When the big kid in the school playground takes on a smaller adversary there only ever tends to be one winner, although that doesn’t mean their nose can’t be bloodied. That is exactly what happened at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Friday night.
Ireland’s physical dominance eventually won the day, but Steve Tandy’s Wales pushed them all the way with a performance full of passion, vigour and no-little physicality that brought some much-needed hope to their troubled game. Andy Farrell’s hosts stayed in the hunt for the Six Nations title with victory and they will hope Scotland can do them a favour by beating Grand Slam-chasing France on Saturday. It will be Wales, however, that will take more from this.
Their wait for a first Championship win since 2023 extended into 1,092 days, though they played their hearts out against all the odds. For 80 minutes those in white put their bodies on the line, punching Ireland metaphorically between the eyes time after time. It was oh so nearly enough for a victory that given where Wales have been for the past two years, would have represented one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history.
In the end, Jamie Osborne’s late effort ensured Ireland went home with a bonus-point success though they were pushed all the way and the nature of the final scoreline flattered them. Welsh tries came via a spectacular Rhys Carre effort and James Botham and the improving nature of their last two performances should give them hope they can beat Italy at home on the final weekend and avoid the dreaded wooden spoon for a third straight year.
Wales had been urged into battle by some rasping words from their assistant coach Dan Lydiate, the former flanker who had been part of some glittering past sides.
Now helping out a team in a very different place, Lydiate has his hands full. But his message certainly seemed to hit home. You couldn’t doubt the away side’s commitment. Physically inferior on paper, they were immediately behind when after hulking Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey made two monstrous carries, Jacob Stockdale drove through a weak Dan Edwards tackle. Jack Conan then had an Irish second ruled out for a knock on.
But Wales responded well, fighting fire with fire at the breakdown and in defence impressively.
Louis Rees-Zammit kicked a 50:22 and Edwards a simple penalty. Led by the likes of Alex Mann, captain Dewi Lake and Aaron Wainwright, Wales went toe-to-toe.
Both Lake and Mann worked breakdown miracles to frustrate those in green. It could have been even better for Wales too.
Twice they turned down kickable penalties to go for the try, but prop Carre was held up over the line. The intensity of the game was huge.
Ireland showed Wales how to turn pressure into points at the other end when Jack Crowley darted into space to finish. But before the break, Wales gave themselves hope.
It was due reward for their performance. Carre barnstormed forward, but the tackle attempt on him from Ireland wing Rob Baloucoune was beyond pathetic.
Carre looked shocked as he rampaged into space and finished for his third try in as many games. His long-range try was a rare front-row collector’s item and will be one he’ll surely remember for a long time. Edwards’ conversion meant Wales only trailed by two at the break, the interval scoreline – in truth – a shock to both teams.
Wales made an extraordinary total of 157 first-half tackles, with Mann and Lake responsible for 20 and 18 each respectively. They couldn’t stop Conan from barging over at the start of the second half, but the score came from a penalty Wales were unfortunate to concede.
Referee Karl Dickson judged the visitors to have stopped Ireland from playing a quick line-out, but Crowley essentially threw the ball straight at Mann. He successfully milked the decision and Ireland struck through Conan, Crowley adding the kick.
Dickson checked the score for a knock-on, but this time deemed it good. Such had been the superhuman level of effort Wales had put in that Tandy used his bench early.
Carre, Wainwright and Lake were off before the hour mark. Ireland were always just far enough in front to hold Wales at bay.
But they were far from at their best, their performance nowhere near the level that saw them dispatch England.
Carre’s replacement Nicky Smith destroyed Tadhg Furlong at the scrum twice in quick succession. Farrell sensed trouble, immediately hooking Furlong and bringing on Lions forwards Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier from the bench to try and quell Wales’ spirit.
It didn’t work. Those in white didn’t stop coming, Mann producing a coming-of-age performance. His fellow flanker Botham scored next to the posts and Edwards once again made it a two-point game. On his 50th cap, Ireland No 9 Jamison Gibson-Park should have put the game to bed, Osborne bailing out the scrum-half’s wastefulness. Gibson-Park should have passed inside to Tom Stewart, but he did at least ensure his opposite number Tomos Williams was yellow carded leaving Ireland with a numerical advantage.
The fact Crowley took a late penalty to see Ireland home reflected the fact he knew his team had been in a game. They went home bloodied but victorious. Wales, meanwhile, were beaten but brave with a final tackle count of 240. Maybe all is not lost for them after all.
