Rugby, far more interesting than NFL football

Dead Rubber » Ireland’s use of possession became puzzling: "LET’S TEMPORARILY suspend reality and assume that yesterday was a draw and not a fortunate two-point win for Wales. Who would then have more confidence in Paris, Ireland or Wales? With your answer in mind let’s now look at yesterday.

From the kick-off it was clear Ireland had learned from last October where subtle changes proved very dangerous. The Irish backrow in October were very hungry for contact around the fringes and were cut down. Yesterday Stephen Ferris, Seán O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip immediately popped up all over the place asking major questions of the Welsh. Heaslip had a very active day on the ball creating many opportunities for his team.

But then no plan survives the first shot as the opposition have their little nuances. Wales appeared a team dancing to a certain beat. Their lineout, for instance, was but a starter to a multi-phase approach where if a breakthrough came off, great, such as Bradley Davies’ early run down the touchline but it appeared their objective was to expose space by the third or fourth phase in which to send giants such as Jonathan Davies or George North into space or an unbalanced defender."

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