Gough warns Welsh ahead of Croke clash

Ian Gough has warned discipline will be crucial if Wales are to emerge from their clash with Ireland at Croke Park with the Triple Crown.

Ian Gough has warned discipline will be crucial if Wales are to emerge from their clash with Ireland at Croke Park with the Triple Crown.

The lock has started all three of Wales' wins so far against England, Scotland and Italy, which sees them sit the top of the Six Nations Championship table.

But he has warned his team-mates that if their discipline does go astray the boot of Ronan O'Gara could be the difference between the sides.

“Discipline is massive,” said Gough, who was part of the last team to win in Ireland back in 2000.

“We have got to keep in sight of them on the scoreboard, because if they get into early lead and O'Gara keeps the scoreboard ticking it's going to be a difficult afternoon.

“If we let them get into a lead like that the game will run away from us. Because they will make you pay for every little mistake.”

Wales head to Dublin after a 47-8 victory over Italy, but Gough insisted the scoreline did not give a flavour of how difficult the five-try victory was.

“Italy was a pretty tough game. There was a pretty high ball in play time and it was close on 40 minutes,” he said.

“Don't take anything away from the Italians – they really made us work hard for 50 minutes – and Warren (Gatland) told us to keep working so we eventually managed to break them.

“And like the other two games we were pretty strong going into the last ten minutes. We will have to go up another level this weekend against Ireland.

“I've never played at Croke Park but I've heard a lot about it. It's got a nice big wide open pitch and it's got a much bigger capacity so there will be a lot more volume.

“Ireland have beaten Italy as well and they are on a bit of a run at the moment. They had a good win against Scotland and they are getting back to something like the form they would want.”

At the heart of Ireland's performance, according to Gough, is the experience of their Munster-dominated forwards.

“The Ireland pack has been together for a long time. They haven't had that many changes and they are proven players who time and time again put in the performances,” he continued.

“And the Irish locks like Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan have a massive work ethic and just keep going.

“It's a big task – they are playing well at the moment and they have got confidence but I enjoy going to Ireland. It's always a big battle and a big test to face up to.”

Gough also admitted that Gatland's part-time assistant Shaun Edwards has been hugely influential over the past two months.

“Shaun is brilliant – you get four seasons in one day with him,” the Osprey explained.

“Sometimes you don't know how to take him. He goes around the place snarling and you certainly don't want to miss a tackle or he'll bite your leg off.

“He's a pretty tenacious character. His enthusiasm, especially his enthusiasm for defence rubs off. Nobody wants to upset him.

“I'm lucky I haven't been shouted at yet but it's only around the corner. I don't want to count my chickens because a few of the boys have had tongue lashings off him.

“Nobody is jovial in defence sessions, everyone is focused and he's brought a lot to us.”