Wales&Ireland&RyanJones&CheapShots

Let me start by saying i was wrong about Ryan Jones.

I had said during the week i didn't think he had what it took anymore to be a starting 6 in international rugby, i feel a bit silly now.

For the first time in a number of years I saw him look aggressive, dynamic, he threw himself with conviction into contact and for the first time since about 2005, he looked as though he didn't care what happened to his knees, he was explosive. With Lydiate hopefully back for the scotland game, we could be doing a lot worse than shifting ryan into the second row to partner Ian Evans. Ian Evans, another who it was great to see back on top form in a wales jersey, he was excellent yesterday, again, he was abrasive, dynamic, his defensive work in the tight phases was excellent. Even made a couple of half breaks with his carrying, he hasn't half got some decent footwork for a lock!

Rhys Gill, hes not Gethin Jenkins, but he had a good game, his rucking was very, very good, he threw himself about and was a willing carrier at every opportunity. For his 2nd cap, that wasn't exactly a bad game - scrum was a little shaky for both side. Lasted the full 80 and showed his fitness in an intense affair.

Priestland, so instrumental to the way this welsh side plays, he can bring the big runners into the game beautifully and the welsh attack is really starting to purr with him pulling the strings. His offload for the first try was reminiscent of the Stephen Jones offload vs SA for the Lions in the second test, you can see a lot of Stephen Jones in the way Priestland plays, he just seems to understand space and where its going to appear.

Its not exactly an australian back line, but its one scary back line. Its a huge back line that isn't just a load of "boshers". JD2 just showed everyone what he is capable of, Roberts clearly not 100%, JD2 steps up and we see a shift in the back line from Roberts hitting the gainline to being used as a decoy and some smart sharp short passing. These guys are all pretty huge, but they all have good footwork, the centres can pass well, theres immense acceleration and power in the centres that went along with an understanding of when to straighten the line, it was nice to see welsh backs not cutting space out wide.

I though Alex Cuthbert showed glimpses of what he can do, hopefully we'll see him back next week.

No brain farts from Hook, step 1 on the rehabilitation to international rugby complete.

Tiperic, well, again, here I'd said I wouldn't have him on the bench against the physical back row of Ireland, but fairplay, he was a nuisance, he was one of the first to every ruck, slowed down irish ball and won welsh ball cleanly and quickly. Definitely more the Martyn Williams type player, its nice to have 2 very good 7's who operate slightly differently.

Heaslip was fantastic, SOB anonymous, Healy was prominent in the loose, Murray was Irelands best back for me, a lot of very good back line players were made to look weak by the welsh backs. I think they showed them too much respect and were too passive, the last try for North summed it up, that was 1 on 3 after 75 minutes, there should only ever be 1 winner there. I won't talk about Ireland too much, I'm sure that'll be done to death on here this week by their own.

Ryan Jones potentially stamping? Bradley Davies will be cited and banned. Donnacha Ryan, I imagine will be cited for his Botha style charge at Adam Jones (which was what sparked the Bradley incident). There were cheap shots going in from both sides all throughout the game, no doubt depending on your accent, you'll have your own views on who was the worst offender.

It was a fantastic game, had me up and down and screaming at the tv, when Bradley went, I had flashbacks of France in the world cup all over again, thankfully, some controversy over cards went our way this time, again though, too many points were left out on the pitch from poor place-kicking.

Overall happy, the Scots will be seething after failing to score from 2/3 very very good line breaks, but, I don't think they'll close to Wales if they don't start taking those chances, as Wales seem to be in the sort of mood to take theres.