Workmanlike Wales down Ireland
8 Oct 2011
RYAN VREDE watched Wales deliver an excellent all-round performance to secure their passage to the semi-finals with a 22-10 victory over Ireland.
The Welsh were outnumbered in the stands of the Wellington Regional Stadium, but their charges gave their traveling support much to cheer by progressing to the last four for only the second time in their history. They finished clinically in scoring three tries against the side ranked as the best defensive unit in the tournament coming into this Test, but it would be remiss not to note their own defensive excellence.
They were white-hot out of the gates, scoring in the second minute in a move that featured powerful phase play that punched up left, snapped right and eventually swung out to Shane Williams on the touchline. You thought it was a statement of intent, instead they spent much of the remainder of the half repelling Ireland.
They did so powerfully, accurately and intelligently, building the defensive effort on an immense gainline fight that allowed them to flood the ruck and stifle Ireland’s attacking flow. Special mention must be made of Sam Warburton in this regard. His coach Warren Gatland said prior to the tournament that he is among the best openside flankers in the game and his performance tonight lent further credence to that assertion. He was ably assisted by his team-mates, who tackled relentlessly and desperately at times, but with the spirit that told the story of their deep desire to progress.
Serviced with a slow recycle Ireland’s attack lacked a cutting edge, and their cause was further undermined by a series of poorly executed tactical kicks from flyhalf Ronan O’Gara. However, their failings undoubtedly had its root in their collective incompetence in Wales’ 22m. Twice they opted for lineouts from kickable penalties, only to see the subsequent drive break down.
Ireland flanker Sean O’Brein was held up in goal and a minute later O’Gara grassed a pass with a numbers advantage on his outside. When Rob Kearney fielded a kick and broke from the halfway line you thought the deadlock would finally be broken. But Wales scrambled brilliantly, and were assisted by the fullback popping the ball into the grateful arms of Jamie Roberts. Ireland will reflect on that period with disappointment and will rightly point to it as being decisive to the outcome.
O’Gara finally got them on the board with a penalty, but Leigh Halfpenny soon re-established Wales’ seven point lead with a penalty kicked into the teeth of a wicked Wellington wind. Wales lead 10-3 at the break, but Ireland re-emerged from the tunnel with a purposeful swagger and had soon leveled the score when Keith Earls slid over in the corner and O’Gara landed a brilliant conversion. Game on.
The Test, so compelling, so engrossing up to that point, soared to even higher heights as Ireland twice turned over possession in their 22m. They were, however, helpless to deny Mike Phillips, who broke blind from a scrum and acrobatically touched down. Rhys Priestland missed the conversion, then struck the post with a penalty attempt and with 20 to play, Ireland were desperately trying to avoid being incinerated by the Dragons.
But Wales were irresistible, and when Priestland converted Jonathan Davies’ try to extend the lead to 12 points with 15 minutes to play, there was a distinct sense that Ireland would book straight through from Auckland airport home when they would have been hoping for a longer stay.
Ireland would mount a bold attempt at a rebuttal late in the piece, but Wales were always in control defensively. They’ve built steadily from their impressive performance against the Springboks and it will require a very good performance to beat them in a week’s time.
387 Comments
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8 Oct 2011, 09:00 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-297: Wales SA final hehe
8 Oct 2011, 09:00 am
@Nils(Nils)-276:
I am with you on this. Wanting France to unveil some of their French flair that they have kept below the radar.
Now they have real reason to play and advance.
8 Oct 2011, 09:01 am
@Treehugger(Treehugger)-281: I eat shark fin soup … I’ll see you next week in the guppy tank.
8 Oct 2011, 09:01 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-289:
Well the quarters have started off well. Good rugby and that is what we all want to see.
8 Oct 2011, 09:01 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-300: yes, a good, even chance.
The game is too difficult to call.
Bounce of the ball and you’re on the plane back home.
Your boys should whip Arg by 40, no?
8 Oct 2011, 09:01 am
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-288:
thought it was a good game allround, i’m kinda suprised, ireland got an amazing side, but their big boys didnt reach pitch up, warburtron was terrrific again as was roberts and jenkins.
8 Oct 2011, 09:02 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-274: There is zero respect for a cut and paste limerick thief.
8 Oct 2011, 09:02 am
Now boys, let’s see you all throw your support behind ENGLAND for the next game.
8 Oct 2011, 09:02 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-300: blah blah blah. They dont have the wood on us. They got lucky. The Oz teams have been playing Springbok teams missing key players for us. That dirtracker loss in Oz was nothing but that and the loss in SA in the Tri Nations was from a very rusty A team that made too many handling errors.
Dont be surprised if Wallabies fold.
8 Oct 2011, 09:02 am
Here we go: commentators saying Wales should’ve beaten SA.
*Looks to the scoreboard*
8 Oct 2011, 09:03 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-298:
Red face fever!
8 Oct 2011, 09:03 am
@nama1(nama1)-286:
Have you been watching some T20 club champs?
Kohli a revelation last to games and helped by Dilshan and now Gayle today. Banga are in the Final.
8 Oct 2011, 09:03 am
Ok let me do the math again
Ireland beat Oz by 9 points
Boks beat wales by 1 So thats 10 points
Wales beat Ireland by 12
Boks to beat Oz by 22
8 Oct 2011, 09:04 am
@carol(carol)-292:
He missed a great game- they were brilliant today- if everything goes according to plan they will play england next week so there could be trouble in your household.
8 Oct 2011, 09:04 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-310:
They only lost on the scoreboard. Sound familiar…
8 Oct 2011, 09:04 am
@JL1(JL1)-293:
I want an ipad…are you blogging in bed?
WRS and I meeting 4man and his family for a pub lunch today btw.
8 Oct 2011, 09:05 am
@carol(carol)-308:
Hey Beautiful
I am behind England but think France will win
They will just let lose
8 Oct 2011, 09:05 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-314:
If that was the case we would probably watch in different rooms!!
8 Oct 2011, 09:05 am
@carol(carol)-316:
If England don’t win this one easily then Wales will klap them in the finals me thinks.
8 Oct 2011, 09:05 am
let us see if katman is right about france, i would go the other way, but perhaps its the katman’s weekend.
8 Oct 2011, 09:06 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-319:
Semi finals sorry
8 Oct 2011, 09:06 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-300: Sure! No problem here mate! My team giving it their all, yet still ending up on the losing side is a distinct possibility. Aus are that good. Where is the shame in that? At least they’ll have the benefit of a flight home to try and digest a loss. Unlike some other team
8 Oct 2011, 09:06 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-284:
Most of the NH respects the Bok game. Maybe the English whinge about it when they get beaten (there’s a recurring theme there), but for the most part it’s pretty much seen as “forward pack as good as anything in NH or better, backs as good as anything in SH”, ie. when it clicks you get the best of both hemispheres.
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-296:
I very much doubt it too, think England will take it by 11 or so. But it’d be nice.
8 Oct 2011, 09:07 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-307: Entirely self-penned, pilgrim. Got some cyber-help with the translation, that’s all. Even got it to rhyme and scan (more or less). When you’re good you’re good!
8 Oct 2011, 09:07 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-305:
I doubt we’ll whip them 10 to 15 points would be nice.
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-309:
5 tests from 6 says they do, could you imagine if the Bokke had just done over the Aussies 5 from 6 would you be calling that the wood over them, you don’t need to answer that question we all know the answer.
8 Oct 2011, 09:08 am
@Tartan(Tartan)-278:
Hope not.
But it should be a humdinger. The French are able to pull a win out of nowhere. Even when off the field they are in disarray like now. But just not today.
I told a Frenchman who came to our home last night that I had the poms to win. He nearly slapped me.
8 Oct 2011, 09:08 am
@RL(RL)-303: Morning pussycat, lovey take your tissues, you going to be full of snot and trane when Sharks teach Lions how rugby is supposed tobe played
8 Oct 2011, 09:08 am
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-263:
“They are a great team…”
At this stage, they are just a good, young team. They haven’t achieve anything…yet. Not even won a 6N.
What make them GREAT?
@I am a stormer(I am a stormer)-267:
Bwahahaha.
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-274:
Nou raak die oupa heel deurmekaar. Skryf sommer nou in Ghalies(?).
8 Oct 2011, 09:09 am
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-310: Samoa too. But the ref cheated.
8 Oct 2011, 09:09 am
@UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-322:
50/50 game guts, I hope the Bokke win
8 Oct 2011, 09:09 am
I like the way the men are doing all kiddie chores this AM.
Looking good ladies! Click click!
8 Oct 2011, 09:09 am
@carol(carol)-316: Blogging anywhere anytime.
Here is one, instead of reading in the loo one can blog, hey?
8 Oct 2011, 09:10 am
@RL(RL)-303: Morning pussycat, lovey take your tissues, you going to be full of snot and trane when Sharks teach Lions how rugby is supposed tobe played
Be back just now , have to go quickly pick up all the beer bottles in the garden before the m*nkeys cut themselves playing with them.
8 Oct 2011, 09:10 am
@carol(carol)-308: in your dreams.
8 Oct 2011, 09:11 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-274: Good post tacks…..better not to understand what your saying!!!
8 Oct 2011, 09:11 am
@carol(carol)-316: Enjoy the pub lunch, and I guess loads of vino
8 Oct 2011, 09:11 am
Hope this gives the PLONKERS abit of perspective! Defence won this game for Wales.
8 Oct 2011, 09:12 am
France to take it! They’ve one big game in them, this is it.
8 Oct 2011, 09:12 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-317:
Hi There Coach,
I hope the French fall apart again, they are a bit flakey at times!!
Hope Jonny has his eye in today!
8 Oct 2011, 09:12 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-329: Can you revert back to blogging in Gaelic, that why I do not read any of your drivel by chance
8 Oct 2011, 09:12 am
@nama1(nama1)-286:
4 years is a long time in rugby.
just 3 weeks ago ireland beat oz who are expected to beat the boks, who polished off wales…..
go figure
8 Oct 2011, 09:12 am
That was really a great game. Wales don’t quite have the genius in the backs that they had in the ’70s, or the Pontyprydd front row, but they are more potent as a unit. They could still build though, into one of the truly great Welsh sides, considering their age.
8 Oct 2011, 09:13 am
Defence plus tries
8 Oct 2011, 09:13 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-325: All means nought in a QF mate – history my butt. Its knock out time and if you ask me theres too much being made of those 5 to 6 wins. Seems like the Ozzies are clinging on to that for hope.
8 Oct 2011, 09:13 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-313:
lol
8 Oct 2011, 09:13 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-331: Today is a bonus round on points which will be cashed in tomorrow morning, click, click
8 Oct 2011, 09:13 am
@MG(MG)-337:
Yeah but they almost lost it by kicking away possession. They learnt quickly though. I hope we watched and don’t just hand possession over.
8 Oct 2011, 09:14 am
i also tipped the Irish , but the best team “Wales” outplayed them totally
8 Oct 2011, 09:14 am
@JL1(JL1)-332:
Now you have painted a picture!!
Blogging from the loo…a new low….Surely people would not do that!
8 Oct 2011, 09:14 am
France to win the next one. Wales will take France, then for the final. I hope it will be against the Boks.
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