It’s hard to be too critical because the first half of Ireland and Wales was downright ridiculous.
The hits were monstrous, the running was relentless, the atmosphere inside the closed-roof stadium was electric.
So when Paddy Jackson was asked out of nowhere to jump in for Johnny Sexton very early on as the first choice fly half went for a HIA, the Ulster man was sent into the furnace with cold legs.
And, in the first passage of play that Jackson was on the field for, it just so happened that the Welsh had a head of steam up and they very cleverly targeted the man who was new to the game.
F*** me. Jackson is just on the pitch and they run Scott Williams at him. No bloody tackle and we are 5-3 down
— Pat McCarry (@patmccarry) March 10, 2017
Rhyss Webb’s and Scott Williams’ one-two exchange was pivotal in the breakaway that launched the hosts’ 50 metre try but it all started because Paddy Jackson broke the line and got sucked into the ball.
He jumped ahead of the rest of them.
And made it easy for Webb to pass around and, in doing so, Williams broke the line and returned the ball to his scrum half and Wales were away.
Jackson recovered and regained his typical composure, kicking the penalty that kept Ireland in the tie before Sexton returned to the field of the play.
But the try could’ve been avoided at the source.
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