THE SCOREBOARD ALONE is a shocking read, Ireland suffering a rare defeat to Wales at U20 level, going down 20-12 at Rodney Parade. The surprise only builds the more you dig into the fine print.
Ireland had 63% possession and 74% territory. They gained over 450 metres in attack to Wales’s 154, forcing seven line breaks compared to the Welsh figure of two. As much as the wet conditions forced countless Irish errors, this game was there to be won.
Ireland head coach Neil Doak focused on the above positives, rather than the blunt nature of his side’s attack once they earned advantageous territorial positions. “We had plenty of opportunities tonight, that’s the frustration,” acknowledged Doak.
“We arrived at the ground and the pitch was under a fair bit of water, we knew it was going to be a difficult evening to play any fluid rugby. Wales put us under enough pressure that they got two scores. 14-0 in those conditions, you’re always chasing the game a little bit.
“Credit to our guys to get back in at half-time 14-12. You look at the game as a whole, we had 16 entries into their 22, we had two [tries]. Ultimately in rugby you’ve got to score points.”
Unsurprisingly, Doak laments Charlie Molony’s disallowed try – chalked off for a knock-on – as well as a number of carriers being held up over the line. “Listen, a couple of things might go our way, maybe Charlie’s disallowed try early on, on another night the TMO might think there’s no separation between the ball and his arm and it’s a score.
“We’re held up over the line three times. Little things in difficult conditions. It’s just unfortunate for our guys tonight.”
Given the difficulty of handling the wet ball, Ireland’s halfbacks overplayed in the first half when forced to chase the game after a penalty try only three minutes. This didn’t help the error count. Wales added their second try thanks to a dropped ball which was kicked through.
The set-piece was also a concern, given Wales had the upper hand at the maul and scrum. Ireland missing a number of bigger bodies doesn’t help. They could have done with the likes of Alex Usanov and Alan Spicer.
“We’ll have a look at that,” said Doak of the set-piece. “A couple of things that we felt went against us that we feel we didn’t deserve but those are the things on the night. It was a huge effort on both sides in difficult conditions.”
Yet for all the talk of positives, Ireland’s attack looked incapable of turning meaningful territory into try-scoring chances when the game was on the line. Mikey Yarr came closest when held up over the line but even that came from a botched Wales lineout. That’s twice in two games this side has struggled for an attacking edge.
“It’s not that we’re playing in the wrong end of the field, it’s just that we’re not accurate in there,” said Doak. “That was the frustration this evening. Fair credit to Wales, they put us under pressure and got into the lead, got their noses in front and we weren’t capable of getting ourselves in front and forcing them to chase the game.”
Sure pogba showed his leadership by slotting two penalties.west ham were the way better team and Anderson or rice was the deserving man of the match
@Ings on Fire: and yet the 3 points stay in Manchester! All about results this time of year
@Brian Dunne: tell me when there in the semi finals of Champions legue
@Ings on Fire: ings your having your cake and eating it here. Utd aint good enough at the top level. Only one team will win the league and c league and fair chance barce could win both.
@Derek Trotter: Derek u may be right but I think myself liverpool will do the double
@Ings on Fire: or city or juve …
@Derek Trotter: myself now I think this weekend will say a lot about Liverpool and city and I would fancy Ajax to beat juve
@Ings on Fire: defo big day tommo two sticky fixtures for top two. Loved watching ajax and hope they beat juve, just fancy juve with the players they have. Very experienced in these games plus ronaldo
@Derek Trotter: I think Liverpool will pull through tomorrow and so will city it’s the game where city play United will define the season
@Ings on Fire: yet again your having your cake, ya dont rate united but ya think they can do city. Cant see utd beating them, dont have the leaders !
@Derek Trotter: United are a team which can loose to mediocre teams and show up on the big stage
@Ings on Fire: might beat barce so !!!!!
@Derek Trotter: i think Messi will come out straight away in the second leg a fairness to smalling he didn’t do to bad
@Ings on Fire: your going soft now! Lfc v barce juve v city, 4 best teams in europe tbf. Im going juve to win it
@Derek Trotter: no Barca will beat United but Liverpool can rip teams apart and I would expect them to beat juve in the final
@Ings on Fire: the fact lfc have yet to win anything as a team is my only reason to doubt them. Great team love watching them but lack of trophies why i back the others
@Derek Trotter: I respect your opinion Derek but I think this liverpool team is different from last year or any other year or weakness was or backline now we’ve the best defender in the world in van dijk and a keeper who has kept the most clean sheets on the premier league or front three are world class and we have depth in midfield
@Ings on Fire: if lfc win either pl or cl this year they could go on to dominate but its in with the big boys now. Van dyke,Taa, allison and robertson absolute world class. So are ronaldo, augero, messi and suarez thats why its squeeky bum time. Your midfield aint quite at it compared to the other teams, sorry.
@Derek Trotter: the best is still to come from Keita scores in last two games Fabinho is up there with the best defensive midfielders and oxlade chamberlain to come back who was exceptional last season wijnaldum is steady in midfield and Millners experience
@Ings on Fire: all good pros no doubt about it. Dont think the ox will be back this season, you would hope the best is to come from kieta. Tbf ya cant question your back 4 or top 3 but nobody world class in that midfield.
@Ings on Fire: stop smoking what your shoveling , not doubt about van dyke , but take him out and your keeper would be heavily exposed
@David Weston: I agree
@David Weston: that’s how teams work, mug. Kind of like taking De Gea out of United and exposing the other 10
@John Strahan: thanks John
@Derek Trotter: beside city away, not many have out played that lfc midfield!
@Ings on Fire: @Derek Trotter
Good discussion there boys. I enjoyed reading that. Fair play.
@Nollaig Elliot: A shambles of a conversation
@Alonso:
Why so horse?
@Nollaig Elliot: I had to intervene last night as I suspected it was just the one lad having a conversation with himself
The Jammy United are back!
Yep…Defo winning the league next year…