The triple crown belongs to Ireland. The champions’ grand slam attempt remains alive, and they are poised to claim a third straight Six Nations title. But the headline here was a simply sensational performance by Wales under their new interim head coach, Matt Sherratt, who had a meagre four training sessions to work with his new charges.
Ellis Mee, the 21-year-old Welsh debutant on the wing, was denied a potentially decisive score in the final 10 minutes by a fiendishly tight TMO call with Wales trailing by six. Ireland scraped across the line, in the end, often forced on to the back foot by a magnificent Welsh effort that restored a sense of pride after 14 consecutive Test defeats.
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Sherratt had torn up Warren Gatland’s script, making eight changes and selecting a Gloucester-heavy back line. Familarity – also known as cohesion – was his objective. Born in Gloucester, Sherratt spoke this week of being called an “unknown little Englishman” by Welsh fans on social media a few years ago. Keep this up – despite defeat – and he will surely be promoted to honorary Welshman.
Wales looked better from the start. As early scrum penalty was followed by a fluent first possession, but when Jack Conan turned it over, Garry Ringrose’s delightful 50:22 put the hosts under pressure. Neatly enough, it was Conan who scored from close range, man-handling Tomos Williams, the Wales scrum-half, over the line in the process.
Unlike Scotland at Murrayfield a couple of weeks ago, however, Wales were able to prevent Ireland from getting the scoreboard spinning like a fruit machine. The hosts’ attack was a different proposition, and Gareth Anscombe’s penalty on 23 minutes got them off the mark.
The unmistakeable Principality Stadium roar swelled up a couple of minutes later when more slick Welsh handling saw them puncture the Irish defence on the right. Jac Morgan fed Tomos Williams, the scrum-half, who contracted a bad case of try-line fever and spilled the ball.
The interim head coach’s front-row selection was bearing fruit, with three scrum penalties against Ireland inside half an hour. Ireland had plenty to think about when Ringrose was shown a yellow card, with a bunker review, for a careless high shot on Ben Thomas. Anscombe slotted another straightforward penalty and Wales continued to work through the phases, with the 6ft 4in Mee, looking a Test-match natural and causing problems for Ireland’s defence. Even when Mee knocked on with Wales attacking down their left wing, it worked out OK: a fourth scrum penalty swiftly arrived.
The scrum penalty led to a thrilling passage of play with Ireland somehow repelling Wales twice when carriers appeared over the line. Morgan finally barged over, provoking an earth-trembling roar. Anscombe’s conversion meant Wales led by three at the break. A woman carrying a tray of pints back from the bar refused to believe a steward when he told her Wales were winning 13-10.
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That tray of drinks, presumably, went flying soon three minutes after half time when Wales broke with devastating efficiency, Tom Rogers diving for the corner after being fed by the full-back Blair Murray. An eight-point lead for Wales. The official Six Nations website, pre-match, had given them a 9% chance of victory. Ringrose’s yellow was upgraded: why such a reckless challenge wasn’t a straight red is a question for Christophe Ridley and his officiating team. Sam Prendergast narrowed the gap to five with a penalty nine minutes after the break.
Prendergast had coughed up an error or two when under pressure earlier but he grew into the game. The Leinsterman produced a stunning crossfield kick for touch to set up the score that levelled. James Lowe cleverly patted a high kick back inside for Jamie Osborne and when Ireland’s No 10 missed the conversion, it was all square. Ireland to exert a firm grip, however, and three Prendergast penalties were enough to keep the grand slam hope alive despite Mee’s dramatic attempt in the corner that was denied by the TMO. Defeat for Wales, and for Sherratt, but pride emphatically restored.
