Six Nations 2016: Wales frustrated after bruising Dublin encounter
Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugby
| Six Nations: Wales v Scotland |
|---|
| Date: Saturday, 13 February Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Kick-off: 16:50 GMT |
| Coverage: Live commentary on Radio 5 live sports extra, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app, plus live text commentary. |
In cricket catches win matches, in rugby tackles and kicks do. But not always for the same team.
After Ireland and Wales' nerve-wracking 16-16 Six Nations draw in Dublin, both coaches were left to reflect on what might have been.
For Ireland's Joe Schmidt it was a tackle that occupied his thoughts - an illegal one.
For Warren Gatland, it was more frustration that Wales failed to make the most of their chances close to the try-line.
| This weekend's live TV coverage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sat, 13 Feb (14:25) | France v Ireland | BBC One |
| Sat, 13 Feb (16:50) | Wales v Scotland | BBC One |
| Sun, 14 Feb (14:00) | Italy v England | ITV |
| Six Nations coverage on the BBC | ||
Tipping over the line
Let's start with that tackle.
Ireland had opened a 13-0 lead and were good value for it when Keith Earls upended Wales full-back Liam Williams about 35 metres out from the Irish line.
It looked aggressive and the home crowd loved it, until replays revealed Williams' legs had gone "beyond the horizontal" and he's dropped painfully on to his shoulder.
In other words, a tip tackle.
There was no yellow card, but Rhys Priestland's successful kick was the green light for a Welsh resurgence. And by half-time they were back within three points.
"It's a thin line but that tackle let them back into the game and they used that as a platform," said Schmidt.
"Once they got us into the 22 and that series of scrums it was just very difficult to get out of there."
His captain Rory Best agreed: "We're disappointed with that last 10 minutes of the first half. We let them back in to it."
Must try more
The official match statistics revealed Ireland made five line breaks while Wales made none, in spite of 51% possession and the efforts of centre Jamie Roberts.
It's a familiar accusation that Wales are too direct - critics say predictable - and can be nullified by the kind of fearless tackling Ireland exhibited at the Aviva Stadium.
But Wales did create opportunities, and Gatland felt it was rustiness rather than lack of ambition that was Wales' undoing.
"There were a coupe of overlaps. I thought in one Luke Charteris took a little too much out of it and Alun Wyn Jones had to try a 'give and take' when Tom James was unmarked on the wing," said the New Zealander.
On another occasion in the second half Scott Baldwin dropped the ball when Wales had again opened up space on the left flank.
This time it did not end in defeat - as their failure to score against 13 Australians in the World Cup had - but chances are precious and rare. Waste them and there is usually a price to pay.
No time for recovery
Both teams now face matches six days after this bruising encounter.
Wales have a serious doubt over fly-half Dan Biggar who has an ankle strain before they host Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday.
Ireland have slightly less time before they take on France in Paris and have serious doubts over Keith Earls who was concussed and flanker Tommy O'Donnell who passed a head injury assessment but will be reviewed before selection.
"To have half an hour less than six days before we take on France in Paris and compete with the athletes they have will be a monumental task," said Schmidt.
"This is such a competitive competition and when you have a six day turnaround to try and compete with another really good team it's tough."
Looking on the positive side, neither team lost.
On the negative, no team has ever won the Six Nations having drawn their opening game.
Another fact, which both coaches will be clinging to, is that there is a first time for everything.
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Please BBC, remember where the majority of your readers (and funding) come from.
I wonder sometimes. England could score five tries a game and work in a orphanage between matches but still be branded as boring and arrogant.
I thought the rugby was very similarly poor in all three games, their defence is good but they all appear to prefer and feel more comfortable defending. Expansive creative play is almost extinct.
Wales continue to play Gatlandball with Roberts & North running straight at defences. Will he ever learn some subtlety?
The tacking player has a duty to place the tackled player safely to the ground, this didn't happen and was dangerous play.
Although there wasn't any malice in it.
A definite penalty, it could have been a yellow but I think that would have been harsh.
Football is 11 overpaid princesses kicking a bag of air for 90+ minutes without a promise of a goal the whole match.
1. England are arrogant.
2. England are boring.
3. England have more players.
4. England have foreign players.
5. Nasty big English players are horrible to us poor Celts.
6. We are entitled to be rude about England due to 1 to 5 above.
7. If England are rude about us it proves 1 to 5 above.
Mix and match and you have a perfect HYS Celtic comment.
He seems to have added some real energy and pace to his game since joining Harlequins. Sadly the same cannot be said of the other centre who was as slow as ever. Wales need a combo of someone with some attacking gas at outside centre to compliment Roberts.
There was a time when Bill McLaren would commentate (brilliantly) on Ire vs Wales and Cliff Morgan would commentate (brilliantly) on Eng vs Scot games. Why are you letting Richard Williams spout off about Cousin Liam? Turn on Catch-up, watch the incident and then send Richard out to cover the sheep-dog trials where he belongs.
Personally I saw things as tight up front, England had the edge until the subs came on when England took control.Scotland definitely need work, hopefully they'll be better next week.
IT DOESNT MATTER!!! It's called freedom of choice!
Wales v Ireland was a great game to watch. 80 mins of sheer entertainment. No need to dissect it simply to find things to whinge about. For the record, LW would never feign injury.
If there's one thing 2003 taught us, like 1966, it's that what is glorious today quickly becomes just a happy memory!
Enjoy your memories of the victory at Twickenham.
You then lost in the quarters. If that's the extent of your ambition then fine! We are looking at building a team for 2019!
Yes we tried to play with width but not once did we draw in the defence, therefore allowing them to drift and close us down. Not one line break in 80 minutes of rugby!
Ireland were good, but their scrum looked a bit underpowered, and they had a habit of coughing up penalties. Plus that injury list...
England laboured to a win our Scotland.
Scotland are terrified of the try line