Under the roof of the Principality with the deafening roar of the Welsh crowd and Gatland back in charge, Welsh fans were in high spirits.
Unfortunately for Wales, their Six Nations got off to the worst possible start when they were beaten 34-10 by Ireland in Cardiff last Saturday. The opening stages were devastating for Wales as Ireland sealed their win within the first 25 minutes of the game. Reflecting on the match, Warren Gatland said his team “created a number of chances in the game and just weren’t clinical enough to finish them.”
Ireland had a great start scoring a try within the first 3 minutes, setting the tone for the rest of the match. Ireland’s speed and recycling of the ball made it difficult for Wales to gain control, it was imperative for Gatland’s Welsh side to slow the game down. Ireland’s James Ryan secured the second try of the afternoon demonstrating excellent efficiency from the visiting side. Johnny Sexton secured a conversion, with Ireland totally dominating the first half.
Wales’s lack of discipline within the first 10 minutes will be incredibly frustrating for Gatland. Wales seemed to have opportunity after opportunity, with Rio Dyer racing towards the try line but unable to secure any points. Finally, after a painstaking 15 minutes, Dan Biggar secured 3 penalty points for Wales.
Ireland moved further ahead with James Lowe scoring, illustrating a spectacular ability to read the mistakes of the opposition. It became apparent that Wales’ confidence was beginning to deflate, from fans and players alike.
Wales was criticized in the media for making multiple basic errors at an international level. It seemed Wales couldn’t get a grip on their discipline handing penalties over to Ireland. With 7 penalties in the first 25 minutes, it wasn’t looking good for Wales.
More Welsh indiscipline allowed Ireland full access to their half, and around the halfway point, Sexton delivered another penalty to increase the margin. Jac Morgan was thwarted at the goal line as the first half came to a close for Wales. Wales trailed 27-3 at halftime, making it a dismal 40 minutes of rugby overall.
Wales’ first shot came early in the second half. This time, Ireland’s lack of discipline ended up being costly. Liam Williams scored a try to bring the score back to 27-10 as Wales reacted to their lack of intensity in their first half. The stadium erupted encouraging Wales on their attack, with their defense improving, causing Ireland’s pace to slow significantly. Despite this, Williams receiving a yellow card made things worse for Wales.
From a Welsh perspective, this was a poor start to their Six Nations. Ireland seemed to be a well-oiled machine, with a blinding pace and top-notch discipline. Having said that, despite Wales underperforming, they showed promising character during the second half with many remaining hopeful that they’ll improve under the new coaching staff headed by Warren Gatland.