EVEN WELSH MEDIA outlets have been forthright in the conviction that Warren Gatland’s side were well and truly outplayed on Saturday.

Writing for Wales online, Delme Parfitt believes that Gatland will never again have to worry about dropping a national icon for the Lions because he won’t be coaching them anytime soon.

“Not only will O’Driscoll retire at the end of the season but, on current evidence, Gatland won’t get the chance to put any other iconic nose out of joint in 2017.

“Because he won’t be in charge of the Lions in New Zealand. Joe Schmidt will.”

The publication was consequently glowing in its praise of the Ireland manager, claiming that Schmidt “in the seven months or so that he has been in charge of Ireland appears to have made them more tactically malleable than they have been in the modern era”.

Meanwhile, speaking to BBC Sport, former Wales star Jonathan Davies says the team were “well beaten up front” and questioned the selection of Sam Warburton, explaining: “His last game was in November against the Australians. I don’t think you can do that.

“You have to play yourself back into form, especially at international level.”

The Daily Post was similarly scathing in its analysis of the Welsh team, with Rob Grifiths writing.

“For the second time in little more than 12 months Ireland wrecked Welsh hopes of a Grand Slam as they outfought, out-muscled and out-thought their opponents who lacked any creative flair.

“A year ago the defeat had a little gloss poured over it after Wales came back from 27 points down to at least finish close and give themselves confidence heading into the rest of the tournament.

“The same simply cannot be said of Saturday’s showing as Wales looked devoid of ideas, and are certainly lacking a Plan B when the power game of Plan A fails to fire.”

In addition, Ireland’s experienced centre pairing of Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy were given special praise for “putting in a mammoth shift to nullify the giant Welsh midfield”.

The Western Telegraph also highlighted Schmidt’s pivotal contribution, with reporter Iwan Gabe Davies adding:

“The hosts showed their heroic defeat to New Zealand in November under their new guru, who worked wonders at Leinster, wasn’t a one off, while Wales demonstrated their poor performance in the opening Six Nations win over Italy wasn’t just a blip.

“Ireland were an excellent well drilled unit, their pack outstanding while Wales’ forwards were a rabble, their play often shambolic. The home side’s forwards dominated huge chunks of the game with Wales having no Plan B to back up the tired and threadbare Plan A.”

However, the report was not without criticism for the hosts, as Davies quipped: “Wales were lucky Ireland were so conservative and had Conor Murray at scrum-half.”

Finally, the South Wales Evening Post highlighted the fantastic atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium and suggested that revenge was on the Irish team’s mind.

“The atmosphere was throbbing inside the Aviva Stadium, with every Irish success, whether it be under the high ball, at the breakdown, in the tackle, at the line-out or any other facet of play, cheered deliriously by a crowd who fully understood the sub-plot.

“Ten Welsh players had started in that third Test in Sydney, with just three Irishmen winning Gatland’s favour. There were howls of anguish from the other side of the world at the perceived slight.

“The Irish public may have been hospitable to Gatland, but they were still desperate to see a score settled, and settled it was.”

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