We’ve been here before, haven’t we? A year out from a World Cup and on the eve of a Six Nations Championship, Ireland look capable of beating any side they face. Andy Farrell’s relentless commitment to keeping the ball in play saw them average more passes - 187.4 - and more rucks in possession – 113.1 – per game than any other team competing in the Six Nations or Rugby Championship last year. Commanding wins against England and New Zealand proved they can marry flair with fortitude.
The 29-20 triumph over the All Blacks was particularly impressive, likely the best performance from Ireland under Farrell. By committing two men to every breakdown they risk losing the ball on the ground but they keep 11 players on their feet and free to attack. The image of New Zealand’s Codie Taylor and Dalton Papalii looking shattered before the half-time break in the autumn told a story. This is the result of Ireland’s frenetic philosophy.
Wales aren’t too dissimilar in their approach. Both teams utilise a 1-3-2-2 formation, staggering pods of forwards across the width of the pitch. But Ireland are more consistent, more devoted to the ideology and rarely stray too far from it. This has a lot to do with the man standing at first receiver. Johnny Sexton, captaining the team in his 102nd appearance for his country at 36, is as solid as any fly-half in the world and is metronomic in his delivery. Though he can straighten the line and is dangerous when deploying a give-and-go with a midfielder in what has been dubbed the “Sexton loop”, his game is defined by reliability and consistency.
In many ways he encapsulates all that is good about this Irish unit. He is also one of 11 Leinster representatives in the starting 15. His partner at scrum-half, Jamison Gibson-Park, is also his club teammate; as are seven of the starting forwards that have gelled into one of the most cohesive packs in the game with a powerful scrum and maul game at their disposal.
By contrast all four Welsh clubs are represented in the Welsh pack. That is the least of Wayne Pivac’s concerns as he has made the trip to Dublin without Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Taulupe Faletau. Winger Josh Adams is starting at outside centre for the first time at this level and eight of their 12 match-day forwards have less than 30 Test caps.
Pivac has conceded that his team are underdogs as memories of the 54-10 hammering at Lansdowne Road in 2002 have come into focus. Back then another Kiwi coach lost his job as Graham Henry was sacked after the record defeat.
Dan Biggar, however, isn’t bothered by what others are saying. The Northampton Saints fly-half will captain Wales for the first time and pointed out that being written off before a ball has been kicked is a familiar feeling.
“We always start as fourth or fifth favourites every year we come into the Six Nations Behind the big three [England, Ireland and France],” Biggar pointed out. “I think Scotland are ahead of us in the bookies this week. It’s been the same for the last ten years. But people forget that we’ve been the most successful team for the last 10 years, winning it four times. For us it’s no different coming into the tournament as underdogs. Whether we’ve won it the year before or we have a full strength team, half a team missing, whatever it is, it’s the same. We’re just looking forward to the challenge and getting into a real arm wrestle with Ireland.”
Rain and wind has been forecast which means an arm wrestle is likely. Sexton and Biggar will likely go to the boot and test which back-three can gain control. Louis Rees-Zammit boasted that he is getting faster but this will be the first time the 21-year-old is playing in front of a packed partisan crowd in the Six Nations and will doubtless be a target.
The same will be true for Ireland’s Mack Hansen making his debut on the opposite wing. The Australian-born 23-year-old has only played nine games for Connacht since joining from the Brumbies last month though his selection barely caused a stir. This has something to do with six tries in that time but mostly because Farrell has earned the trust of his players and those who support them. Something special is brewing. The next 18 months could be the most significant in Ireland’s history.
“We’d all love a trophy,” Farrell said before stressing that silverware would “look after themselves” if the team stuck to their principles and processes. Perhaps so. But after ending 2021 on a high, and stealing the breath from defenders and fans alike, a trophy must now be considered a non-negotiable. A Six Nations crown would be nice. A World Cup would be better. First they have to put Wales away.
