Ireland Player Ratings - versus Wales
The RugbyPass Index was spot on tipping Wales to seal the Grand Slam deal, its pre-game percentages suggesting the odds were tilted 67 to 33 in favour of the hosts.
In reality, the gap between the sides was even more of a chasm as Ireland nearly fell to their worst margin of defeat ever in the Joe Schmidt era.
That record had stood at -23, the gap when they lost in Cardiff to Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup, and but for Jordan Larmour’s 83rd minute try, there would have been new benchmark of a 25-point loss set back in the Welsh capital.
Even worse, they were nearly humiliatingly held scoreless for the first time since New Zealand kept them to zero when hammered in Hamilton in 2012 when Declan Kidney was still at the helm.
Not only did their ill-disciplined 7-25 defeat leave Wales succeeding them as Grand Slam champions, it also ensured that Warren Gatland’s championship record in charge of Wales finished better off than Ireland’s under Schmidt. The win allowed Gatland to sign off with a 72% success record, 36 wins in 50 Six Nations outings, compared to his Kiwi rival’s 70% for 21 wins in 30 spring matches.
(Continue reading below…)
Ireland had been a shadow of their 2018 selves throughout the 2019 championship, their poise shaken and stirred by England pouncing for that explosive try in the opening minutes of the opening game in Dublin.
They thought they had rediscovered some semblance of form with their victory last Sunday over struggling France. However, teams on a six-day turnaround in this championship more often lose their next match and this was the case here, Ireland never recovering from the concession of Hadleigh Parkes’ try just 69 seconds after the start.
The inability of the Irish pack to wield an influence made a mockery of Ireland’s insistence that the Principality Stadium roof remained open. The wet conditions threw them completely out of synch and they were second-best all through in the rain.
WAL 25-7 IRE
Wales have done it! Capturing the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam in Cardiff with their 14th win on the bounce.
Diweddglo chwedlonol i'r ymgyrch Chwe Gwlad?, wedi ei sefydlu ar waith caled a chyfeillgarwch.
??????? #HWFN #ForTheJersey pic.twitter.com/nA5XgpNLEz
— Welsh Rugby Union ??????? (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 16, 2019
The insipid manner of the loss will now generate fears that Schmidt has lost his vice-like grip on the squad as Ireland’s dip in performance has coinciding with the coach announcing at the end of 2018 he will be stepping down after this year’s World Cup in Japan.
He will pause for breath first, though, and will need to be forensic in his review of this abject performance where the accuracy and intent of far too many Ireland players left much to be desired. Here’s how RugbyPass rated their second-rate efforts…
15. ROB KEARNEY – 5
A last-minute cry-off last Sunday in Dublin, he endured a worrying start in Cardiff as he drifted to the right in the opening-minute penalty advantage play for Wales. The hole he left was exploited by Gareth Anscombe’s kick over the top for Parkes to score. Kearney arrived too late to get in a try-stopping hit. The defensive door did shut after that, but an irreversible pattern for the match was set.
14. KEITH EARLS – 6
Josh Adams should have been carded for illegally taking the legs from under him on a early chase. He made a tidy catch on 26 minutes as Wales rushed a clearance to keep Ireland on the attack in the spell ruined by CJ Stander’s quick-tap debacle. He also saved a try on 60 minutes with his chase back to tidy up a kick ahead at the expense of a five-metre scrum. Did his basics well unlike so many others.
13 GARRY RINGROSE – 4
The over-the-top Irish media love-fest with this guy in the wake of last Sunday’s win over France set him up for a major fall. The truth about his display six days ago was that he was defensively shy when it came to tackling and while he wasn’t found out in that sector here, there was no redeeming contributions elsewhere on this occasion. His best-forgotten display was summed up a late loss of possession near the Wales line.
Congratulations @WelshRugbyUnion on a fantastic performance and Grand Slam.
Thank you to all our supporters who are with us through the good days and the tough ones.
A very tough day today. #TeamOfUs #WALvIRE pic.twitter.com/vb6HdFoJJA
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 16, 2019
12. BUNDEE AKI – 4
Was shown up for being completely static and heavy-footed in failing to turn quickly enough to defend Anscombe’s chip over the top for the try. He coped much better with a second kick through, grasping the possession and shipping an illegal blow from Gareth Davies that left the referee reversing a penalty award. Could never rise above the collective average, though, and was left scrapping for scraps firmly in the shadow of the Parkes, the superior Kiwi midfielder.
11. JACOB STOCKDALE – 5
Was tackled into touch on taking the kick-off and then beaten in the air near the end of the opening half by Dan Biggar when he should have gathered. He did take a brilliant catch from Johnny Sexton’s seventh minute cross-kick penalty and while he eluded Davies, Parkes’ flying tackle floored him and dislodged the ball. Featured little in the second half.
10. JOHNNY SEXTON – 4
Was back to looking a pale shadow of the influence who topped the charts all through 2018. Was penalised for sealing off after a Stockdale take led to a ruck. Then gave Anscombe his shot to make it 10-0. His petulant end to the first half, where he angrily threw the ball away after the Irish scrum coughed up another penalty, was followed by a terrible opening to the second half where he kicked balls out on the full and over the dead ball line. He then signed off with a silly mix-up on a switch play with Kearney. Needs a long look at himself in the mirror.
9. CONOR MURRAY – 4
Looked a troubled soul for the entire 70 minutes he was on the field, fuelling rumours that the neck injury he had at the start of the season really has impacted on his confidence and restricted the range of his usually world-class contribution. Two first-half incidents summed up his current negativity – a 30th minute knock-on when lineout ball squirmed loose and then a kick that went out on the full eight minutes later after Ireland brought the ball back inside their 22. He also lost control near the Wales try line on 57 minutes.
1. CIAN HEALY – 5
Struggled at the outset for precision in the wet. It was his knock-on that killed Ireland’s first visit to the Welsh 22 and while he redeemed himself quickly by forcing a Davies spill, he gave up an offside penalty on 10 minutes. Come the second-half, he was harshly penalised on 47 minutes for Wales to go 19-points clear and was pulled from the fray by the 59th minute.
Record-breaking 14 wins in a row and yet another Grand Slam for Warren Gatland in his final #GuinnessSixNations match #legendary pic.twitter.com/4LWRoTJy6D
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 16, 2019
2. RORY BEST – 4
Will look back on this outing with a heap of regrets. The Ireland skipper needed to get his team to start well and they didn’t. He had his own issues at the lineout in terms of accuracy and he will be chastened that his normally squeaky-clean side gave up eight penalties in the first-half. Looked like he is in need of a decent break to ensure he can peak for his World Cup farewell.
3. TADHG FURLONG – 5
One of those afternoons where his usual high level of influence disappeared amid the collective rot that was an Ireland pack that failed to fire a proper shot. There were scrum penalties that will cause annoyance, as will an offside that also cost points. He’s another player who played through the championship with the appearance of a top-class operator in need of a battery recharge.
4. TADHG BEIRNE – 5
His inclusion for a first Six Nations start had left the Welsh seriously worried due to his turnover ability at the breakdown, a skill he had honed during his stint at Scarlets. He gave his pack some great encouragement on 12 minutes when he pilfered ball at the ruck away from Ken Owens, but he didn’t have enough support on other occasions to successfully made a few more raids. His influence gradually waned and the loss of a ball when tackled on 59 minutes by Adam Beard was his last act.
5. JAMES RYAN – 6
Can’t be happy that his first occasion at calling the Irish lineout didn’t come off perfectly. However, the youngster offered so much in other facets that he became one of the rare few shining lights on a dim day in Cardiff. He was the guy in the Irish pack who made more metres than anyone else, a sign of his refusal to give up amid going that was the toughest he has experienced during his short professional career.
6. PETER O’MAHONY – 5
Looked to have potentially made a big early impact when his arrival at a Stockdale ruck resulted in the injury that ended George North’s match. However, that was about as influential as his influence got on a day where the Irish back row just didn’t have the sufficient fight within them to withstand the winning Welsh momentum.
7. SEAN O’BRIEN – 3
Axed after anonymous effort in Rome, Josh van der Flier’s French injury opened the door for him to take on a Gatland-coached side for the first time since his incendiary Lions training comments. However, he was painfully gone from the scene as early as the 52nd minute to be replaced by Jack Conan. He cut an anonymous figure, his sluggishness apparent from the opening act as he couldn’t sprint up quick enough to cut down Anscombe’s angle for the try-creating kick. His best days look a long, long way away.
8. CJ STANDER – 4
A machine six days earlier, the Welsh saw him coming all day long in the Cardiff wet. There were some glaring errors. There was the terrible mistake on 28 minutes of making a mess of a quickly tapped free. He then soon failed to grasp ball at the front of the lineout, and was also to blame for the 53rd minute penalty that allowed the Welsh to go 22 points clear. Physically, he didn’t have the necessary penetration.
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
69 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments