Wales edge Ireland in epic
5 Feb 2012
Leigh Halfpenny kicked a last-minute penalty to give Wales a 23-21 victory over Ireland in a compelling Six Nations clash in Dublin.
There will be conjecture about the validity of the penalty that proved decisive. Stephen Ferris was called for a dangerous tackle but television replays suggest the decision was harsh. It was a shame that a match of this calibre was decided by a controversial call but it was an epic nonetheless.
The quality was as good and sometimes better than anything you’ll see in the Rugby Championship this season. The sides’ tries were excellent in their construction and execution, featuring the most sublime handling skills.
The first from Wales’ flyhalf Rhys Priestland, who committed two defenders and put Jonathan Davies away with a fine offload. Ireland’s was a collective effort from the back division, who shifted the ball through the hands sharply, Rory Best rounding off the move. Wales’ second came thanks to a superlative touch from big George North, the winger floating up a back-of-the-hand offload that put Davies clean through.
For Wales Priestland continues to impress as an international flyhalf, his cause aided by powerful and largely precise phase play from his forwards. However, his goal-kicking needs attention. He missed three from three, which wasn’t costly in the final analysis but could well have been on another day. Ireland’s pivot Jonathan Sexton had no such trouble and going into the final quarter his third penalty gave his side a narrow 16-15 lead.
Bradley Davies undermined Wales’ ambition when he was yellow carded for a horrific dump-tackle that should have earned him a stronger sanction. Two minutes later Ireland winger Tommy Bowe finished a multi-phase move that depleted Wales’ defensive line. Sexton missed the conversion and with four minutes to play Wales drew within a point with a try from North. Halfpenny missed the touchline conversion but held his nerve when it mattered to give the Dragons a famous win.
By Ryan Vrede
17 Comments
5 Feb 2012, 18:58 pm
Next time perhaps if you get a thread up when the game starts there would be some comments on the relivent thread.
5 Feb 2012, 19:00 pm
I thought Wales were in a bit of trouble when Warburton went off but they showed character to come back and win in the last 5. Decent rugby compared to Eng Scott game.
5 Feb 2012, 19:06 pm
The Boks needs big backline “stump jou uit die pad uit” strike runners like George North and Jamie Roberts. Gone are the days of Niel Burger and Ray Mordt.
5 Feb 2012, 19:11 pm
Was a very good game of rugby, one of the games when u want a draw cos both teams played well.
5 Feb 2012, 19:37 pm
@Guns-2: Huge difference. This was a great game, last night was a shocker. Big ban coming up for Bradley Davies – that was red card for sure. What a game!
5 Feb 2012, 20:51 pm
Good win for the dragons.Wales really got a raw deal at the wc. Firstly they got cheated out of a victory against the bokkies and secondly bad luck against the French.
5 Feb 2012, 21:01 pm
Feck me they say it’s gonna be hotter here tomorrow
5 Feb 2012, 21:37 pm
Extreme weather around the world.people are dying on the streets of Europe due to cold and it seems in Africa the heat is problematic.I don’t know whether I would prefer a heat or cold induced death now.
5 Feb 2012, 21:56 pm
Fresh air after yesterday’s pollution in Murrayfield.
5 Feb 2012, 21:59 pm
@allblacksaregods-8: This week average temperature here was about 25 – 30 degrees what felt more like 40 degrees. Below zero, of course. Not that bad as long as you do not wander around for too long.
Last summer plus 30 and higher in the shade was worse than freezing cold outside now – at least flat is warm and nice but there’s no escape when in summer night it is about 25 and humidity.
6 Feb 2012, 00:43 am
@allblacksaregods-6:
Seems like the whinging keewees have taken whinging to a new level by whinging on behalf of other countries as well!
6 Feb 2012, 03:18 am
I have not seen the match but syrely ther was not yet another contoversial call by a referee. After the World Cip Final Isuggested that they shouldd change its name from Rugby Union to “Referees Roulette”
6 Feb 2012, 06:40 am
Best 6 Nations game I’ve seen in a long time.
6 Feb 2012, 11:38 am
allblacksaregods – In hindsight it would have been interesting to see how the RWQC panned out if the Boks had lost that first game to the welsh!!
6 Feb 2012, 15:18 pm
@whatever-11: Ahem … it was France who played in the final, remember?
6 Feb 2012, 16:06 pm
Interesting seeing everyone slating Wales. They played far better than I’ve seen the Boks play in a very very long time! Wales are a dangerous team and they will go on to win the 6Ns. They are no longer NH push over pansies! We better bring our A game if we’re playing Wales this year.
6 Feb 2012, 19:44 pm
@Sydney Bok-16: I definitely do not. Even 14 men Wales looked capable. They are real force to reckon with.
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