Ireland and Wales need to play the mind game
Ireland against Wales is a replay of the World Cup quarter-final but it wouldn’t surprise me if we had a reversal of the result. Don’t let anyone tell you that rugby is not a curiously psychological game. I suspect that Ireland’s defeat in Wellington will help them beat Wales in Dublin.
Of course, the absence of Brian O’Driscoll will take some getting used to, for the fans as well as the players. But there is much to like about Ireland. Conor Murray, the new scrum-half, is a big physical presence who brings a threat that they have missed in recent years.
The improvement in the scrummage is another big factor. Teams used to target the Irish scrum, but they gave Australia a bath in the World Cup and they will probably give Wales a problem or too as well.
Ireland have real potency in the back row, they have backs who can finish, they have two going on three dominant regional teams. They have the ability but maybe they haven’t always believed it. Wales at home and France in Paris are two big games to open with, but they will be a good test of Ireland’s state of mind without O’Driscoll.
But we know Wales will be competitive. In recent years sides had got used to how they played and they knew what to expect. Wales played the same way from game to game. But 2011 was a refreshing year for Wales and they were far more flexible.
Rhys Priestland looks built for test rugby. He never got fazed and they missed the young fly-half in the semi-final defeat. Missed goal kicks have haunted Wales in some big recent defeats and Priestland looks like he fancies the job, when others have feared it.
The young captain Sam Warburton looks like another who has his head in the right place. He is respected, he leads by example, loose forward is in the heart of the action and is the right place to captain the side.
Wales have game breakers like Geeoge North, two big centres who can bust the line, three good young loosies. They have their best opportunity in a long time to be one of the world’s best teams, but they have to get past this habit of throwing away games.
They were clearly the better team in their pool games against South Africa but they didn’t finish it. There have been numerous other examples in recent years. Too often they find the way to lose, either through yellow cards, silly penalties, missed kicks or poor decisions. That has to change.
Ireland and Wales have proved in recent times that a lot of rugby is played in the head. They both need to get smarter.
Posted under News & Opinions
over 1 year ago
Well Sir Graham it looks like we took your advise, but my fingernails are down to the quick, it was a pulsating game, and what real test rugby is all about, and like your said we needed to, and did get smarter, you weren’t on your own predicting Ireland to win at home, so don’t feel bad about it, we still love you in the land of song, after all it all started way back when you were our coach, and now it’s coming together nicely with M Gatland bringing the youngsters though the academy and into the squad, and just between just us, you have’t seen the best of them yet, we will miss Shane but the new 11 at 6ft 6ins and very quick didn’t do to bad on his debut, we have a bit of strength in depth now, and the belief we can win, the top 2ins is the new term i think, and this team have it in abundance. We have the biggest back line ever now, and they all possess good rugby skills, and they’re being aloud to think on their feet and play whats in front of them, Priestland even though not 100% still controlled the game, and that powerful move by George North and the slip pass to Jon Davis was pure class, In contrast to his own try which reminded me of a certain All Black of bygone days, carrying 3 on his back to score, but Priestland was the key there aswell, his vision to spot and exploit a gap is very mature, in one so young, the pack stood up to be counted even without our Captain who went off early, but yet again the yellow card for the disgusting off the ball spear tackle,( and this one should have been red ) could have lost us the game, and the 7 week ban received today,will leave Mr Gatland with a headache he never needed.It could also be costly. so it’s roll on next week, could be a thriller in Cardiff, the Scots will feel bruised after the weekend so we need to keep our focus, that top 2 ins again.
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