Wales remain upbeat as threat of wooden spoon looms

WALES will find themselves one defeat away from the wooden spoon if they lose to RBS 6 Nations Championship opponents Ireland on Saturday, but scrum-half Gareth Cooper yesterday insisted: “Our mood is still upbeat.”

Successive losses against Italy, England and Scotland have left Wales hurtling towards a first championship whitewash since 1995.

The form book suggests that Cooper and company will struggle to avoid losing all five games. Unbeaten Ireland are chasing their first Grand Slam since 1948, and have not lost in Cardiff for 20 years.