Stringer wary of backlash

THE Irish camp should have penned a Thank You card to the entire Welsh squad. Two weeks ago it would have been impossible to imagine a scenario for this game where all the heat would be on Wales and not Ireland.

Mike Ruddock’s team had just beaten Scotland comfortably and a hospital ward of injuries meant they could travel to Dublin safe in the knowledge that defeat would not be a national disaster. Ireland, after two highly-unsatisfactory performances, would be the ones sweating under the spotlight.

That was before the Principality descended into anarchy and civil war with Ruddock’s departure, and, now the Welsh players need a performance that will keep the wolves from their door.

Peter Stringer takes the point but argues that Wales’ very own Saipan could have the same effect it did with the Irish soccer team when they pitched-up on Japanese soil for the World Cup two years ago.

“Sometimes a bit of turmoil can gel the squad together and make a team even stronger,” points out the Munster scrum-half. “When a team goes out onto a pitch it’s basically 15 guys, nothing else matters. They’re playing for their livelihood, as we are, and anything outside of that is irrelevant.

“We’re expecting as difficult a game as we’ve ever had against Wales, despite everything that’s going on in the background. All that won’t come into it when we take the field at three o’clock.”

When Ireland’s ambition of capturing a Grand Slam was thwarted last year, considered opinion had it that it was an ageing team’s last shot at the big time. The limp performances against New Zealand and Australia last November seemed to seal the case for the prosecution.

Add in the Italian and French games and the realisation dawns that Ireland haven’t had a satisfactory day at the office since this time 12 months ago. Not that Stringer agrees with the need to get the broom out for a touch of spring cleaning.

“There are quite a number of experienced guys (in the squad) but, in the last couple of years, we’ve developed a good squad of 30-35 players where, if there’s a guy injured or down with illness, then someone can step in.

“Before maybe we wouldn’t have had that strength in depth. There’s younger guys coming through who are playing at European Cup level, so it’s not so much of step up as it might have been before.”

From his position at the base of the scrum, Stringer will get a bird’s eye view of one of the key Welsh players: Dwayne Peel.

“I have great respect for Dwayne. He was first choice for the Lions and played very well out there. I’ve played against him a number of times, he’s a very lively guy and one of their key players. You’ve got to keep an eye on him.

“Wales’ type of game is an expansive one, they like to keep it going and he’s a guy who does that with things like quick tap penalties. You have to be on your guard. ”

Stringer himself is a busy number nine himself: “There’s a lot of demand on the fellas around you as well when they’re sprinting 50-60 yards to get to a ruck. You’re looking for communication from the guys around you to analyse where the space is. It’s when it’s slowed down and the defence is aligned that it becomes more difficult to work the right option and generate fast ball in order to get in behind the defence.”