RBS 6N: Big Welsh tackle stops Ireland!

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Ireland lost out on any chance of collecting a Grand Slam this season following a 23 – 16 defeat to Wales in the Millennium Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Having praised Joe Schmidt last week, following the win against England, I have to say that the Irish coach was found wanting this week as his team and tactics were ruthlessly exposed following a clinical performance from the Welsh.

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Of course it didn’t help Schmidt that two of his star performers had their worst games this series with Rory Best having a nightmare in the line out and Johnny Sexton spending much of the game half a step behind play. Best was pulled reasonably early but Schmidt bottled it with the talismanic Sexton.

It didn’t take long for Ireland to realise that they were in a game as Wales smashed their way to a 12 – 0 lead, in the first thirteen minutes, through four Leigh Halfpenny penalties. Despite being thoroughly worked over in the opening exchanges Ireland responded with three penalties of their own but really should have . . .

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