I hate to say I told you so, but, I did say Wales would have to knock Sexton off his game if they had any chance of winning yesterday. They didn't do this and allowed Sexton to one of his greatest performances in an Ireland jersey. I am not trying to be clever be starting the post-mortem in this way, because Gatland would have known, the players would have known; keep the half-backs quiet. They were not kept quiet Connor Murray and Johnny Sexton had outstanding games.
There were two very different coaching styles pre-game, one nobody knew about, the other everyone in the Aviva could have picked. Gatland's style of 'Warren-ball' is predictable, but difficult to stop. So the gauntlet was laid down, can Ireland stop the Welsh machine? Emphatically, yes. Joe Schmidt has only been in the Ireland job a few months but there doesn't seem to be an out and out game plan and instead he is playing the right game to beat individual teams. Although yesterday was dull, gain the ball, kick up-field, allow Wales to make a mistake, kick up-field. (Repeat to 80 minutes) Although it was dull, it did work outstandingly well, Schmidt certainly had the measure of Gatland.
This tactic was obvious even 20 minutes into the game but Wales had no plan B and could not gain any field position. The pin point accuracy of Johnny Sexton just put the Welsh deeper and deeper in their own half.
It does beg the question what is the bench there for? Wales' 'Warren-ball' works against most teams in Europe; we have seen that over the last two years. However, when it doesn't work it is disastrous and puts Wales on the back foot. If Wales do not have scrum dominance then they simply struggle to get into games, we saw this yesterday.
So on the bench we need a completely knew game plan, this does ask a lot of eight players but its possible. Justin Tipuric didn't come on until 71 minutes yesterday, had he come on earlier he could have changed the pattern of the game. James Hook is a player who will change the pattern of any game, he was not even taken off the bench. Liam Williams did come off the bench early and was average throughout, like much of the Welsh team. Liam Williams is solid under the high ball and in defence but in attack he does not provide any X-factor. That is what Wales needed yesterday a spark something to give momentum, but that spark never came.
Gatland should have game changers on the bench, players who can open up a defence. These players may not be the best in defence themselves but the time for defending has often passed when 'Warren-ball' fails. Yesterday it was certainly time for throwing caution to the wind. Tipuric should have been on far earlier as Lydiate was having a poor game in the first half. Hook should also have been on when Priestland looked out of his depth against Sexton's virtuoso display.
As for Liam Williams I would take him out of the squad and bring in a player that can unlock a defence. Not yet proven in defence and he may not be completely ready but in attack he can do amazing things. Jordan Williams of the Scarlets has to get a squad position, when the game plan fails he is a game changer ready to come off the bench.
No comments:
Post a Comment