Valiant Wales snatch dramatic win
Wales showed plenty of fighting spirit in coming from behind to beat Ireland 23-21 in dramatic fashion in their tense Six Nations clash in Dublin on Sunday.
Six Nations rugby is alive and well and living at Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road Dublin. What a thrilling match! What a relief, especially after the Calcutta Cup stodge in Edinburgh. The weather, of course, may have had much to do with it.
The Dublin day was wind-free and rain-free and, in the midst of the European freeze, not too cold. But what a thriller! Those last 10 minutes were an agony of suspense. It was so sad that the game should depend on one player's indiscipline.
In this last 10 minutes Tommy Bowe scored. Jonathan Sexton missed the conversion. Then George North scored and Leigh Halfpenny missed a conversion. Jonathan Sexton missed a long penalty and then Wales marched relentlessly up the field till Ireland were penalised and Leigh Halfpenny goaled from in front with just a second or two for the kick-off.
Wales won the kick-off and Rhys Priestland banged the ball into touch to end the excitement. If tries are a yardstick, Wales deserved to win with three tries to two.
The game had so many heroes that it was sad that a moment's error should count so much, especially those that yielded defeat- the ball dropped into touch, the dangerous tackle. That is the stuff that agony is made of.
Ireland, the more experienced side, started with lots of enthusiasm and when Ryan Jones was penalised Sexton gave them a 3-0 lead after three minutes. And then Wales took over. It was astonishing that they ended the half down 10-5 because the half really belonged to them.
The first Welsh attack started from a line-out when they threw in to the front and big Bradley Davies, ball in one hand, went striding down the field to set up an attack that had the Welsh pounding at the Irish line.
The Irish defence was brave and after big George North had come close Toby Faletau was over. The referee referred to the TMO who came up with an 'inconclusive' decision and a five metre scrum at which Wales were freekicked for an early engagement. The hectic attack lasted over four playing minutes.
Wales may have been disappointed but they came back through several patient phases till they tapped a free kick and went down the blindside from a tackle/ruck. Rhys Priestland got beyond prop Mike Ross and passed to Jonathan Davies who forced his way over for a try in the left corner. 5-3 to Wales after 14 minutes.
Back came Wales in phases and Priestland duffed a sitter. From straight in front his kick swung left and hit an upright. He missed two penalties and a conversion before Halfpenny took over.
Wales continued to dominate but Ireland scored. It was their turn to phase. As the referee played advantage, they went left where Tommy Bowe broke and in Halfpenny's tackle gave to Rory Best who had an easy run-in for the try with Stephen Ferris on his outside. Sexton converted and Ireland led 10-5 with two minutes to play.
At the start of the second half bulky Justin Tipuric was on for Sam Warburton and James Hook for Alex Cuthbert.
Rhys Gill was penalised at a scrum and Sexton goaled. 13-5 after 42 minutes. Sean O'Brien was penalised at a tackle. 13-8 after 53 minutes.
Then genius followed error.
Tommy Bowe went to catch a long, difficult ball but succeeded only in knocking it into touch, giving Wales an unexpected line-out. They threw deep and went right. North came off his wing and the 19-year-old bumped off Fergus McFadden and then, as two Irishmen harassed him, he flicked an underarm pass to Jonathan Davies who strode round for a try under the posts. 15-13 to Wales after 55 minutes.
Mike Phillips was penalised at a tackle and Sexton made the score 16-15 after 59 minutes.. There followed 20 minutes increasingly wild.
On 64 minutes Bradley Davies lifted Peter O'Mahony into the air, tipped him over and dropped him. For this he was sent to the sin bin.
Ireland celebrated Davies's absence by going on a pick-'n-drive splurge. Donnacha Ryan won a Welsh line-out and the Irish hammered the Welsh line. Suddenly two long passes found Tommy Bowe who had the thrust to score in the right corner. Crucially Sexton missed the conversion. 21-15 with 10 minutes to play.
A line-out again set up Wales's try as they worked their way into Irish land. They won their line-out, and went right again where North bashed over Sexton. Wales eventually went wide left where North forced his way over through three Irish defenders. 21-20. Halfpenny missed conversion. 21-20 with four minutes to play.
Gill was penalised at a tackle. Ireland chose to kick at goal rather than put pressure on the Welsh but Sexton missed the 51-metre kick.
Then Wales worked their way upfield, making ground in phase after phase till two minutes later Ferris picked up Ian Evans, tipped him over and dropped him. Ferris was sent to the sin bin and Halfpenny had a kick in front. He did not miss and with seconds to play Wales led 23-21.
Man of the Match: Rob Kearney was wonderful - so brave, skilled and adventurous and so athletic in taking the high ball. Paul O' Connell was as manly as a lock can be and Andrew Trimble bounced about to good effect. George North was at times the most effective player on the field. He made points and points won the match. Toby Faletau was relentless. It seems silly that in the end the choice was between two splendid scrumhalves - Conor Murray, the recent Irish surprise, and Mike Phillips. We chose Mike Phillips who may just have played the best rugby match he has ever played.
Villain of the Match: We have a choice between Bradley Davies and Stephen Ferris. Ferris's tackle was not as nasty but its timing was so much worse. It was the winning and losing of the match. Stephen Ferris is our choice.
Moment of the Match: All the tries were exciting in a way that did not quite distinguish them. Our choice is a catch. Jonathan Sexton kicked long and high. Rob Kearney chased and leapt above the Welsh defender to win the ball. That is our choice of moment of the match.
The scorers:
For Ireland:
Tries: Best, Bowe
Cons: Sexton
Pens: Sexton 3
For Wales:
Tries: Davies 2, North
Cons: Halfpenny
Pens: Halfpenny 2
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Fergus McFadden, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Paul O'Connell (captain), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Tom Court, 17 Sean Cronin, 18 Peter O'Mahony, 19 Donnacha Ryan, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Dave Kearney.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Michael Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Rhys Gill.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Andy Powell, 19 Justin Tipuric, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Dave Pearson (England), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)