Irish eyes: smiling or tears?

[normanski]

Well that’s it, the Irish put on such a magnificent display this afternoon it’s probably not worth turning up next week!

The men in green really turned on the style, especially in the second half, which, by the way, they narrowly lost 14 - 7.

I know the game was won by then, the bonus point secured and they’d made a full raft of changes but you would have thought they would have kicked on and really put France to the sword.

But they looked tired, were over inventive and kept making mistakes despite the useful help of a ‘homer’ SH ref.

How they lost that fifth scrum on the French five metre line is beyond belief. The French were a forward down at that point.

Ireland will come to Cardiff buoyed up by this result but have they flattered to deceive?

We’ll know this time next week. Bring it on.

[Sandydragon]

I’m expecting to read in many occasions how we struggle yesterday whilst Ireland got a BP win. Fair play you playnwhats in front of you, but France were comedic in places today. Scotland fought hard for a win.

The beauty of the six nations is that each game is a cup final. It’s good to have momentum but each game can throw a surprise and I don’t think there is much between the top three teams. I think we can win next weekend, but Ireland have no fears in Cardiff so anything is possible.

[Sourdust]

Both Wales and Ireland got what they wanted; a win, but with a sobering dampening of expectations. In Wales' case, it was all that was on offer. Ireland simply stopped playing when the job was done. Both will now be trying to get writtener-off than the other.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Both Wales and Ireland got what they wanted; a win, but with a sobering dampening of expectations. In Wales' case, it was all that was on offer. Ireland simply stopped playing when the job was done. Both will now be trying to get writtener-off than the other.

This. One could either choose to take the positives that Ireland controlled the game almost entirely until the bonus point was scored or say that given the dominance they should have scored more and that they shouldn't have switched off at the end. You could either say that Wales did well to escape a potential banana skin, or that Scotland's misfiring attack should have seen Wales much further ahead. None of it of course makes a blind bit of difference. Next week is a new game against new opposition with different pressures.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Thrashing France doesn't tell you too much about how the Wales match will go. Ask England.

Wales v Ireland is very hard to call. With home advantage and the GS run I narrowly favour Wales.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Thrashing France doesn't tell you too much about how the Wales match will go. Ask England.

Wales v Ireland is very hard to call. With home advantage and the GS run I narrowly favour Wales.

Nor does squeaking home against France tell you that someone's awful. Wales definitely favourites. All results possible.

[Puja]

Interesting fact of the day - any Welsh victory will see you overtake Ireland to go 2nd in the world for the first time.

Puja

[SerjeantWildgoose]

What all of you have failed to acknowledge is the overriding significance of one plain and simple fact. Warren Gatland sells drugs to baby dolphins.

Ireland to win and Scotland by 3.

[Sandydragon]

What all of you have failed to acknowledge is the overriding significance of one plain and simple fact. Warren Gatland sells drugs to baby dolphins.

Ireland to win and Scotland by 3.

Have you been buying some by any chance?

[Son of Mathonwy]

Interesting fact of the day - any Welsh victory will see you overtake Ireland to go 2nd in the world for the first time.

Puja

True but hope no one is wasting a second thinking about this unless it comes to pass.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

What all of you have failed to acknowledge is the overriding significance of one plain and simple fact. Warren Gatland sells drugs to baby dolphins.

Ireland to win and Scotland by 3.

Have you been buying some by any chance?

I am intoxicated with the opiate of optimism!

[normanski]

What all of you have failed to acknowledge is the overriding significance of one plain and simple fact. Warren Gatland sells drugs to baby dolphins.

Ireland to win and Scotland by 3.

Have you been buying some by any chance?

I am intoxicated with the opiate of optimism!

Is that bottled or is it in tablet form and available at Boots?

[morepork]

Optimism is the opiate of your missus.

[normanski]

Optimism is the opiate of your missus.

If we can scrape a win on Saturday then it will be a case of omni-pissed across the country.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Unchanged team for Ireland:
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).

[Son of Mathonwy]

Can't say it's not a strong team, but I would have started Halfpenny instead of North. Hope Sanjay lasts the match.. and Anscombe's boot doesn't let him down.

[normanski]

Can't say it's not a strong team, but I would have started Halfpenny instead of North. Hope Sanjay lasts the match.. and Anscombe's boot doesn't let him down.

Perhaps Liam’s stinger was not as bad as feared and Gatland was playing a gentle mind game with Schmidt.

Like you I hope he can last the whole game because Anscombe at full back doesn’t fill me with the greatest confidence.

[Numbers]

Can't say it's not a strong team, but I would have started Halfpenny instead of North. Hope Sanjay lasts the match.. and Anscombe's boot doesn't let him down.

Perhaps Liam’s stinger was not as bad as feared and Gatland was playing a gentle mind game with Schmidt.

Like you I hope he can last the whole game because Anscombe at full back doesn’t fill me with the greatest confidence.

Aye, I'd rather Biggar play there if necessary.

[Graigwen]

I am a bit surprised not to see Halfpenny included myself.

.

[Spiffy]

Ireland has Rob "No Tackle" Kearney back in the team at FB. Wales just have to get their big backs running hard at him and it's in the bag.

[Sandydragon]

Can't say it's not a strong team, but I would have started Halfpenny instead of North. Hope Sanjay lasts the match.. and Anscombe's boot doesn't let him down.

Amen

[normanski]

Ireland has Rob "No Tackle" Kearney back in the team at FB. Wales just have to get their big backs running hard at him and it's in the bag.

I hope you’re right.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Two years ago we beat them 22-9 in Cardiff.

Man of the match? Rhys Webb

[mcshinnertheligind]

Was in Cardiff in 05. Loved every minute. Anyone with a ticket ENJOY!!

[normanski]

Apparently Schmidt asked for the roof to be open yesterday afternoon. Thank goodness we did our wet weather training in Paris!