Ireland made a winning start to their Six Nations campaign on Sunday, beating Wales in Cardiff 19-9 in a fabulous game of rugby.
It doesn't sound like much of a scoreline, but it tells a false tale. Both teams conjured up a thrilling brand of rugby to wow the crowd, with Ireland's belligerence and discipline on the ball just winning through in the end.
Wales and Ireland certainly saved the best rugby of the weekend for last. At Cana of Galilee the wedding organisers were almost accused for saving the best wine for last. This match was a climax to the weekend and a glorious reaffirmation of the virtues of rugby after two one-sided Six Nations matches and much bumbling and fumbling in the not-so-super Super 14.
It was a match played with intensity, skill, adventure and courage -- the best of rugby. Afterwards Eddie O'Sullivan, unsmiling, described it as a "rough and tumble" game -- which did it no justice at all.
Ireland scored three tries to nil, which suggests a comfortable victory but it was not so.
After the match Dwayne Peel remarked that Wales had dominated the first half, and indeed they had. But Ireland had three chances to score in the half and scored on two of those occasions.
The first try was after 45 seconds. Ireland kicked off, Wales kicked back and Ireland attacked with -- an omen -- Gordon D'Arcy running at the Welsh. Back the ball came from the tackle and Peter Stringer kicked down towards the Welsh left where young, late-replacement Chris Czekaj could have let the ball bounce out but chose instead to grab it and turn it in to Stephen Jones who kicked, aiming at the touch-line. The ball did not get there because Brian O'Driscoll charged it down. Hooker Rory Best was on hand to scoop up the ball and plunge over for the try. 5-0 after 45 seconds.
Not downhearted Wales then took over and attacked. An Irish Off-side gave Jones a simple penalty. 5-3.
Then came Ireland's second chance to score, the chance they did not take. Again it was D'Arcy who set it going with a strong break going left. Ireland were battering at the line when Denis Hickie did a corkscrew and darted at the line, passing to David Wallace, who did not take the pass with nobody between him and a stride to the line, and Wales survived.
A counterattack by lively Kevin Morgan set Wales going again and a penalty against Donncha O'Callaghan for collapsing a maul gave Jones his second easy kick and Wales the lead (6-5) after 19 pulsating minutes.
Wales at this stage varied their game with clever kicking, sharp handling and tapped penalties to keep the Irish under pressure. To their credit the wise Irish heads did not panic and their defence always looked in control.
But another Irish off-side gave Jones another penalty. Wales led 9-5 after 24 minutes. They were not destined to score again in the match.
In one attack Hickie suffered a scalp wound and went off with a blood-laced face. He came back later with a scrum cap to cover his five stitches. While he was away Geordan Murphy replaced him.
Hickie was not the only bleeder in the match for Ryan Jones and Ian Gough were also off for patching.
Then came Ireland's third chance. Ronan O'Gara kicked a long kick down towards his left. It rolled and carried on rolling. Young James Hook stood and watched it roll, perhaps hoping it would roll into touch-in-goal. But a rugby ball has its own inbuilt perversity and the ball rolled out five metres from the Welsh line. Wales won the line-out and Peel kicked high downfield but not out.
Murphy caught ran and kicked high and long, haring after the ball. Taller than Peel he jumped above him and caught the ball to set Ireland attacking on their left. From here they sped the ball to the right margin of the field where O'Driscoll cut inside Czekaj to stretch and score in the corner. O'Gara converted from touch.
Bread of Heaven yielded to the Fields of Athenry as half-time came and Ireland led 12-9.
Ireland were close early in the second half when Czekaj was free and then grubbered speeding in blue boots after the ball but he was impeded by Simon Easterby. Some cried for a penalty try but the referee settled for an Irish five-metre scrum and Peter Stringer cleared. It was Wales's best chance to score a try in the match.
A score in the half was a long time coming but the match remained enthralling as the teams' energies seemed never sapped.
O'Gara had a long run as he broke. Andrew Trimble was close. Ireland made a penalty into a five-metre line-out -- and then overthrew the ball. Ireland attacked but a turnover saw Gough kick clear -- but when passing may have been a more productive option.
Ireland bashed from another five-metre line-out but when they spread the ball wide they lost a turnover when O'Driscoll was tackled.
After replacement Aled Brew had knocked on near his 22 on the Irish left, Ireland spread the ball with long passes from the ensuing scrum. They skipped D'Arcy who went on the loop, cut past two defenders. Three Welshmen hauled him down at the line, but the ball came back to Ireland and Stringer scrambled it to O'Gara on his right. The fly-half was strong enough to keep Jamie Robinson's tackle to get the ball down. The referee checked with the television match official who had a much easier time than his counterpart at Twickenham had had in awarding Jonny Wilkinson's try. It was a try, and O'Gara converted it from touch.
Man of the Match: Wales had Martyn Williams, Dwayne Peel, Kevin Morgan and Ryan Jones who were outstanding in a team that was outstanding. Ireland had Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Paul O'Connell and our Man of the Match Gordon D'Arcy, so effective on attack and so hard on defence.
Moment of the Match: If one were to pick just a moment, a single moment, it would probably Geordan Murphy's high kick, chase and catch that led to Brian O'Driscoll's try.
Villain of the Match: Nobody -- absolutely nobody for it was a match of great good manners in the midst of so much passionate intensity.
The scorers:
For Wales:
Pens: Jones 3
For Ireland:
Tries: Best R, O'Driscoll, O'Gara
Cons: O'Gara 2
The Teams:
Wales: 15 Kevin Morgan, 14 Hal Luscombe, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 James Hook, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Stephen Jones (c), 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Alix Popham, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Chris Horsman, 2 Rhys Thomas, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Robert Sidoli, 19 Gavin Thomas, 20 Mike Phillips, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Aled Brew.
Ireland: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Andrew Trimble,13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Denis Hickie, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 David Wallace, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Rory Best, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Simon Best, 19 Neil Best, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Paddy Wallace, 22 Geordan Murphy.
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Steve Walsh (New Zealand), David Changleng (Scotland)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch (Ireland)
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