Wales vs Ireland - Round 5

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Teams TBA Thursday the 14th March

Referee Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant 1 Ben O'Keeffe (New Zelaand)
Assistant 2 Karl Dickson (England)
TMO Marius Jonker (South Africa)


Wales:

L Williams (Saracens); North (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), Parkes (Scarlets), Adams (Worcester); Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), Owens (Scarlets), Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Beard (Ospreys), AW Jones (Ospreys, capt), Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Tipuric (Ospreys), Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: Dee (Dragons), Smith (Ospreys), D Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Ball (Scarlets), Wainwright (Dragons), A Davies (Ospreys), Biggar (Northampton), Watkin (Ospreys).



Ireland:


Kearney; Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best (capt), Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O'Mahony, O'Brien, Stander.

Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter, Roux, Conan, Marmion, Carty, Larmour.

Pot Hale wrote:Wonder what Eddie Jones is thinking now?  

Checking his family tree for that Welsh Granny probably.

Thanks guys.

Check out those grand slam t-shirts

New Zealand Herald  - Welsh Kiwis beat Irish Kiwis.

That about sums it up.

TightHEAD wrote:Ireland haven’t turned up.

Wales making ground to easy

Too. First language mind.

Who’s Peter Stringer?

Ex-Sarries scrum-half.

Lol you gotta love the English. Good sense of humour.

majesticimperialman wrote:Anscome MOM i do  agree with that. He as been a good find for Wales since Halpenny got injured.

Do Wales need Halfpenny now? good question.

They may well do, a very good squad player if nothing else. There will be injuries and players will miss out before and during the WC

Shifty wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Wonder what Eddie Jones is thinking now?  

Checking his family tree for that Welsh Granny probably.

Exactly. Must be wondering why he wasn’t born Welsh.

RiscaGame wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Ireland haven’t turned up.

Wales making ground to easy

Too. First language mind.

Take it up with Apple.

Hard lines Ireland. Will obviously get better. Talk by Uncle Eddie of peaking at the right time was premature, as they probably will peak at the WC, which is what everybody wants. Grand Slam is nice, but everybody only really cares about what happens in the Autumn.

Congratulations Wales on a sublime performance. So good in every facet of the game we all love.

Tactically,intelligently, skillfully, passionately, fiercely, and with no end of nous.

What I really admired, besides all that, was their determination to nil the "No 2 team  in the World" till the dying seconds.

I was just glad we scored FFS.

Enjoy the night. Enjoy the week.

Yn gwybod mai chi yw'r tîm gorau yn Hemisffer y Gogledd.

BBC - it’s been a Gat-tastic weekend.

Jeez - their standards have dropped.

Great game Wales.
Out played us in every aspect.
See you at the world cup

So is there another game then?

I'm wasted. But I can handle it. Love this  comp. Loved since it was the 5-Nations.  

Oh Flower of Scotland...

Pot Hale wrote:BBC - it’s been a Gat-tastic weekend.  

Jeez - their standards have dropped.  

Inverdull.  Hes a complete and utter private school dick.

Kind of guy you want to smack.

Congratulations Wales fully deserved the championship. Really pleased for Alan Wyn Jones, a true rugby man. (Looked like he and Moriarty were the only ones who didn't put on the naff Slam T-shirts?)

2nd best team in the world...barely beating the Italians in Rome is about our level at the moment.

BTW well done wales outplayed us everywhere. Both Eddie Jones and Gatland have shown how to beat Schmidtball...

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:BTW well done wales outplayed us everywhere. Both Eddie Jones and Gatland have shown how to beat Schmidtball...

Yep.

Found out.

Going forward, its time to drop Best and bring in Scannell. Drop Kearney and bring in Dorathy Larmour for the warm up games.
We have 2 v Wales so...

Need to change it now, to even dream of making a RWC SF.  Or a even QF.

Truth hurts. But I love hurt - if it advances me. And turns me on.

Wake up Joe. Don't be Jackie Charltion. Stop stifling us.

Great win from Wales. Always nice to win a slam but 3 for Gatland is legendary. AWJ great captain.

Sir Warren?

To be fair it is deserved, not sure if he would accept it though?

I know Anscome got MOM, but in all honesty i thought they would made AWJ MOM.

But never the less a great win for Wales and well deserved Grand Slam for Wales.

TightHEAD wrote:Sir Warren?

To be fair it is deserved, not sure if he would accept it though?

Do people actually care about titles these days?

Well done wales.

A fitting way to round off the grand slam

Collapse2005 wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Sir Warren?

To be fair it is deserved, not sure if he would accept it though?

Do people actually care about titles these days?

Just ask Sir Jimmy Saville and Sir Rolf Harris.

Ows about that then kids? Here's a badge.  

Royalty. Melt them down for pills and soap.

Gibson wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Sir Warren?

To be fair it is deserved, not sure if he would accept it though?

Do people actually care about titles these days?

Just ask Sir Jimmy Saville and Sir Rolf Harris.

Ows about that then kids? Here's a badge.  

Royalty. Melt them down for pills and soap.

A good win for Wales and the two kiwis involved, well done Gats and Gav.

Ireland have taken the exact route England did when they beat the ABs in 2012, capitulating by the end of the 6N and getting thrashed by Wales. Pointed to this possibility well before the 6N started.

Throws all sorts of spanners in the works for 6N chances in the world cup, especially now those sides have to kind of twiddle their thumbs between now an September with no true test matches to play.

Now is where the real toil begins. How do they keep their minds occupied in that time? Club rugby? Friendlys?

Collapse2005 wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Sir Warren?

To be fair it is deserved, not sure if he would accept it though?

Do people actually care about titles these days?

Can Wales knight a kiwi...thats a first surely?

Surely he would have to be knighted for services to NZ? Where he has none worthy of a knighthood.

Anyway, pompous things anyway.

Woah Scotland. Amazing. Got to love this Comp.

Respect.

Taylorman wrote:A good win for Wales and the two kiwis involved, well done Gats and Gav.

Ireland have taken the exact route England did when they beat the ABs in 2012, capitulating by the end of the 6N and getting thrashed by Wales. Pointed to this possibility well before the 6N started.

Throws all sorts of spanners in the works for 6N chances in the world cup, especially now those sides have to kind of twiddle their thumbs between now an September with no true test matches to play.

Now is where the real toil begins. How do they keep their minds occupied in that time? Club rugby? Friendlys?

Excellent post Taylor. Was just thinking that after Wales man-shamed us.   I dunno mo chara. Been watching it all for yonks.

As you infer, friendlies mean nowt. That was the real stuff out there.

The Regions are mediocre and in total disarray. And yet, gather the best of them together, put them in a red shirt, get them well coached, and they are good enough to beat anybody on the Planet. And I mean anybody.

The Irish provinces are destroying English and French huge-money teams on a yearly basis, but best of them combined, were far short of that Welsh side out there.  

Makes no sense logically. But fock it all. Works for me.


Jesus, I just love this game.

Holy Greg Feel is that you Gibbons? Have you returned?

Pete330v2 wrote:Holy Greg Feel is that you Gibbons? Have you returned?

No, that was Lazarus Pete.

And who de feic is Holy Greg Feek?

Sounds like a man Id like to have dram with.


How de feic are you mate?

Greg Feel? Now that's a sick auto-interpreter right there. I'd worry for the person who wrote that code.

Ireland were out coached, out though and out played by the better team today. No complaints from me regarding ref decisions or anything else. Wales simply wanted it and deserved it more.

Fair play to Gatland, he gets a lot of bad press on here but again I say that, for me anyways, he is the best coach in world rugby.


Enjoy your win and night there all ye Welsh lads.


Howya Gibbo, long time no chat.

Worst day in Irish rugby for a long time... worse than the humiliation at the hands of the Argentines. Wales won any contest that was out there with buckets of energy and accuracy. Men and boys.
Enjoy the Slam Gats and crew and Welsh posters here - fully deserved.
However, as I've said before, it's been a weird mood Ireland have been in, and not just the seemingly hopelessly off form players. The coaches too, particularly Schmidt, they're just not showing enough signs that they're overly concerned. They were well beaten and of course Johnny looked fecked off again but still, whilst I was very angry for a few minutes after the game at the 'fight' we put up, I settled way down again to honestly be quite chilled. So I guess I'm in that same mood the team are in.

I know everything about Ireland this 6N isn't nearly at the levels of aggression and speed and endeavour that it needs to be at to have given the title a good defence - and I'm damn certain the coaches knew it wasn't at the right levels, in games and more importantly in training. Schmidt has asked genuine fans not to lose faith in the players and I won't. Many of them now have Provinicial games to play at Pro14 and European levels, have warm ups that have now taken on a new significance and then they have a contest at the end of the year that they will undoubtedly give their full energies to.
We couldn't meet the emotional energy of the Welsh today but come a World Cup, I don't doubt that there will be a more level playing field in terms of desire through most 6N teams.

But today we were blown away fair and square. Another kicking from old uncle Gats. I do wish he'd finally forgive us. But anyway, onward into the big challenges this year still has to offer.

Worst day in Irish rugby for a long time... worse than the humiliation at the hands of the Argentines. Wales won any contest that was out there with buckets of energy and accuracy. Men and boys.
Enjoy the Slam Gats and crew and Welsh posters here - fully deserved.
However, as I've said before, it's been a weird mood Ireland have been in, and not just the seemingly hopelessly off form players. The coaches too, particularly Schmidt, they're just not showing enough signs that they're overly concerned. They were well beaten and of course Johnny looked fecked off again but still, whilst I was very angry for a few minutes after the game at the 'fight' we put up, I settled way down again to honestly be quite chilled. So I guess I'm in that same mood the team are in.

I know everything about Ireland this 6N isn't nearly at the levels of aggression and speed and endeavour that it needs to be at to have given the title a good defence - and I'm damn certain the coaches knew it wasn't at the right levels, in games and more importantly in training. Schmidt has asked genuine fans not to lose faith in the players and I won't. Many of them now have Provinicial games to play at Pro14 and European levels, have warm ups that have now taken on a new significance and then they have a contest at the end of the year that they will undoubtedly give their full energies to.
We couldn't meet the emotional energy of the Welsh today but come a World Cup, I don't doubt that there will be a more level playing field in terms of desire through most 6N teams.

But today we were blown away fair and square. Another kicking from old uncle Gats. I do wish he'd finally forgive us. But anyway, onward into the big challenges this year still has to offer.

Taylorman wrote:A good win for Wales and the two kiwis involved, well done Gats and Gav.

Ireland have taken the exact route England did when they beat the ABs in 2012, capitulating by the end of the 6N and getting thrashed by Wales. Pointed to this possibility well before the 6N started.

Throws all sorts of spanners in the works for 6N chances in the world cup, especially now those sides have to kind of twiddle their thumbs between now an September with no true test matches to play.

Now is where the real toil begins. How do they keep their minds occupied in that time? Club rugby? Friendlys?

You slag Gav and Gats constantly no they produce you try and claim some national pride? You had a shocker.

BigGee wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:Anscome MOM i do  agree with that. He as been a good find for Wales since Halpenny got injured.

Do Wales need Halfpenny now? good question.

They may well do, a very good squad player if nothing else. There will be injuries and players will miss out before and during the WC

Excellent #23 if the first choice back 3 are fit. Adds a solidity and nous Anscombe obviously does not have at 15 - not tested at all there today by Ireland but he will be by better teams. Even Scotland managed to exploit him a few timers with kicks through. Anscombe kicked well today but he doesn't have the % Biggar and Halfpenny have. Clearly being given the opportunity to establish himself as first choice goalkicker, which is good as he's first choice 10, but Halfpenny will always have a place.

Sorry for the double, damn pad acting up and now can't delete

This game reflected the Grand Slam overall really. Controlled, disciplined, potent when they needed to be, clear headed, bursting with emotion at times but for the most part reserved and calm in the systems and teammates. It doesn't have the highlight reel moment of 2005 or 2008 - much more like 2012, a grinding, deserved win instead. Nor the blistering final game of 2013. But I do think this is the 'best' Gatland has won. The best achievement because you always knew, if needed, there's another gear and a half to this Welsh team that, hopefully, we'll see in Japan when it is needed.

Ireland were shocking today. The weather conditions didn't help but the halfbacks look...off it. Injured? Disillusioned? Sexton's head has 'gone' a few times this tournament. Not a good sign.

I would say not to worry for Ireland though. For a few reasons. Firstly, they've been average all tournament. Probably their best performance came against England. After that...who knows? Did Schmidt decide to let up in this 6Ns once they'd lost that first game - particularly with it coming at home - as they were unlikely to retain the title and there were more important things to focus on? Or perhaps Schmidt gave up on going 'all out' for it before the England game? Hard to say. No doubt England 'did' them in that game - but today, Ireland undid themselves in that they clearly weren't well prepared for it. Tactically, mentally/emotionally, physically - everything was off.

To the Irish posters I would offer this - Schmidt knows what he's doing. He won in 2014 and 2015 before crashing out in the QFs. He beat England in 2017 and won the GS in 2018, with the ABs following in the AIs. Do not forget this is a World Cup year. He doesn't want a repeat of 2015. I cannot believe that Ireland would be so consistently poor - and they were, today more than any other this 6Ns - without Schmidt being fairly relaxed about it as he's both testing his players/squad (maybe with some proto tactics we'll see in Japan) as well as working out the opposition and what will be the 'full' Irish gameplan for later in the year.

Some of Ireland's drop-off is down to luck/form/poor play by individuals - some is because Ireland were 'overachieving' in many ways, and when not well drilled to the letter, their natural abilities aren't NZ esque. But that last point ties into the next - Ireland are poor because Schmidt's holding back, a lot. Perhaps he's even saving the players themselves, not wanting them to burn out - not wrapping them in cotton wool just yet, but he's not asking them to go blood and thunder against a motivated Welsh team in what is essentially a meaningless game. Had Ireland not have lost that first game...maybe we'd have seen a different mentality this tournament...but Wales didn't have the luxury of a recent 6Ns and ABs win(s) so they could focus solely on the RWC. Wales should/could have won in 2015 and 16 but missed out - this was a nice way to round off Gatland's era and also win some deserved silverware for this team, which has underachieved in 6Ns titles since 2013. Think back prior to the tournament and consider these two teams' positions: now look at them, and what's really changed? Ireland have asked some serious questions of their squad, and from the outside there appear some big problems (SOB, for instance, has played himself off the plane) but maybe that was the point? And maybe Schmidt knows far more from the inside which contradicts what we assume from the outside - that Ireland are regressing/will struggle in Japan. Whereas Wales now are further down the line they were on pre tournament - plugging away, getting experience and player depth, and honing skills and tactics. I would expect both teams to be quite different in Japan - tactically, physically - but Ireland's change will be more dramatic. They can still 'use' what they had learnt about their team prior to this 6Ns. This tournament hasn't erased that.

To the game itself...

The ref was marginally favourable to Wales but there was no doubt it didn't change who won the game. After Parkes' try - in fact, from the very first kick - Ireland looked beaten. Winger (Stockdale?) fields the ball, driven in to touch, penalty advantage needlessly conceded, and then Kearney out of position - try, 7-0, and no recovery. Beirne got one turnover, as anticipated, with Wales hammering the line - and I assumed it was a bad omen, but thankfully that was it. I imagine Schmidt might not pick him again.

Decent game by Wales. AWJ was superb, his detractors are fools - including the poster who suggested Ryan was better than him when he was 20. No doubt who came on top in that battle. Navidi up there again, really coming into his own: Ken outshone Best (no surprise....) but also played very well in and of himself. No real issues other than idiocy of Gareth Davies really for Wales. One of his poorer games in terms of mentality, but played well when he stuck to the rugby. Unfortunate for North but the game and the weather suited Biggar. I'm coming to like the 10/15 pairing in many ways, particularly with Liam Williams on the wing to provide 15 cover.

Did Wales get out of third gear? A few times, yes, no doubt. In fact, as Schmidt said, the score probably wasn't reflective of the match - Ireland had plenty of opportunities to get back in it (why they didn't go for points when nilled I don't know...) but mistakes killed them. Wales' defence was dominant though and takes huge credit. But so does their ability to take the points. Anscombe now looking like an outside-half who kept Beauden Barrett out of the NZ U20s #10 shirt...

The try at the end was frustrating. Not only because Ireland didn't 'deserve' it, and it ruins the 0 score - but also because it's a sign that Wales are still sloppy. Scrum on halfway, 5 seconds to go...Aled Davies and Moriarty can't get the ball away. Take too long - penalty. Kick to corner, another penalty or two, and eventually Larmour goes over. I'm not sure Wales have the level England and Ireland do - simply because I don't think either of those teams would concede that try in the circumstances of having 'won' the GS and running the clock down. I'm not sure Wales can do what Ireland did to the ABs yet...and I still think it's a mentality thing. Perhaps that's asking too much - ultimately, Wales did bully Ireland at times, and they did still play very well in most areas to nullify and exploit Schmidt's team. And it was after the 80, with minds elsewhere...but would have been nice/good to keep Ireland scoreless.

Anyway, great Grand Slam. This team feels very special. Not just the starting XV but the whole squad. A cool and reassuring win without the drama and tension typically associated with Wales.

Pie wrote:

Taylorman wrote:A good win for Wales and the two kiwis involved, well done Gats and Gav.

Ireland have taken the exact route England did when they beat the ABs in 2012, capitulating by the end of the 6N and getting thrashed by Wales. Pointed to this possibility well before the 6N started.

Throws all sorts of spanners in the works for 6N chances in the world cup, especially now those sides have to kind of twiddle their thumbs between now an September with no true test matches to play.

Now is where the real toil begins. How do they keep their minds occupied in that time? Club rugby? Friendlys?

You slag Gav and Gats constantly no they produce you try and claim some national pride? You had a shocker.

Constantly? I barely mention them. But Ill certainly praise them when they do well. As did Wales, the real breakthrough side in this tournament, for one single reason...consistency. Over a campaign they remained true to form, stuck to their gameplan and got confident as the tournament wore on.

Over a World cup campaign, that will serve them well, providedthey havent peaked, and provided they make excellent use of the next six months. Gats Lions and GS winning experience will help greatly there.He clearly knows how to manage a side to high outputs across a campaign, peaking here at the perfect time. Did it in oz with the Lions, and nearly in NZ.

I dont think they quite have the skill levels to win that way right through the tournament but in terms of the ultimate goal in sport, consistency of performance, they might not need that.

The other two hopefuls.. all over the place this campaign. Huge reliance on Sexton and Murray, and now consistency is their highest requirement for Japan.

Interesting how three sides get touted for Japan over the last few months.

Who knows?

Pie wrote:

Taylorman wrote:A good win for Wales and the two kiwis involved, well done Gats and Gav.

Ireland have taken the exact route England did when they beat the ABs in 2012, capitulating by the end of the 6N and getting thrashed by Wales. Pointed to this possibility well before the 6N started.

Throws all sorts of spanners in the works for 6N chances in the world cup, especially now those sides have to kind of twiddle their thumbs between now an September with no true test matches to play.

Now is where the real toil begins. How do they keep their minds occupied in that time? Club rugby? Friendlys?

You slag Gav and Gats constantly no they produce you try and claim some national pride? You had a shocker.

Gav? Gavin? I know he might have the complexion of a Maori, but no mistake, he's ours...

Do you mean Gar? Or Hads?

Ireland are all over the place. England - nope.

So they didn't get a Slam, were beaten by Wales and damn near lost the wild game against Scotland.... that's not being all over the place just Jones still trying to work out how to do things with perhaps a little less frenetic pace so that the team play a full 80 of high but not epic intensity and drive. They don't need the energy levels they're using but have wanted to make the big statements. Facts and figures and GPS and all that jazz will be done now and Jones will be able to work on a little bit smarter game of energy usage.

Ireland are all over the place visually but still I'm not looking at a team in panic or a coach trying to avoid the future that might now look bleak. He says the team will be ready to compete in Japan and I believe him. Even technically anybody can see that Ireland have not been engaging in full fights.

miaow wrote:

Pie wrote:

Taylorman wrote:A good win for Wales and the two kiwis involved, well done Gats and Gav.

Ireland have taken the exact route England did when they beat the ABs in 2012, capitulating by the end of the 6N and getting thrashed by Wales. Pointed to this possibility well before the 6N started.

Throws all sorts of spanners in the works for 6N chances in the world cup, especially now those sides have to kind of twiddle their thumbs between now an September with no true test matches to play.

Now is where the real toil begins. How do they keep their minds occupied in that time? Club rugby? Friendlys?

You slag Gav and Gats constantly no they produce you try and claim some national pride? You had a shocker.

Gav? Gavin? I know he might have the complexion of a Maori, but no mistake, he's ours...

Do you mean Gar? Or Hads?

Gee, what a long detour to correct a typo... fill yer boots tho.

Didn't know who you meant. As Anscombe has a Welsh mother, seems fair to cap him. Parkes...3 year residency late on in his career. See why that would rankle. But you miscounted - hence not being sure what you meant (other than to try and make everything about NZ, and by extension you, which is a bit sad tbh).

Good win for Wales. Only the domestic shambles to sort out now and hopefully we've got an outside shot at the WC in Japan later in the year.

miaow wrote:Didn't know who you meant. As Anscombe has a Welsh mother, seems fair to cap him. Parkes...3 year residency late on in his career. See why that would rankle. But you miscounted - hence not being sure what you meant (other than to try and make everything about NZ, and by extension you, which is a bit sad tbh).

Good win for Wales. Only the domestic shambles to sort out now and hopefully we've got an outside shot at the WC in Japan later in the year.

Anscombe learned his rugby and became a professional here. Thats what gets him in the Welsh side, not the fact that his mum is Welsh. Wales bought him, though he was never good enough to be an AB so has done well with his adopted side. We see a lot of these semi successes, hence the comment from my viewpoit which I believe is not against some law last time I looked.

Oh, and if you dont want it all to be about NZ...try using your own coaches, players more. Aucklands Wayne Pivac next kiwi off the rank I see. I mean, what is the current pathway for Welsh coaching to you know...coach... Wales. None? Happy to discuss Wales rugby in terms of its national coach ambitions.

Congratulations Wales, fabulous stuff today. Well deserved slammers.

Gibson wrote:

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:BTW well done wales outplayed us everywhere. Both Eddie Jones and Gatland have shown how to beat Schmidtball...

Yep.

Found out.

Going forward, its time to drop Best and bring in Scannell. Drop Kearney and bring in Dorathy Larmour for the warm up games.
We have 2 v Wales so...

Need to change it now, to even dream of making a RWC SF.  Or a even QF.

Truth hurts. But I love hurt - if it advances me. And turns me on.

Wake up Joe. Don't be Jackie Charltion. Stop stifling us.

Gibbo,

I don’t get why Schmidt didn’t bring Lamour on earlier, given Ireland were chasing for a while. I’m sure he knows better than us though.

God bless you.

Rev

miaow wrote:

BigGee wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:Anscome MOM i do  agree with that. He as been a good find for Wales since Halpenny got injured.

Do Wales need Halfpenny now? good question.

They may well do, a very good squad player if nothing else. There will be injuries and players will miss out before and during the WC

Excellent #23 if the first choice back 3 are fit. Adds a solidity and nous Anscombe obviously does not have at 15 - not tested at all there today by Ireland but he will be by better teams. Even Scotland managed to exploit him a few timers with kicks through. Anscombe kicked well today but he doesn't have the % Biggar and Halfpenny have. Clearly being given the opportunity to establish himself as first choice goalkicker, which is good as he's first choice 10, but Halfpenny will always have a place.

We got away with it today, but it showed with North off we could’ve done with 1/2P on the bench.

Also, hope Parkes doesn’t look too slow in other games

SecretFly wrote:Ireland are all over the place.  England - nope.

So they didn't get a Slam, were beaten by Wales and damn near lost the wild game against Scotland.... that's not being all over the place just Jones still trying to work out how to do things with perhaps a little less frenetic pace so that the team play a full 80 of high but not epic intensity and drive.  They don't need the energy levels they're using but have wanted to make the big statements.  Facts and figures and GPS and all that jazz will be done now and Jones will be able to work on a little bit smarter game of energy usage.

Ireland are all over the place visually but still I'm not looking at a team in panic or a coach trying to avoid the future that might now look bleak.  He says the team will be ready to compete in Japan and I believe him.  Even technically anybody can see that Ireland have not been engaging in full fights.

No need for panic, but it is concerning. Fact is far too much is being read from the AI efforts. Here youre in season against those at the same levels, have their own crowds and know your game.

AIs roll around and it really is getting tough for SH sides to peak after a long year, especially when players have left in droves. We dont have hundreds of fillins as your clubsides do, so our players play them all, often too soon. Rules simple, dont rate your team on the AIs. June series are far more indicative, because they stretch you more, and for this year, are nearer to the same timeslot. Your players arent at peak either, so theres the dilemma.

Here we have Ireland ‘touted’ as the best team of 2019 even though their overall results were not flash, particularly away.

Another tough campaign where they fell apart at the last hurdle completely, reminiscent of the 2015 where they werent in it after thirty minutes. Here they are again.

So no, no panic, but Schmidt will be very concerned about how he preps and works out the next six months to get them to pre december form, but in saying that, the SH teams will be much stronger than last November.