Andrew Trimble’s healthy helping of fear

Eight minutes gone last week and Ireland’s line looks ripe for a crossing.

The danger is apparent as soon as the ball is whipped away from the base of a ruck on the right side of Ireland’s 22. By the time Luke Charteris ships it off to Alun Wyn-Jones the question isn’t so much whether Wales will claim five points but seven.

Jones has Tom James to his outside, the wing in an acre of space, and only Andrew Trimble stands between them. The Ulsterman doesn’t hesitate. He shoots forward and connects high with Jones just as the second row is in the simultaneous act of catching and passing it on.