Victory is a state of mind for best teams in the world

WAS it the familiarity of Wales that caught Ireland off guard on Saturday?

Sometimes, knowing your opponent well makes it more difficult to focus on what you need to do to win and you revert to ways of stopping their game plan as you perceive it.

Wales have been the most organised side at this Rugby World Cup to date and in the quarter-final the team played at a level that was well above the standard Ireland was used to. The Welsh matched a strong attacking game with an even stronger defence and it was on that rock that Ireland foundered. Ireland dominated for long periods in the game but failed to take, or even create, chances.