They expected a scrap and that is exactly what they got.
Two of the Welsh players that battled to a 16-16 draw with Ireland, on Sunday, were genuinely non-plussed at the negativity hovering over the Six Nations champions.
Ireland may have been riddled with injuries but they were at home, could select a matchday 23 with over 700 Test caps, had CJ Stander primed for his debut and Joe Schmidt as their coach. Winning in Dublin would be no cake-walk.
So it proved and Welsh captain Sam Warburton wore a ‘told you so’ expression at the post-match briefing. Warburton says he never for one moment believed the nay-saying emanating from the Irish media or Schmidt’s claims that a mid-table finish would be a positive for his side.
Sam Warburton: "No Welsh player would ever dare underestimate Ireland."
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) February 7, 2016
Warburton praised Stander’s debut, mentioning the Munster flankers strong carries, and insisted his team are still in with a great chance of winning the championship. “In 2013, we won the title after losing our first game… Three of our next four games are at home,” he reminded us.
Welsh centre Jamie Roberts had an outstanding game yet praised the Irish defence for holding out just about everything that was thrown their way. He said:
“Ireland have, in fairness, come out of the blocks quicker than us, they played far better than us in the opening 20. We’ve done very well to come back into it.
“And on 76 minutes, we’ve got the game won. We’ve exited poorly and ultimately that has gifted them three points. If that ball ends up in the Irish 22, it’s game over. So that’s disappointing.
“I suppose you look at big moments in games and we will look back at that and kick ourselves really that we didn’t go on to win that game. But you have to credit ireland, they attacked well and defended with width, they held their line well and we chucked an awful lot at them.
“And vice versa, we defended magnificently at times, they never cut us open though. It was a good Test match.”
Roberts was stoic when asked about the late drop goal attempt by Rhys Priestland that veered wide of the posts in the final minutes.
“Our job is to try to put us on the front foot and then that is a job for the half-backs. I if it sails over, it’s a great drop-goal. That’s how ruthless it can be.
“He has had a pop. I’ve played in games when tens have been afraid to have a pop so fair play to him for having a go.”
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