After suffering successive championship defeats to Wales in Cardiff for the first time in 34 years, Ireland go into the final round of matches next Saturday in the position they were in 2011 – out to stop England winning the grand slam rather than tilting for the title.
There will be no winner-takes-all showdown at the Aviva Stadium between the two sides expected to dominate the Lions squad this summer as a season that started with the loudest of statements as the All Blacks were beaten in Chicago threatens to end in mute disappointment.
“England is still a really important match for us,” said the Ireland full-back Rob Kearney after the 22-9 defeat to Wales. “There is still a huge amount to play for.” It was what he was expected to say, but it is only the consolation prize the Irish are playing for, the suppression of someone else’s joy, rather than concrete achievement. After title triumphs in 2014 and 2015, Ireland’s dreams involve more than beating England.
The visitors seemed surprised on Friday night by the sustained ferocity of Wales under the closed roof of the Principality Stadium. The mood of the home supporters outside the ground before was largely one of foreboding after defeats to England and Scotland, arming themselves with the consolation that at least Ireland would in victory be able to snatch the championship trophy from Twickenham.
Wales have in the Warren Gatland era had the capacity to show strength in adversity. Players were made an example of after the defeat in Scotland, not least the wing George North, a key figure on the 2013 Lions tour to Australia who has appeared to shrivel in stature this season. “It was the hurt,” said North, when asked to explain the difference from Murrayfield where Wales had lost to Scotland for the first time in a decade.
North, together with his fellow 2013 Lions Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts, had his name for the Lions tour written in pencil rather than ink before Friday and that should remain so until Wales have played their final match against France in Paris next Saturday.
It is how Wales play then, when the anger and indignation have subsided, that will be instructive. For all their fervour and sense of purpose in front of their own supporters, they would have been staring at defeat but for a moment of stupidity from Ireland’s centre Robbie Henshaw who, 11 minutes from time with his side trailing 15-9, joined from the side a maul that was heading for the home line without him and turned a certain try for Ireland into a penalty for Wales.
Henshaw, majestic in Chicago, was vulnerable in Cardiff as Wales looked to disrupt the Ireland half-backs, Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton, from the outset, hustling their opponents into uncharacteristic mistakes. It was an adrenalin-fuelled defensive effort, sustained throughout by the fear of losing and having to answer afterwards to their defence coach, Shaun Edwards, who was in the stand in body but on the pitch in spirit.
Ireland waited for the collapse that never came and after second-half capitulations to England and Scotland, Wales scored two tries after the interval, the first when Sexton was in the sin-bin – he had been off the field for a head injury assessment when the home side scored their opening try – and the second after Dan Biggar charged down Sexton’s kick for Roberts to seal victory and steal Ireland’s bonus point.
“We knew we were much better than we had been showing,” North said. “We have players of amazing quality and we have to carry this with us to France.”
He scored his side’s first two tries, the first after a lineout move based on pace, the ball moved wide with alacrity when the excellent Rhys Webb and Scott Williams combined to create space on the right wing, and the second after Webb lulled Ireland into thinking a maul was heading for their line and smuggled the ball out for his wing to run into unguarded territory.
Biggar had never stood flatter for Wales and if it led to some interceptions, it also took Wales over the gainline. They made 10 clean breaks, kicked more strategically and won the mental battle by some distance. Basic skills remain a weakness and, but for Henshaw’s brain fade, they may have again been reflecting on wasted opportunities and a conservative selection policy.
It is four years since Wales last won the title and they drop a bit further away each year. That should be focusing their minds as they prepare for a game when they will not be responding to stick. They still have it all to prove.
