Ireland v Wales: With all systems, you still need a spark

If the adage that you learn more in defeat holds true on this occasion then this reversal could well serve Ireland’s World Cup cause better in the long run.

Coming into this game the one fear I had — expecting Wales would reserve their best for us — was that if Ireland had to chase the game in the closing stages, did they have the ability to conjure up a match-winning try. We know the answer to that one now.

Wales had their homework done and Warren Gatland did a number on us once again. A few years ago Wales hated Ireland more than any other opposition whereas this time out they saw us as their brothers, kindred spirits from the Celtic nations. Come on Gatty, you can’t have it both ways.