Two tries from winger Geordan Murphy helped a classy Ireland to a record 54-10 win over a sorry Welsh side in their opening game of the 2002 Six Nations in front of a delighted Lansdowne Road crowd.
It was an excellent start to new coach Eddie O'Sullivan's regime, his charges demonstrating power, pace and poise to dispose of a bedraggled Welsh outfit that simply could not gain parity in any department.
The first half was virtually one-way traffic for Ireland with Wales' incursions into Irish territory all too infrequent as Irish fly-half David Humphreys pinned the Welsh back into their own half, drilling the ball into the corners with a series of rolling touchfinds.
Meanwhile, the Irish forwards' game plan could be summed up in one line: "It's our ball and we're keeping it" as the Welsh were deprived of possession for vast stretches of time, their lineout stuttering badly and ball being turned over by a rampaging Irish backrow.
On the rare occasions when they did have the ball, Wales tended to be in their own half and could make little headway through the green defensive wall which swept towards them.
Admittedly Wales' efforts were disrupted by a double injury blow before a bare ten minutes of play had lapsed, lock Chris Wyatt and centre Jamie Robinson both limping off the field to be replaced by Ian Gough and Andy Marinos respectively.
The loss of Wyatt was of particular detriment to the Welsh cause and the dragons were to badly miss the Llanelli man's athleticism and physical presence over the next 70 minutes.
His absence also deprived the Welsh of another ball-carrier in the pack with skipper and No.8 Scott Quinnell almost single-handedly having to take the game to the Irish with ball in hand.
By the time Wyatt and Robinson had retreated to the sidelines, the visitors were already 7-0 down after Ireland signalled their attacking intentions in the opening salvos of the encounter.
Launching a mighty drive from a lineout just outside the Welsh 22, the Irish pack drove straight through their red-jerseyed counterparts before setting back the ball in textbook fashion to Munster scrum-half Peter Stringer who wasted no time in feeding No.10 David Humphreys.
With the Welsh defence seemingly convinced that the ball would be immediately shipped out to the talented Irish midfield and drifting across field, Humphreys instead gave a deft inside pop to flanker David Wallace who came onto the ball at breakneck speed, running towards the Welsh posts before being stopped just yards short. Staying on his feet in the tackle, he deftly fed Geordan Murphy and the Leicester back dived in for a try, converted by Humphreys.
A few minutes later, Wales were again on the rack as Ireland strung together a series of quick ruck balls. Wales crept up offside allowing Ireland's No.10 to stretch his side's lead to 10-0. Ireland inched up 13-0 in the 20th minute through a Humphreys penalty, before the superiority of the Irish forwards was again demonstrated a few minutes later. New cap Paul O'Connell won clean ball in the middle and the Irish pack moved as one, driving inexorably over the tryline.
As the referee signalled for the try it was O'Connell who gained the credit but he had seven of his mates to thank for the five-pointer, which went unconverted by Humprheys.
Another penalty from Humprheys and then Brian O'Driscoll was nearly over for a try after 35 minutes, chipping ahead and just missing out on the chase for the touchdown as the ball rolled over the Welsh tryline.
Another successful penalty from Humphreys just before half-time and Wales were staring a record defeat in the face.
Finally, Wales opened their account deep into injury time with a well-struck penalty from 39 metres for Stephen Jones.
Any thoughts of a Welsh revival soon faded as play went into the second half. After two minutes, Wales were again pinned back into their own 22 following a superb touch find from Humphreys.
Wales were able to win the lineout and edge back upfield but Jones' tactical kicking game was no match for that of Humphreys. To be fair to Jones, he was not exactly overflowing with options with the Quinnell brothers and flanker Nathan Budgett the only players able to break the gainline on a consistent basis.
Still, Wales did manage to hold onto possession for a protracted period early in the first half, Scott Quinnell, Ian Gough and Dafydd James making good yardage to force a penalty. But Jones was uncharacteristically off-target with the kick and once Ireland had regained possession they came up with a score from long range effort that typified Ireland's team ethic as forwards and backs linked to conjure up a try.
Wales centre Iestyn Harris spilled the ball forward in the tackle in midfield and the ball obligingly popped into the arms of loosehead John Hayes who drove on, before front row partner Peter Clohessy continued, switching Kevin Maggs who cut through the welsh defence before being brought to ground. As he hit the deck, the Bath centre popped the ball up to Murphy who cruised in for his second try.
Humphreys scored another penalty to stretch Ireland's lead but as humiliation beckoned for Wales, they were spurred into their best period of the entire match.
Craig Morgan made 10 yards down the left wing, before the ball was switched right to Craig Quinnell who recycled just inside the Irish 22. Stephen Jones picked up and span over the line under a heap of bodies for a try. The fly-half converted his own try to put Wales at 37-10.
But the revival was shortlived with Ireland finishing strongly after making a raft of replacements going into the last ten minutes, a tactic that was to push them into record-breaking territory.
Humphreys found another defensive hole in the Welsh 22 and set off for the the right hand corner before off-loading to Denis Hickie who dived in at the corner.
Then replacement forward Keith Gleeson scored with his very first touch of the ball, benefiting from a breathtaking counter attack from Brian O'Driscoll.
With another flowing movement resulting in a try for replacement No.10 Ronan O'Gara, the rout was complete for Ireland who got their campaign off to the best possible start.
After that display Eddie O'Sullivan's men will look ahead to their next challenge, against England at Twickenham in two weeks time, with no little confidence.
Wales, on the other hand, will be shattered by the margin of their defeat and must regroup, and regroup fast, if they are to rescue their 2002 Six Nations campaign and the career for former "Great Redeemer" Graham Henry, a man whose stock is falling faster than Enron's.
Man of the match: There were many Irish heroes in a great team victory but David Humphreys was the man who kept the green machine running forwards, drilling the ball into the corners with an excellent display of tactical kicking to keep Wales pinned back into their own territory. The Ulsterman also managed to kick a few points too, racking up 22 points to help bury Welsh hopes.
Moment of the match: Geordan Murphy's second try typified Ireland's devotion to the creed of "total rugby" with props Peter Clohessy and John Hayes linking like centres in the build-up to the score.
Villain of the match: The Welsh pack. Excepting the brave efforts of skipper Scott Quinnell, the Dragons' eight were out-powered and out-though up front with th result that Rob Howley and his backline had to make do with scrappy possession, often supplied from a retreating platform. If there is not a vast improvement from Wales up-front, the season could carry on in this nightmare fashion.
(Half-time: Ireland 24 Wales 3)
Referee: Pablo Deluca (Arg)
Touchjudges: Kelvin Deaker (NZ), Rob Dickson (Scot)
The teams:
Ireland: 1 Peter Clohessy, 2 Frankie Sheahan, 3 John Hayes, 4 Mick Galwey (c), 5 Paul O'Connell, 6 Simon Easterby, 7 David Wallace, 8 Anthony Foley, 9 Peter Stringer, 10 David Humphreys, 11 Denis Hickie, 12 Brian O'Driscoll, 13 Kevin Maggs, 14 Geordan Murphy, 15 Girvan Dempsey
Reserves: Shane Byrne, Simon Easterby, Rob Henderson, Gary Longwell, Paul Wallace, Keith Gleeson, Ronan O'Gara
Wales: 1 Chris Anthony, 2 Robin McBryde, 3 Spencer John, 4 Craig Quinnell, 5 Chris Wyatt, 6 Nathan Budgett, 7 Martyn Williams, 8 Scott Quinnell (c), 9 Rob Howley, 10 Stephen Jones, 11 Craig Morgan, 12 Iestyn Harris, 13 Jamie Robinson, 14 Dafydd James, 15 Kevin Morgan
Reserves: Ian Gough, Duncan Jones, Dwayne Peel, Andy Marinos, Barry Williams
Unused: Rhys Williams, Brett Sinkinson
Attendance: 49000
Referee: Deluca p.
Points Scorers
Ireland
Tries: Hickie D.A. 1, Gleeson K.D. 1, Murphy G.E.A. 2, O'Connell P. 1, O'Gara R.J.R. 1
Conv: Humphreys D.G. 2, O'Gara R.J.R. 1
Pen K.: Humphreys D.G. 6
Wales
Tries: Jones S.M. 1
Conv: Jones S.M. 1
Pen K.: Jones S.M. 1
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