Wales' quest for the Grand Slam remains firmly on course after they accounted for Ireland 16-12 at Croke Park on Saturday, winning the Triple Crown in the process.
The rain that was predicted never materialised and, despite a howling wind, both sides showed a willingness to play positive rugby. In the end it was Wales' patience and maturity that shone through, leaving Ireland to ponder what might have been.
For it was the hosts who dominated the early running, although their inability to convert pressure into points came back to haunt them. Ronan O'Gara did manage two penalties in the opening twenty minutes but in all honesty Ireland should have had more to show for their efforts.
Aware of how Wales like to play, Eddie O'Sullivan sent his troops out with a specific game-plan and they executed it with aplomb for most of the first half, although they were left hanging on in the dying stages. Wales eased their way into the game and the longer they kept the ball the better they became, stretching their hosts across the width of the field and isolating weak links in the defensive line.
A pity then that their best raid on the Irish line resulted in a yellow card for the petulant Mike Phillips. Wales had a penalty under Ireland's post only to see it reversed for Phillips' needless knee in the back of Marcus Horan.
In the absence of Phillips Wales showed a new-found maturity that has been missing over the past few years, controlling play in the forwards to see out the ten-minute disadvantage. In fact the visitors emerged at the other end of the sin-binning three points to the good, Stephen Jones' second penalty squaring things up.
Wales had squandered several good attacking positions due to poor timing, the half-back axis of Phillips and Jones appearing a little rusty. On three separate occasions the two lost their timing, wasting overlaps each time with poor passes. Nevertheless Wales kept on plugging away and eventually they breached the Irish line.
It was hardly surprising that it was Shane Williams, his fortieth try for Wales that takes him joint top of the all-time try scoring list for Wales. That he has done it in forty-three fewer games than Gareth Thomas is a testament to his undoubted class. The try itself was born out of an Irish error but the pressure had been mounting.
Phillips, just back on, directed his forwards well before sending it wide via Stephen Jones leaving Williams against Andrew Trimble. The Osprey showed great strength with a powerful hand off before turning on the pace to scuttle in at the corner. Jones added a dreamy conversion and suddenly their was a real sense of belief among the Welsh faithful.
Having looked so comfortable in the first half Ireland could not get going in the second half, largely due to Wales' patience on the ball -- time and again going through at least six phases. And, with the game firmly in their control, Wales then gifted their hosts a path back into the game.
An uncharacteristic trip from Martyn Williams saw the carrot-topped flank heading for the sin-bin and O'Gara sending over a simple penalty. It was just the tonic Ireland needed as they suddenly discovered their running game, causing Wales major problems. However with each game that goes by the new-look Welsh defence looks more assured and Ireland could not quite unlock it.
Welsh indiscipline continued and O'Gara trimmed the lead to just one point with ten minutes remaining. Ireland sniffed a win, against the odds with the way the game had gone, but they were unable to produce the rugby required to achieve it. In fact when the pressure was on they seemed to implode and gift Wales a chance to see the game out.
Bernard Jackman lost his cool -- shoulder charging a prone Ryan Jones well away from the ball -- and James Hook kept his composure to slot the three points. Then we saw the Welsh maturity again, playing keep-ball for the dying stages of the game until the siren sounded and Phillips punted the ball into the stands.
The Triple Crown is secured and now Wales are one game away from the Grand Slam -- the prospect of France at home in the final game of the tournament is a mouthwatering one. Wales, on the back of this win, will be brimming full of confidence but France will bring a different test with them -- one Wales need to provide the answers to in order to earn the Grand Slam.
Man of the Match: For Ireland Eoin Reddan continues to grow with his new-found responsibility at scrum-half and Paul O'Connell added a calmness to the Irish set-piece. For Wales Alun Wyn Jones was a rock on his return to the side, Ryan Jones turned in a fine performance but it was Gavin Henson who stole the show. Under Gatland he has been moved away from the spotlight and encouraged to focus on his rugby. And that is exactly what he has done, and to some effect. As mature a player in the Welsh team as there is he produced a near-flawless display that allowed Wales to head home with their eyes firmly on a Grand Slam.
Moment of the Match: In a game that was largely uneventful there were few moments that caught the eye. However Mike Phillips' tackle on Shane Horgan in the first half saved a certain try and gave Wales the belief that they could indeed return from Ireland with the win. A smaller man may have been brushed aside but Phillips stood up to Horgan and rescued his side.
Villain of the Match: The game was a physical one but that was not an excuse for two mindless acts. Mike Phillips had no need, or right, to drop his knee into Marcus Horan's back, and Bernard Jackman was stupid to think he could take out Ryan Jones with his shoulder for no apparent reason. Otherwise a good clean game of rugby.
The Scorers:
For Ireland:
Pens: O'Gara 4
For Wales:
Try: S.Williams
Con: S.Jones
Pens: S.Jones 2
Yellow Cards: Phillips (38th -- foul play), M.Williams (61st -- deliberate trip).
The Teams:
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (c), 12 Andrew Trimble, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 James Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Denis Leamy, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Rory Best, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Bernard Jackman, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Simon Easterby, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Paddy Wallace, 22 Luke Fitzgerald.
Wales: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Gavin Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones (c), 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Gareth Williams, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Ian Evans, 19 Gareth Delve, 20 Dwayne Peel, 21 James Hook, 22 Sonny Parker.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: Christophe Berdos (France), Peter Allan (Scotland)
Television match official: David Changleng (Scotland)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch (Ireland)
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