a penalty attempt from bang in front that would have extended his team's lead to five points.
Instead, it was Ireland who managed to find some spark produced from a rare attack inside Wales' 22 that started with Tommy Bowe breaking the line and ended with hooker Rory Best crossing the whitewash for a crucial score before half-time.
Sexton added the extras from far out and Ireland went into the half-time sheds 10-5 in front.
Ireland opened up the second half in the same fashion as they did the first courtesy of another three points from Sexton.
Halfpenny, who had taken on the kicking duties, landed a long-range attempt in reply and centre Davies capitalised on North's bulldozing run for a superb second try.
Halfpenny converted but Wales' lead was only brief as Sexton booted a tricky penalty and, when Bradley Davies was sin-binned for tipping Donnacha Ryan on his head, Bowe soon scored in the corner after taking a magnificent pass from his pivot.
Sexton missed the conversion and a penalty - both difficult kicks - and the irrepressible North crashed over only for Halfpenny to miss the conversion before accepting the second invite after Ferris's indiscretion.
Man of the match: For Ireland, Tommy Bowe created one and scored one, while Jamie Heaslip was the pick of the Irish forwards. For Wales, Ryan Jones ran hard and offered Wales leadership when Sam Warburton had left the pitch through injury and Jonathan Davies richly deserved his two-try haul. However, wing George North was undoubtedly Wales' star man. He bullied Ireland's backline at will, showing superb skill setting up Davies's second try and tremendous strength for his own five-pointer. Who needs Shane Williams when you got this guy out wide?
Moment of the match: Take your pick... Davies' second try... Bowe's five-pointer... North's score... Halfpenny's last-gasp penalty. This game was full of them!
Villain of the match: There's two of them - Bradley Davies and Stephen Ferris, with the latter's brain implosion ultimately proving very costly indeed.
The scorers:
For Ireland:
Tries: Best, Bowe
Cons: Sexton
Pens: Sexton 3
For Wales:
Tries: J Davies 2, North
Cons: Halfpenny
Pens: Halfpenny 2
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Fergus McFadden, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O'Connell (capt), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Peter O'Mahony, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 David Kearney.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Rhys Gill.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Andy Powell, 19 Justin Tipuric, 20 Lloyd Willians, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
By Dave Morris
Comments
Ramage says...
Carpelone I think your admission to Genghis_j really puts an end to the issue. However believe it or not I can and have attacked foul play by the All Blacks. In this case I was stating some views on this particular game and felt referral to other games was irrelevant. Past games have either been dealt with or not and going back wont change that situation. However I got lost as to which game you were referring to the Welsh- Irish game I was posting about or the South African NZ game you brought up. However it is not a liberty but is a ruling a referee must give whether he likes it or not . It is the ref who decides whether it is red or yellow and penalty or just a penalty or nothing depending on what he sees or what is recommended by an assistant . It is only after that that the citing process will be used.Finally Paddy O'Brien is not my chap this is a poor choice of words man for one who seems well educated and I shudder to think of that scenario. Yes it is true Carpelone on the field you do have to be better than the All Blacks to win as were South Africa in the test that Thorn was stood down from playing in of all places Dunedin. anyway I have posted on the standing down of Davies and I look forward to your comments.
Posted 16:09 09th February 2012
ThinkingGame says...
@justice_4_all
All tip tackles? What about high tackles? Shall we include "criminal assault" with the boot in the ruck? Will all your Garda be qualifying as refs?
Off the rugby pitch, knocking a man down and dispossessing him of something he is carrying and then running away with it is often viewed as criminal behaviour (even by the Garda).
Some might argue that the Laws of Rugby are complicated enough without bringing in the criminal law of Ireland (...and all other coutries?).
I'm glad you feel worldwide police forces are mindless automatons only capable of applying the law using generalised principles and the moral sensitivity and dexterity of a tabloid sub-editor. Simply, red cards in soccer have not stopped "reducer" tackles. Numerous games have seen odd red card decisions, and players who made horrible tackles left alone, because the referee was caught between his judgement, and the instruction of his bosses. Perversely, the number of serious injuries seems to have increased.
I think the iRB need to take the deterrent factor away from the match in which the incident occurs, and place it solely on the head of the offender. Criminal investigation seems the simplest way to do that.
Posted 15:12 09th February 2012
ThinkingGame says...
@makemehappy
In a way, people are defending him by asking that this be viewed as a rugby incident. It has already been said plenty of times that this type of behaviour has no place on a rugby pitch. So where does it belong? In what sense does one of two different coloured cards count as an appropriate reaction to what, in any other environment, is a criminal offense?
If the iRB seriously want to discourage tip tackles in the amateur game, by penalising the elite world class athletes who train every day to avoid injury on the pitch, then it's time to put a real sanction in place, not one that penalises the player's team and fans. So how about passing the evidence to the Garda?
Posted 00:49 09th February 2012
7ton says...
makemehappy
Yes you have made it clear you think it should have been a red card but the officials actions or inaction cannot be used as any justification for what Bradley done.
In any case 7 weeks ban seems fair and I think it was right that no further action was taken re Ferris
Posted 22:24 08th February 2012
Carpelone says...
@ genghis_j
I accept your point and thank you for the information you provided.
Apologies for the inaccuracy, although I was focusing on the severity of the foul and the relevant mild consequences.
I stated that as an example, and not as an excuse for a little AB's bashing.
Thanks and regards
Posted 15:27 08th February 2012
makemehappy says...
@7ton - no, and I can't imagine anyone would think I had, given I was advocating a red card! I have highlighted that if the offcials had reacted to the initial foul quicker, it could have been avoided.
Posted 13:08 08th February 2012
hougiebear says...
Pantreac is the most uniformed waster of a poster on PR in it's entirety.
"What lost us the game was the changes made by Kidney in the last 15 minutes and his selection of players. I think it showed that Ryan (all 15 stone soaking wet of him) is not a 2nd row"
Ryan is 108kg which is almost 17 stone, is one of the inform Irish 2nd rows and show be starting. You are an actual idiot
Posted 11:27 08th February 2012
Carpelone says...
Ramage
Let me explain the relevance of my post w.r.t. yours.
According to the 5 man focus areas set by your chap PoB, this was clearly a red card. So, I disagree with your analysis about referees having the liberty to decide if this was red or not. It was simply not seen.
The citing process should be used as a deterrent for foul play, to avoid players escaping the right punishment.
The citing process is laughable, as it delivers consistently inconsistent ruling on the same offence, and I took Thorn/Smit accident as an example.
But what is the problem with you in admitting that ABs are sometimes on the wrong side?
Thorn should have been banned for a much longer period than Wharburton, and I would not defend any Bok's player involved in similar accident.
I guess we can agree that the citing process should be reviewed to actually help the referees on the pitch.
As far as the conspiracy theory you brought in unexpectedly, I could say that "excusatio non petita, accusatio manifesta". However, we are well aware that we have to be much better than the ABs to win games against them.
Posted 09:23 08th February 2012
7ton says...
makemehappy
Are you seriously making excuses for Bradley Davies here?
Posted 21:03 07th February 2012
makemehappy says...
@ThinkingGame - is anyone actually trying to defend what Bradley Davies did???
Posted 18:51 07th February 2012
pantreac says...
What lost us the game was the changes made by Kidney in the last 15 minutes and his selection of players. I think it showed that Ryan (all 15 stone soaking wet of him) is not a 2nd row and Kidney thinks that O'Gara is a good tackler, brought on with 3 mins to go! Kidney was not thinking of Ireland winning the game only increasing O'Gara's 'cap' count! There should not have been any subs, all we had to do was close out the game! Kidney did this twice last year, he must learn to use subs tactically and to our advantage. O'Callaghan had a good game and did many fine things he should not have been subbed for someone who 'glares' a good game and is not of international standard! Whereas it was a missed tackle by O'Connell on Evans that set up the last try for North. O'Connell must learn to play a more controlled game instead of charging all over the field contesting balls that he either knocks on or gives away a penalty. He must scrummage harder and support his props. I played 2nd row at senior level for over 20 years and I figured-out the opposition line-out calls in every match I played. Sexton should be captain as O'Connell being captain it affects his game too much! Murray's service at the base of the scrum improved he is not a scrum half. He did not make 1 break in the whole game. What kept our defence guessing? Phillips breaking from all phases of play. Murray should have marked his opposite number more closely. Murray's kicking was the worst I have seen from a scrum half at any level. Imagine Boss there sniping at the base of the scrum or loose ruck forcing the Welsh back row to be honest. With about 20 mins to go we won the ball on half way with no defenders and himself and the winger unmarked, instead of running with the ball he kicked aimlessly as he did the whole game a good chance wasted, the ball goes straight into touch and we lose a try scoring chance.
Posted 13:22 07th February 2012
Ramage says...
Carpelone I don't need to comment about Thorne because it was irrelevant to the poins I was making. Unlike you I am aware of what happened please read Ghengis_j's excellent post as he sums up what really happened. Please be accurate Carpelone it ill behoves you to spread falsehoods on this site. Further are you now asking refs to guess. Oh dear shades of corrupt referees there. Oh just to show one kiwi can say something nice about Barnes his display was far better than the display we saw from Clancy.
Posted 11:30 07th February 2012
Carpelone says...
genghis_j
You are trying to excuse the unexusable.
That was a spear tackle, it was done not only off the ball but also during a pause and Smit did nothing to provoke it.
The one week ban was laughable as New Zealand did not play the week after.
As a result of Thorn's spear tackle, Smit got his shoulder injured for the most of that 3N campaign.
Just admit that it was a very unfortunate ruling, which was extremely inconsistent with other decision.
That was a red card in 2012 as well as in 2008.
Posted 09:51 07th February 2012
JamieTheProp says...
Has nobody else noticed that Ireland's defence was woeful? And that indiscipline played a huge part in deciding the game?
At least both teams committed to running the ball though - so fair enough!
There is only one winner this year and it is France!
Posted 22:47 06th February 2012
ThinkingGame says...
Under the Laws the ref still has the choice of penalty kick, yellow card or red card. While the memo asks for harsh punishment, it cannot demand it. With that in mind, on its own merits, it was a red card offense. There is no way of calling this a tackle gone wrong. It was an attempt to hurt Donncha Ryan, as an act of retaliation. That said, it was retaliation, and that is taken into account when determining the sanction during the disciplinary hearing, and so may have been why Dave Pearson felt it was only worth a yellow. Either way, it nearly cost Wales the game, and the citing officer is there to ensure that events that weren't seen or punished correctly on the field are dealt with afterwards.
As for Ferris, the only part of Ian Evans he had hold of was his leg. As such, he couldn't control where Evans' upper body was going, so to continue to lift and tip him, even though Evans did his best to maintain his balance on his other leg, was reckless. For all other types of tip tackle, a yellow card should be sufficient. And that's why he went to the bin.
Don't get bogged down in defending the indefensible from Bradley Davies. It was a clear example of what a red card is for, that unfortunately happened away from the ball, and therefore the main attention of both officials. It got a card, and will get a citing.
I never liked football fans who yell "Off! Off!" the moment a vaguely nasty tackle goes in. Don't let this sport go the same way. It was a cracking game. The better side won, the losers were a credit to themselves. No-one needed to win that game through a controversial red card.
Posted 21:28 06th February 2012
makemehappy says...
@howrtings - sorry I'm missing your point. Are you actually disagreeing with the concept that it wasn't retaliation (albeit over the top). Surely you can't be.
Where is your evidence of being a short tempered bully. That suggests more than one incident yet you appear to have forgotten to refer to these.
You seem to miss my point that it could have been avoided if the officials have intervened sooner. Sadly they failed to do this, and failed to red card hi. I trust they too are dealt with appropriately.
'Simple as', as you would say!
Posted 17:33 06th February 2012
APV1 says...
Isn't the main issue with a spear / tip tackle, the fact that they're uncontrolled?
So if the tackler holds onto the player, doesn't lift their legs above horizontal and lands on top of them during the tackle, it should be ok. It's the fact that the tackler's still on their feet which is a major cause for concern.
One of the issues is that the tackler isn't going in at speed. As such, the only way to tackle is to lift the opposite player, rather than knock him over... Perhaps I've misunderstood, but if the tackler goes in and their legs don't go above horizontal, all should be ok.
Posted 17:16 06th February 2012
Carpelone says...
@ Ramage
Hello mate. Although my favourite colour is green (and gold), I do not think that Ferris tackle was even a foul. The legs of the tackled player were not lifted above the hips and he was in any case taken to ground. Of course, if Barnes saw it as a tip tackle, it had to be yellow (at least).
You forgot to include in your stats Thorn, who did exactly what Davies did yesterday on Smit and did not even receive a penalty.
Posted 16:02 06th February 2012
7ton says...
Thank you Wales and Ireland for a very entertaining game.
IMO Wales played the better and deserved the win.
Posted 15:53 06th February 2012
jontheref says...
I thought Bradley would have got a red, even though there was provocation that was ignored by the officials.
I doubt we will see him during the 6N.
Even if Barnes had not given a yellow at the end, as the majority have stated, it was still a PK.
But as Ramage says, it had to be a yellow.
Yes, Ireland could have won, Wales would have been out of sight if Ryan Jones try was awarded, and 1/p was kicking all afternoon.
Thankfully, despite this Wales still won.
Suspect ireland can come 3rd.
Does ROG now feel silly about "this is the first step of our grandslam"?
Posted 15:47 06th February 2012