Five takeaways from Wales v Ireland
Following a 21-16 victory for Wales over Ireland in their Six Nations game, here’s our five takeaways from the match at the Principality Stadium.
Top line
To watch two sides so willing to play rugby and so proud to run the ball with width, direction and intensity was an absolute joy and, whilst there can only ever be one winner, Ireland’s 14-man display played just as much a part in the entertainment as Wales’ first tier one win under Wayne Pivac which came courtesy of tries from veteran three-quarter George North and his young apprentice on the right wing, Louis Rees-Zammit.
This little thriller of an encounter went right down to the wire, with two sides cherishing the ball like a precious jewel, rather than the snorefest witnessed at Twickenham where both sides reacted to their own possession like an ordnance disposal officer faced with a ticking time bomb.
Refereed with absolute empathy by the brilliant Wayne Barnes in near freezing conditions, the teams showed phase continuity, handling skills under pressure and an absolute desire to entertain.
Both teams can emerge with their heads held high after a dramatic and powerful spectacle. It’s a great shame there was no crowd to witness the last 10 minutes as there’s no doubt they’d have blown the roof off this magnificent stadium.
The Pivac way
Pivac was employed not only to coach Wales but to coach them in the style and attacking mould of the team he forged at Scarlets and today, the green shoots of Welsh recovery were clear to see.
Firstly, Wales managed to create a stable platform at scrum time, no doubt in part down to the return to action of the talismanic Ken Owens at hooker, supported by a great shift from Player of the Match, Wyn Jones, and tighthead Tomas Francis. Secondly, they looked to play with width, with Owens and back-row pair Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau making extra men in handling moves to create overlaps.
They might wonder about the solidity of their lineout, but as players react to Owens’ return this is an easy fix for Wales. Above all, they’ll be happy to be off the mark under their new head coach and even happier that they put on a performance that bears all the hallmarks of Pivac’s way.
Think Ireland need to get someone sent off more often! Play way better with 14 men!
— Mike Tindall (@miketindall13) February 7, 2021
Worthy Ireland
Despite playing 65 minutes with 14 men after flanker Peter O’Mahony was dismissed by Barnes for a clumsy clear-out on Tomas Francis, Ireland will take a lot from this game. The focus and control they displayed with a numerical mismatch for much of the fixture was a testimony to the experience and skill of veteran half-backs Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton, who allowed players to run off their shoulder and into first contact to create space outside.
A lesser team may well have capitulated, especially when their woes were compounded when the huge figure of James Ryan left the field with concussion at the 30-minute mark, but they remained focused, intelligent and ambitious.
Who knows what may have happened had Billy Burns nailed his touch finder in the last minute; a win may have been slightly unfair on the excellence of Pivac’s Wales, but in the final analysis, there’s a lot Ireland can take from their performance today.
Old heads, new blood
It was somehow wonderfully symmetrical to see both North and Rees-Zammit score for Wales today. A case of teacher and his pupil, North has been a brilliant servant to Welsh rugby for almost a decade and is now flourishing in the outside centre berth, as his pace diminishes but his rugby IQ remains. His finishing off of Josh Navidi’s delicious offload for Wales’ first try of 2021 showed his nose for the line had not left him and his all-round display in his new position vindicated Pivac’s faith.
On the right wing, it seems Rees-Zammit has finally arrived in Test rugby as his 68th minute try was finished with all the skill of an All Black three quarter. A big lad at some 17 stone and 6’3″, his take off Leigh Halfpenny to scamper over and then dot down under pressure and whilst being forced into touch was something very special indeed.
The big wing had a fantastic day to remember and his duel with James Lowe was a game within a game and one for the back play purists, both players putting in some thrilling runs and steps for their countries.
Lions watch
As the proposed British and Irish Lions tour gets ever closer, so selecting a 38-man party becomes ever more complex. With a lot of English players struggling to live up to their reputation yesterday, the door is wide open in many positions and Gatland will have been delighted in the displays put in by his favourite leader, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar at fly-half and the returning Owens and Navidi.
Rees-Zammit lived up to his claims to being the Lions 2021 bolter and elsewhere, Halfpenny reminded us all just how crucial scoreboard ownership is at Test match level.
For Ireland, the spine of Murray, Sexton and Robbie Henshaw shone like beacons in terms of directness, effectiveness and control, with the big Leinster centre having one of his best games in an Irish shirt in a long time. With Lowe and Hugo Keenan also putting their hands up for selection, Warren Gatland will have learned a lot about his options today, and, for once, it’s all positive.