Welsh strength in depth wins out

THE names don’t yet roll off the tongue like the legendary team of 1978, but that could happen yet.

The last Welsh grand-slammers grew old together, but on Saturday, in an electric atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium, this young Welsh side grew up together to find the Holy Grail of Six Nations rugby.

With the sides locked together at three points each, Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll surged into a tackle and ripped the ball away from Welsh centre Tom Shanklin. The Irish crowd roared their approval as Peter Stringer passed to Ronan O'Gara, then the unthinkable happened. O'Gara's delayed clearance was blocked down by Gethin Jenkins and the prop forward surged in for a try that Stephen Jones converted.

Earlier, O'Gara had kicked Ireland into the lead before Gavin Henson struck for a drop goal. With seven points to spare, Wales knew they had a chance. It got better when Henson kicked a massive penalty from inside his own half and Jones tacked on another. After 30 minutes Ireland were fighting for survival and Wales were on course at 16-6.

Seven minutes from the break came the best move of the match, when O'Driscoll, Denis Hickie and Geordan Murphy combined to send Girvan Dempsey away. Unfortunately, Dempsey's lack of pace meant he was scythed down a couple of feet short of the line.

It hardly mattered that O'Gara narrowed the gap with a subsequent penalty, because two penalties from Jones put Wales in control after the break.

It got worse for Ireland in two minutes midway through the half. Anthony Foley's and Ireland's day was summed up when he dived over in the corner but only after the tip of his boot grazed the white line: no try.

Then Shanklin drove through the Irish midfield defence and found Kevin Morgan scampering up on his left to score. Jones converted and pushed the Welsh lead out to 29-6.

At last Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan recognised the necessity to introduce fresh legs and fresh minds. He had already introduced David Humphreys for O'Gara when Marcus Horan and Eric Miller came on, followed by Frankie Sheahan and Donncha O'Callaghan.

The impact was fairly immediate. Horan grabbed a 65th minute try that Humphreys converted and while Jones tacked on a penalty, Ireland enjoyed the better of that closing quarter.

It might be seen as too little too late but at least it gave the Irish fans something to cheer about and the Welsh something to sweat over.

Murphy snatched another try in the 72nd minute after Humphreys' clever cross-kick was batted down by Hickie and Humphreys converted.

But if Wales found themselves struggling somewhat, they weren't exactly hanging on. Ireland threw everything possible at them in those closing minutes and Wales proved that they're not just the fancy attacking team that Ireland threatened to expose in the build-up to the game. They can defend a bit as well.

As Ireland troop wearily home to leave the Welsh to party, Eddie O'Sullivan and his team were left to reflect on a season that went all wrong inside seven days.

With six wins, including a big one over South Africa, from eight matches, the success rate compares very favourably with teams of the past and the fact that the team had everything to play for right down to the last day of the season speaks volumes.

But progress is relative in relation to other countries. When stars like Gordon D'Arcy and Shane Horgan were taken out of the equation Ireland had no strength in depth. Wales had a plethora of injuries and lost their captain earlier in the campaign. They survived without them, survived by placing their faith in young talent with a belief in their own ability. What a pity Ireland don't look to have that same strength in depth and, if they do, that younger, fresher, hungrier players like Horan, O'Callaghan or Tommy Bowe weren't used as often as they might have been.

Nobody could deny that Wales played the most exciting rugby of the championship with a mixture of silken skills and true grit when it was required. They are worthy of the prize.

WALES: K Morgan (Ospreys), M Taylor (Llanelli), T Shanklin (Cardiff), G Henson (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys), S Jones (Clermont), D Peel (Llanelli), G Jenkins (Cardiff), M Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Ospreys), B Cockbain (Ospreys), R Sidoli (Cardiff), R Jones (Ospreys), M Owen (Dragons) captain; M Williams (Cardiff).

Replacements: R McBryde (Llanelli) for Davies (66), J Yapp (Cardiff) for Jones (67).

IRELAND: G Murphy (Leicester), G Dempsey (Leinster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster) captain; K Maggs (Ulster), R O'Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster), R Corrigan (Leinster), S Byrne (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli), A Foley (Munster), J O'Connor (Wasps).

Replacements. D Humphreys (Ulster) for O'Gara, M Horan (Munster) for Corrigan (56), E Miller (Leinster) for Foley (57), F Sheahan (Munster), D. O'Callaghan (Munster) for Byrne and O'Kelly (both 62).

REFEREE: C. White (England)