Ireland U20s v Wales U20s

:00:00. > :00:00.want to carry on watching the rest of the Olympic opening so and it you

:00:00. > :00:00.can do so on the red button but on BBC Two Wales now it is time for

:00:00. > :00:22.Scrum V Live. Wales completed the Italian job last

:00:23. > :00:30.weekend. Wins for the big guns in South Wales. Alex Cuthbert. And for

:00:31. > :00:44.the young guns in North Wales. But now, bigger challenges loom as

:00:45. > :00:51.Wales travel west across the Irish Sea.

:00:52. > :00:59.It is Wales under 20s versus Ireland under 20s, live from Athlone, right

:01:00. > :01:04.in the very centre of the Emerald Isle. Yes, we are in the heart of

:01:05. > :01:08.Ireland, about two hours by road from Dublin, three hours from Cork.

:01:09. > :01:13.There is not much read in the crowd. A few hardy souls have braved the

:01:14. > :01:17.rain. You would imagine the majority of the 2500 we are expecting will be

:01:18. > :01:23.cheering for the home side. There have been five changes, most of them

:01:24. > :01:27.injury forced, since the team that beat Italy last week. It has given

:01:28. > :01:31.him to test out the depth of his squad. Braving the rain, two hardy

:01:32. > :01:36.souls, Frankie Sheahan, the Munster and Ireland hooker and Martyn

:01:37. > :01:41.Williams, the Scrum V regular. The first time across the Irish Sea as a

:01:42. > :01:45.punter rather than a player. Why is it this trip is still one of the

:01:46. > :01:50.most anticipated, one of the most enjoyable of the six Nations? It is

:01:51. > :01:55.fantastic, a great city, Dublin. They love their rugby. There is huge

:01:56. > :02:01.anticipation of this game. It is nice when you are player, you don't

:02:02. > :02:05.take around the atmosphere, you focus on the game so it has been

:02:06. > :02:09.brilliant to get out and about in Dublin. Frankly, you have been

:02:10. > :02:14.gracious hosts and I am sure that will be the case whatever happens

:02:15. > :02:19.tonight and tomorrow. The Welsh the best tourists? Of course they are!

:02:20. > :02:22.They come in their numbers. Taxi drivers were saying they are great,

:02:23. > :02:25.they come in their numbers and they are great fun but I am a bit

:02:26. > :02:29.disappointed they didn't close the roof for this here because it is

:02:30. > :02:33.horrendous here and for those of you watching at home in Wales, the

:02:34. > :02:36.weather has been horrendous in this country for the last week. There has

:02:37. > :02:41.been flooding, rivers breaking their banks, the whole lot. It is a pity

:02:42. > :02:45.but it will test both teams to see how they can manage the conditions

:02:46. > :02:49.because it is horrendous out there. We will return to this theme as the

:02:50. > :02:54.programme progresses but it seems all the build-up to Ireland and

:02:55. > :02:59.Wales has centred around the suppose of grudge. Has been a niggle, but is

:03:00. > :03:02.it a grudge match really? It is the elephant in the room that nobody

:03:03. > :03:07.wants to talk about but I have good news, I am going to talk about it. I

:03:08. > :03:11.got my first cap under Warren Gatland and he is a great coach, a

:03:12. > :03:18.really good coach. His record speaks for itself. He does have that

:03:19. > :03:21.anger, he does that bitterness. We all need a bit of it to succeed but

:03:22. > :03:24.a lot of Irish people over here, some of them who would not have

:03:25. > :03:31.known us much about the game, were very nearly, they took it personally

:03:32. > :03:34.when Brian O'Driscoll got dropped. I thought I had Warren over here

:03:35. > :03:39.recently and the way he explained the reasons why, it made a lot of

:03:40. > :03:44.sense but people were very close to him. As much as Brian will say there

:03:45. > :03:47.is no grudge, he is a competitive sports person. He was disappointed

:03:48. > :03:52.not to play. Let's call a spade a spade. He would love nothing more

:03:53. > :03:57.than to turn around and say, hard look, Warren. Let's leave that until

:03:58. > :04:02.tomorrow. Let's talk about tonight's gates. We were up in

:04:03. > :04:05.Colwyn Bay for the first victory against the Italians and women in

:04:06. > :04:11.particular caught your attention. The whole back row caught my

:04:12. > :04:13.attention, James Benjamin was outstanding along with Scott

:04:14. > :04:19.Matthews, who unfortunately is injured. He played eight last week

:04:20. > :04:25.over James, but the preferred position seven. He turned his ball

:04:26. > :04:30.over for the world -- first Welsh try. He is dynamic, light on his

:04:31. > :04:36.feet, he got the Welsh team over the gain-line time and time again. He

:04:37. > :04:41.has great footwork, he is away. He was key last week. He did not get

:04:42. > :04:47.man of the match. We looking forward to big performance, and eight-man

:04:48. > :04:51.game tonight unfortunately with the weather the waiters. A really

:04:52. > :04:57.dynamic Welsh back row and the Irish back row have been talked about a

:04:58. > :05:03.lot. Have you got any future good players in the ranks? There is

:05:04. > :05:09.number eight, Jack O'Donoghue, who had a tremendous game last week,

:05:10. > :05:13.scored two tries. He is not captain but the open side is captain and

:05:14. > :05:16.that will be a great battle, seeing back row was because the breakdown

:05:17. > :05:23.on a day like today, the eight-man battle is going to be vigorously

:05:24. > :05:27.contested, so I think the number eight battle, I am looking forward

:05:28. > :05:31.to it. The battle of the back rows could be an want to keep an eye on,

:05:32. > :05:35.especially in these conditions. Off the pitch, posting -- up coaching

:05:36. > :05:44.perspective it is grand against Gwent because both coaches are from

:05:45. > :05:48.Blaenau. You are meant or two by Ron. Tell us

:05:49. > :05:52.about your connection to him? We are from the same village and we are

:05:53. > :05:57.playing the weather tonight by the looks of it and it should be a tough

:05:58. > :06:00.battle but he is a great young player when I was growing up. I used

:06:01. > :06:04.to watching training in the local park and I knew he was destined for

:06:05. > :06:09.great things and so it happened. You look back on a great career, he is

:06:10. > :06:15.doing fantastically well as a coach. How exciting is it to be pitting

:06:16. > :06:18.your wits against Mike tonight? Exciting but Swansea have a big

:06:19. > :06:24.challenge. If you look what Mike has done in the game compared to me, I

:06:25. > :06:28.am miniscule. It is a big challenge. An excellent win last week against

:06:29. > :06:34.Scotland so what can we expect against Ireland tonight? The rain

:06:35. > :06:38.does not look like it. So it will be forward orientated, a bit of an arm

:06:39. > :06:42.wrestle, both sides going at each other and kicking game to back it up

:06:43. > :06:46.so I am sure he has his boys briefed, it will be a tough night

:06:47. > :06:51.for us. You have made some changes as well? Yes, some been forced

:06:52. > :06:56.through injury and a couple of boys to look at in terms of preparations

:06:57. > :07:01.for the World Cup so it is important to give opportunities and they have

:07:02. > :07:04.won tonight. The best of luck for you both. These boys are hardy

:07:05. > :07:12.souls, they have both agreed to play with the roof open tonight.

:07:13. > :07:18.Frankie stole his blunder by cracking the same gag a few moments

:07:19. > :07:24.ago. I want to talk about styles of play because last week our analyst

:07:25. > :07:29.made the point the Wales under 20s play a very different style to what

:07:30. > :07:32.we expect from the senior side, pummelling the opposition into

:07:33. > :07:37.submission. Is it the same with the Ireland under 20s? Is there an

:07:38. > :07:41.overarching philosophy with the senior side? Not really. It is

:07:42. > :07:45.important. Each coach seems to have their individual influence on the

:07:46. > :07:49.match and it is very important and I am sure that you will agree, you can

:07:50. > :07:53.go through whether they are playing for Cardiff, Munster, Wales, the

:07:54. > :07:58.whole week playing a certain style and the next thing the weather is

:07:59. > :08:02.like this. All bets are off. That is the challenge, these are the future

:08:03. > :08:06.leaders for both sides. Are you going to call the ball to the tale

:08:07. > :08:10.of the line-out, will you start going wide early on? This is about

:08:11. > :08:14.being direct early on and in fairness to Mike Ruddock he has done

:08:15. > :08:21.a tremendous job with this side. A lot of the players coming through,

:08:22. > :08:26.like JJ Hanrahan from Munster, this Irish team is really cultivated well

:08:27. > :08:29.by him. Sometimes the game plan goes out of the window when the weather

:08:30. > :08:34.roles in like tonight. It is a game where the backs will seek less of a

:08:35. > :08:38.ball. It is unfortunate for Wales, they like to put wits on the ball,

:08:39. > :08:43.they played a very different game to the Welsh national side. Conditions

:08:44. > :08:49.will put a stop to that. It will come down to who pics breast and we

:08:50. > :08:58.get that from football -- who pics breast. Sean, good to speak to you

:08:59. > :09:04.because last week you were very impressed with the way the attacking

:09:05. > :09:08.player of the backs played? Yes, they showed Endeavour, Wales, last

:09:09. > :09:11.week. They played with enterprise but surely the conditions will

:09:12. > :09:15.dictate tonight. It will be interesting to see if they

:09:16. > :09:21.persevere. They are missing key performers from last week. A tough

:09:22. > :09:24.assignment tonight. We noticed last week they played from deep,

:09:25. > :09:28.particularly on counterattack but the biggest thing I noticed as they

:09:29. > :09:32.pulled back and attacked both sides of the ruck against Italy. This is

:09:33. > :09:35.in contrast to what the national team do. You can see forwards

:09:36. > :09:39.getting the gain-line but the difference was people like Matthews,

:09:40. > :09:43.the man of the match last week, handling the ball, getting the ball

:09:44. > :09:44.into the wide channels where we saw forwards and backs. They allowed

:09:45. > :09:53.them to get wits on their game. They got quick ball, it will be

:09:54. > :09:57.difficult tonight because Ireland will be hungrier for the ball. You

:09:58. > :10:01.see forwards in the wider channels with backs, holding the Italian

:10:02. > :10:07.defence and allowing the likes of David Howells with his pace and

:10:08. > :10:11.Powell to get over the line. -- his pace and power. We are lucky to have

:10:12. > :10:16.experience in our midst. Take a look at this. Just watch the flame haired

:10:17. > :10:20.number eight and the experience he shows, the guile. Lulling Ireland

:10:21. > :10:24.into a false sense of security, falling to the floor early and

:10:25. > :10:29.skulking around the Irish defence, a sneaky line in support. He told

:10:30. > :10:35.Martyn Williams earlier this was a 25 metre run for a score, our

:10:36. > :10:39.analyst approved and this was a 2.15 meter dash. We are lucky to have him

:10:40. > :10:45.tonight, our commentator, Stuart Davies.

:10:46. > :10:55.Stuart Davies is in the commentary box, a short 22 years ago, that was

:10:56. > :10:59.16-15 to Wales on the day. These victories against Ireland, in

:11:00. > :11:04.Ireland, art pretty much one score in it. Do you expect it to be the

:11:05. > :11:09.same today and tomorrow? It is one of those games where it is going to

:11:10. > :11:13.be a one score game purely down to conditions but as far as tomorrow is

:11:14. > :11:16.concerned, even those of us that are passionate about our countries

:11:17. > :11:22.accepting the fact it will be too close to call, really. It is a

:11:23. > :11:26.superb prospect of a game tomorrow. My bobbin thanks very much for that,

:11:27. > :11:31.since you are Davis. He will be commentating. The teams are doing

:11:32. > :11:35.their final warm up. I want to talk about the significance of the

:11:36. > :11:38.fixtures. Most under 20s coaches tell us the Junior World Cup is the

:11:39. > :11:43.ultimate court edge-macro tournament, a great chance for

:11:44. > :11:47.youngsters. These two are in the same group for this year's World

:11:48. > :11:51.Cup. What would a victory do psychologically for those teams,

:11:52. > :11:55.looking forward to the summer? You find out about the opposition when

:11:56. > :11:59.you play them in a short space of time. Whether it has a huge bearing

:12:00. > :12:03.on the World Cup, I am not sure. You can't write off the six Nations as

:12:04. > :12:09.the under 20 competition. Any player in a senior competition, it is

:12:10. > :12:13.tradition and experience for these players to come to places like

:12:14. > :12:22.Athlone and learn to play in these conditions. We haven't got is --

:12:23. > :12:26.this is the next step up for these guys. An interesting point listening

:12:27. > :12:30.to Sean Holley, with regard to the recipe to play against the Irish.

:12:31. > :12:34.Reversing it for a second, every time we have played against Welsh

:12:35. > :12:37.side is the one thing we would have been hammering home out of pure

:12:38. > :12:41.respect to Wales was the physicality of the Welsh have and if you are not

:12:42. > :12:48.100% up for the battle, I remember playing in the under 21 Saint and I

:12:49. > :12:52.got eight switched -- I got eight stitches across my lip and have my

:12:53. > :12:57.revenge the following year. That is the type of physicality and respect.

:12:58. > :13:01.I would expect to see the Irish side coming out all guns blazing. I think

:13:02. > :13:06.Phil has been roaming the touchline and has found a guest.

:13:07. > :13:11.I am on the halfway line, I have the national performance manager with

:13:12. > :13:14.me. There are a couple of changes to write, a big battle in the back rows

:13:15. > :13:19.like tomorrow. How do you see it panning out? There are six changes,

:13:20. > :13:23.one of them positional. We have Ben Roach going back to number eight and

:13:24. > :13:27.we are going to need a big performance by the pack and we will

:13:28. > :13:30.need them to go forward from the backs, especially with Garyn Smith

:13:31. > :13:35.and Hughes in the centre and hopefully we can win some ball and

:13:36. > :13:40.it is a dirty old night but hopefully we can progress tonight.

:13:41. > :13:46.Garyn Smith, he will have a brow -- proud grandfather watching, the

:13:47. > :13:51.coach from Pontypridd in the 1970s. Yes, a good Pontypridd youngster who

:13:52. > :13:56.has played a lot of games this year so we expect a lot from him. It is a

:13:57. > :14:00.big opportunity for him. On the eve of the big game tomorrow, a lot has

:14:01. > :14:07.been said about the O Driscoll and Gatland Bridge. The under 20 boys

:14:08. > :14:10.caught up in that? No, we are flying back first thing tomorrow but as far

:14:11. > :14:15.as to why it is concerned it is the next game. Ireland are coming on for

:14:16. > :14:18.a big win against the Scots, we were victorious last week, so in many

:14:19. > :14:22.respects for these boys it is the next game. It is a big game and in

:14:23. > :14:27.many respects it is a defining moment for these boys, the second

:14:28. > :14:32.game into the championship. These grudges are nothing new. 1882, the

:14:33. > :14:37.first-ever match that Wales played at Lansdowne Road, two Irish players

:14:38. > :14:41.walked off. They argued with the Welsh Rugby Union secretary, who

:14:42. > :14:47.unfortunately Walsall so the umpire that day. Wales won the game.

:14:48. > :15:00.plenty more of that to come. He has been digging out lots more

:15:01. > :15:03.information on the supposedly grudge between Ireland and Wales. Last

:15:04. > :15:16.year, it was another narrow victory, 17-15. Sam Davies kicked

:15:17. > :15:24.the rest of the points. He went on to become the young player of the

:15:25. > :15:34.year. Proof, if you needed it, this is a fast-track to the top. It

:15:35. > :15:42.months later, -- eight months later he makes it into the national side.

:15:43. > :15:49.Because you still have the wolfhounds, is that the stepping

:15:50. > :15:55.stones? Not necessarily, it depends on the court at the time. In recent

:15:56. > :16:01.years, the wolfhounds has been more of a development site. The U20 side

:16:02. > :16:12.is hugely important for Ireland and we have seen a lot of players make

:16:13. > :16:17.that breakthrough. Players go into a sub Academy and then into an academy

:16:18. > :16:23.system. Playing at U20 level is crucial for their development. It is

:16:24. > :16:26.getting that experience of playing in conditions and poor climate like

:16:27. > :16:33.tonight, that is the type of learning they need.

:16:34. > :16:39.Conditions are terrible tonight. Wales were narrow victors last year,

:16:40. > :16:47.giving it is at home, would you have Ireland as marginal favourites? Yes,

:16:48. > :16:50.they will be confident. This will be a good test for the Welsh boys.

:16:51. > :16:59.Totally different conditions from last night. -- from last week. You

:17:00. > :17:05.never come up against a poor Irish pack.

:17:06. > :17:12.Does your head drop as a player when you see the weather like this? As a

:17:13. > :17:25.Munster man and a hooker, the first thing you are thinking is make sure

:17:26. > :17:31.the ball boys dry the balls! All these negative thoughts jump into

:17:32. > :17:39.your head. The fullbacks will be thinking... And that is where the

:17:40. > :17:45.learning and being focused comes into it. It is what it is. They have

:17:46. > :17:52.to do everything within their power and not worry about the weather. We

:17:53. > :17:56.will see it out there, we will see the mistakes. It will be the team

:17:57. > :18:00.that makes the least mistakes that come out on top. That challenge is

:18:01. > :18:07.about to begin. The teams are about to enter the

:18:08. > :18:11.field of play. Stuart Davies is joining Gareth Giles in the

:18:12. > :18:22.commentary box. A few hours ago when we arrived, we

:18:23. > :18:27.had a walk over the ground and it was pretty firm underfoot. Even

:18:28. > :18:34.though it has been raining for several hours, and there is no let

:18:35. > :18:38.up, it will be holding its own. No way the game was ever in any danger

:18:39. > :18:44.as Steffan Hughes leads out the Welsh team. A team which has five

:18:45. > :18:51.changes from the one which beat Italy last week. Ashton Hewitt,

:18:52. > :19:03.Garyn Smith in midfield, Ethan Lewis as hooker. Ben Roach moves back to

:19:04. > :19:06.the back row. A few little injuries, nothing too

:19:07. > :19:14.serious and a chance to rotate and give all the squad game as their Six

:19:15. > :19:27.Nations progresses. Dan Leavy, wearing number seven,

:19:28. > :19:35.leads out the home side. Even though it is a horrendous evening here in

:19:36. > :19:47.Dubarry Park enough non--- in Athlone, a decent sized crowd. Just

:19:48. > :19:52.one change on the right wing, Cian Kelleher coming in. Keep an eye out

:19:53. > :20:04.for Jack O'Donoghue at number eight. And apparently, they are playing

:20:05. > :20:20.with the roof open tonight. Tom Foley is the referee for this

:20:21. > :20:33.evening. Two teams who have got off to a winning start, and two teams

:20:34. > :20:41.with very good records to defend. March 2011 was the last time Ireland

:20:42. > :20:48.were beaten at Dubarry Park. Two quality teams who are hoping to defy

:20:49. > :20:52.the conditions. The rain has abated ever so slightly at the moment, but

:20:53. > :21:02.there is a tricky wind to contend with. In Wales' favour as well. You

:21:03. > :21:12.have to think how much of a score you are going to build up with this

:21:13. > :21:13.wind. I think we will see a lot of kick and drive throughout the

:21:14. > :21:31.evening. Tom Williams to Nicky Smith, the

:21:32. > :21:37.Osprey prop, one of the changes this evening. An encouraging start by

:21:38. > :21:43.Wales, hanging onto the ball. Any we will do it. That sort of Mike Freer

:21:44. > :21:49.you want every member of that pack offering themselves. Perhaps not a

:21:50. > :22:05.lot of yards to be had, but that workload has got to be shared.

:22:06. > :22:11.I think the referee we have to show a bit of leniency in the breakdown.

:22:12. > :22:12.It is going to be inevitable that they cannot keep their footing the

:22:13. > :22:25.whole time. Conversion and three penalties

:22:26. > :22:50.against Italy last weekend. Across the piece. -- pace. Wales

:22:51. > :22:55.will be looking to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their

:22:56. > :22:57.way in the first half. I was going to sea breeze, but that is an

:22:58. > :23:27.understatement. -- to say breeze. Max Abbott, the hooker with a carry.

:23:28. > :23:33.Ross Byrne. Good tackle by Josh Adams on David Busby. Fine support

:23:34. > :23:36.from the Irish pack. Jack O'Donoghue, he was highlighted

:23:37. > :23:54.earlier. Ross Molony. That was a good kick from the

:23:55. > :24:04.scrum-half in the circumstances. It was, you didn't expect it, actually.

:24:05. > :24:13.He may have taken a stinger on the shoulder. Not just this game

:24:14. > :24:18.tonight. Ospreys are in Ravenhill and the Welsh ladies team playing

:24:19. > :24:28.against the Irish counterparts. We will keep you abreast of what is

:24:29. > :24:32.happening there. Tom Williams. Into the face of Mick McCarthy -- Nick

:24:33. > :24:52.McCarthy. Just checking it was not going to be

:24:53. > :25:01.a scrum, but it actually came off my car of the's phase -- McCarthy's

:25:02. > :25:08.face. Not an easy night for hookers.

:25:09. > :25:24.Everybody had a good game last week, the whole back row. Ben Roach has

:25:25. > :25:29.gone back this evening. Wheels are having to put up with a glut of

:25:30. > :25:53.injuries in the second row. Ethan Davies. They need more police than

:25:54. > :26:02.that. But it is not easy. -- pace. They have to try and get the points

:26:03. > :26:13.on the board this half. They will have to watch in midfield as well.

:26:14. > :26:17.Peter Robb put the tackle and there, you can expect a few big hits from

:26:18. > :26:59.them. Good decision, but execution was pure.

:27:00. > :27:21.Trying to get a squeeze on. Round the corner comes Peter Dooley.

:27:22. > :27:39.A good drive on from Robb and Timmins, in particular. Cutting down

:27:40. > :27:47.on the space. The same the second time. And has to look at different

:27:48. > :28:01.options. -- and Byrne has to look at different options.

:28:02. > :28:35.He's doing a good job marshalling at midfield.

:28:36. > :28:52.Ireland hanging on possession well. Not making too many inroads into the

:28:53. > :29:08.Welsh defence. Straight through the middle. Across comes Bagshaw.

:29:09. > :29:24.Very good structure. Pace after pace after pace. Was trying to keep in

:29:25. > :29:51.possession. Not giving Wales the chance to clear downfield.

:29:52. > :30:09.Laying down at the line was the fence. -- offence. Ordinarily it is

:30:10. > :30:24.kick a ball from there, but I fancy they might look for the corner.

:30:25. > :30:36.Ireland venture into Wales' 22 for the first time, with ten minutes

:30:37. > :30:57.played. I game, it is simple ball. -- a game, it is simple ball.

:30:58. > :31:06.Good, quick ball. It is very well recycled by Ireland. Dooley, very

:31:07. > :31:09.efficient. Inching forward, but doing so very effectively. A very

:31:10. > :31:28.well drilled team. The rain is belting down again.

:31:29. > :31:31.There is a penalty coming for Ireland, as Wales don't clear from

:31:32. > :31:45.the tackle area. Dan Leavy is one of several

:31:46. > :31:52.University College Dublin players. A great support run from Phipps --

:31:53. > :31:56.from Fitzpatrick. Yes, very good rugby in these conditions. Good

:31:57. > :31:59.structure, a good mix, and they are moving the ball through the hand as

:32:00. > :32:05.well but ominous early signs that the Wales side are up against a well

:32:06. > :32:12.drilled eight here in the Ireland team. A nice combination, controller

:32:13. > :32:16.halfback. Often the place that when you are playing against the wind you

:32:17. > :32:20.are forced into the carrying game. You can seize the initiative. These

:32:21. > :32:28.opening exchanges are all looking good for Ireland. A brave call from

:32:29. > :32:32.Ross Byrne to go for the post in these conditions, even from within

:32:33. > :32:34.the 22. If it picks up as it has been then it could end up behind

:32:35. > :32:45.him, let alone between the posts! You can see the corner flag in the

:32:46. > :32:50.far corner, it is really going. Yes, Joshua Adams on the Wales left wing

:32:51. > :33:18.might need to keep his wits about him here.

:33:19. > :33:26.Ross Byrne, a drifter the last moment and drifts wide and the

:33:27. > :33:32.school board remains black. We can go down pitch side to Phil Steele.

:33:33. > :33:36.It is horrible here, the rain is coming in horizontally. Awful

:33:37. > :33:39.conditions to play. The wind is more of a crosswind than favouring

:33:40. > :33:46.Wales, although probably slightly in Wales' favour. Our island doing the

:33:47. > :33:50.right thing? They are. There were some testing collisions early on,

:33:51. > :33:54.the first in the first scrum when Wales were targeting that area. They

:33:55. > :33:58.took a more early when they drove Ireland back and won the penalty.

:33:59. > :34:03.The difficulty is kicks you would normally get in the dry conditions,

:34:04. > :34:06.we're not getting there. Wales have given up two opportunities, Ireland

:34:07. > :34:11.missed one across the face of the ball, so you are right, the key here

:34:12. > :34:19.is to keep the ball in hand, keep recycling it and trying to wear the

:34:20. > :34:25.other side down. 1914, the so-called terrible aid of Wales, beat Ireland

:34:26. > :34:30.11-3. Doctor Bill Tyrol of Ireland challenged Percy Jones of Pontypool,

:34:31. > :34:34.to fight in the hotel room the day before the hotel room and it all

:34:35. > :34:43.kicked off on the field. O'Driscoll is nothing, is it? A game played in

:34:44. > :35:21.Belfast, that one. That was a good toss. Not held, so

:35:22. > :35:25.Byrne, up and at him. The hands scooping the ball back off the

:35:26. > :35:29.floor. Wales can have a look at this one now, I think, notwithstanding

:35:30. > :35:39.the difficult conditions with the planted foot. The two Sams have got

:35:40. > :35:52.the Ospreys on the board at Ravenhill, they lead 7-0.

:35:53. > :36:04.Ethan Davies, 143 points for his team last year.

:36:05. > :36:19.He has had one from the far side of the field.

:36:20. > :36:28.He needs to judge the crosswind. Again, wide of the left-hand side

:36:29. > :36:35.bright. Distance was no problem, it was right at the top of the posts,

:36:36. > :36:42.but that bit to the left. Properly taken by Garry Ringrose.

:36:43. > :36:52.But it was by Ross Byrne Wales caught napping a bit. It has given

:36:53. > :36:58.back possession to Ireland and they had to scramble back for the tackle

:36:59. > :37:03.and give away the penalty. I did not realise you could not take a quick

:37:04. > :37:05.drop between the two unless it was the same ball. They did very well,

:37:06. > :37:56.all the same. A good burst through by Rory Burke.

:37:57. > :37:57.Good hands, freeing his back -- his hands in the tackle, Jack

:37:58. > :38:18.O'Donoghue. It was a shade forward, timely

:38:19. > :38:24.intervention by the Dragons winger. Wales were a bit short on the far

:38:25. > :38:27.side. You mentioned Sean O'Brien tomorrow on any side is going to

:38:28. > :38:34.feel the loss of someone of that calibre but for me, Peter Marney, he

:38:35. > :38:39.was my man of the match. A great spoiler, and incredible workrate,

:38:40. > :38:43.and Chris Henry as well, he does love the turn, so the battle of the

:38:44. > :38:48.back rows tomorrow in the contact area is going to be big. Wales have

:38:49. > :38:51.to win primary possession as well. It is an interesting point made in

:38:52. > :38:56.the press conference yesterday when he said oh Marney, he's and Henry

:38:57. > :39:01.all contributed little bits and bobs that O'Brien normally does to make

:39:02. > :39:09.up for his absence. Yes, it is all about combinations on the back row.

:39:10. > :39:18.They complement each other. Again, Sean O'Brien at the front.

:39:19. > :39:27.Ireland back on Wales' 22. The captain leads the way, Dan Leavy.

:39:28. > :39:32.The man who won the ball initially, O'Brien, driven back in the tackle

:39:33. > :39:38.by Nicky Smith. Again, a penalty coming Ireland's way. I suppose it

:39:39. > :39:40.is a reflection of the amount of possession they are getting, the

:39:41. > :39:48.amount of defending in Wales are having to do with the penalty is

:39:49. > :39:50.merely going Ireland's way. It is disciplined from Ireland in the

:39:51. > :39:53.context of keeping the ball and going through the phases and ill

:39:54. > :39:56.discipline from Wales, the frustration I suppose, trying to get

:39:57. > :40:01.hands-on ball. They know they have got this wind but they need to get

:40:02. > :40:05.hands on it in order to do something with it and despite the wind the

:40:06. > :40:24.territory is probably with Ireland at the moment.

:40:25. > :40:33.Ross Byrne's first effort, just faded at the death.

:40:34. > :40:40.That one starts wide and stays wide, so it is not an evening for the

:40:41. > :40:43.kickers. Possibly not because of the conditions. They haven't quite got

:40:44. > :40:44.their radar is right, so midway through the first half it still

:40:45. > :40:57.remains scoreless. Byrne will be disappointed with that

:40:58. > :40:59.effort, it just stayed on the wrong line. Yes, he just didn't get it,

:41:00. > :41:33.did he? Ross Byrne is a rangy ten, isn't it?

:41:34. > :41:40.Six, they don't make small backs any more, do they? -- he is six feet and

:41:41. > :41:55.ten inches tall. Discretion the better part of valour

:41:56. > :42:01.fair him as the ball goes out of play. Phil Steele has been George by

:42:02. > :42:06.Mark Taylor. You need a bit of ball, don't you? Greenberg and we made a

:42:07. > :42:09.mistake early on, the penalty, we kicked too long and we have

:42:10. > :42:15.struggled to get a foothold in the game. The boys have defended well, a

:42:16. > :42:19.couple of kicks have slipped past the post but you have to get

:42:20. > :42:24.possession and territory. What sort of lead would you need with this

:42:25. > :42:29.wind? It is difficult to say. The wind is a swirling wind. We want to

:42:30. > :42:37.get points on the board and keep the defence. The next crunch trivia,

:42:38. > :42:44.1968, Wales losing at Lansdowne Road 9-6, Gareth Edwards dropped a goal

:42:45. > :42:48.that went five metres wide of the post but was allowed by the referee

:42:49. > :42:51.and he had to have a police escort off the field! Congratulations to

:42:52. > :42:56.the Wales Fire and dressed use services. They have beaten their

:42:57. > :43:04.Irish counterparts by 38-20, so a good omen for tomorrow. Thanks,

:43:05. > :43:10.Phil. I think that interview was his sneaky way of getting undercover for

:43:11. > :43:19.a while. Scott Andrews supplies the line-out ball but the throwing just

:43:20. > :43:27.off centre. -- the throw in just off centre. The Wales women are leading

:43:28. > :43:30.6-0 against their Irish counterparts in Ashbourne, after a disappointing

:43:31. > :43:59.defeat against Italy last week. Well, it is an horrendous night. The

:44:00. > :44:10.rain is belting down. The wind is blowing in. A very brief respite

:44:11. > :44:12.from the rain, isn't it? There are brave souls on the far side who are

:44:13. > :44:36.not even undercover. Wales have got the wind behind them

:44:37. > :44:44.in this scrum! Good effort put in by the front row. They look as if they

:44:45. > :45:21.were going after it. But they need the reward, they need the points.

:45:22. > :45:34.I don't think I could have any more players on and I have at the moment!

:45:35. > :45:39.-- layers. That is the most workable kick I have ever seen -- remarkable

:45:40. > :46:25.kick. That was superbly managed by but first mistake from Ireland. The

:46:26. > :46:47.bread for a short kick-off. -- the players went.

:46:48. > :47:06.He was looking to drill that one into the corner. But took too much

:47:07. > :47:19.time and was closed down by the Ireland defence. England U20s are

:47:20. > :47:39.leading against the Scottish U20s. Ryan Jones talking about the game at

:47:40. > :47:50.Croke Park in 2008. Coverage from two o'clock on BBC One

:47:51. > :48:24.Wales tomorrow. One banana, two banana, I'm sure

:48:25. > :48:41.there is a song they're somewhere. We will be in Ravenhill next week.

:48:42. > :48:47.The Ospreys are the tonight. We will be with the Scarlets next week.

:48:48. > :48:55.Let's hope it's not like this. We can have a nice little Valentine's

:48:56. > :49:05.Day. You have been cuddling in all evening anyway? Anything to keep

:49:06. > :49:19.warm. Where is this going to come from? He is trying it again. But the

:49:20. > :49:25.wind to get. I thought it might have gone through. That was a good effort

:49:26. > :49:41.by Ethan Davies. It is not easy kicking beer at all. -- there.

:49:42. > :49:53.Ethan Lewis offering himself. John Bryan stays down. Scott Andrews in

:49:54. > :50:02.possession. He has taken a real bang on the shoulder. The ball held in

:50:03. > :50:29.and Ireland winning the scrum. Ireland having most of the ball in

:50:30. > :50:34.this first half and in their own half as well. Just three points

:50:35. > :50:57.down. Just checking to see whether Sean

:50:58. > :51:09.O'Brien can carry on. Philip?

:51:10. > :51:21.Yes, Ospreys leading in Ulster. In 1969, O'Brien Price... I spoke to

:51:22. > :51:27.him about it the other day. I asked how he got on with Noel Murphy, he

:51:28. > :51:38.said very well. With misses Murphy? Not so well.

:51:39. > :51:52.That is a great story. President Michael Higgins here this evening.

:51:53. > :52:04.As he will be in the BB -- in the Aviva Stadium. And Psyche cannot

:52:05. > :52:18.continue. -- and it looks like he cannot play any more. Joe Joyce of

:52:19. > :52:23.Bristol taking his place. Came off the bench against Scotland to

:52:24. > :52:47.replace Molony. Joe Joyce is a good Bristol

:52:48. > :52:58.product. These are good young player.

:52:59. > :53:07.Seven or eight minutes of the first half to go.

:53:08. > :53:13.Again, going over the ball at the breakdown. With half-time

:53:14. > :53:27.approaching, Wales, you feel, need the points.

:53:28. > :53:40.Michael Higgins, poet and president of Ireland. His first visit to an

:53:41. > :54:04.U20s game at Dubarry Park. He came very close again. He may

:54:05. > :54:11.have missed three, but they have all been by very small margins. He

:54:12. > :54:19.judged the wind right, but in the end, it did not have the legs. Jack

:54:20. > :54:38.O'Donoghue. A lovely carrier of that last scrummage. Scott Andrews. Ethan

:54:39. > :54:45.Lewis. That's James Benjamin. Playing number seven this week. He

:54:46. > :54:57.had an outstanding game at number eight last week. But it is Ireland

:54:58. > :55:03.that are doing much of the carrying. Garyn Smith sees the ball slip

:55:04. > :55:14.through his fingers. The referee says no advantage to come from

:55:15. > :55:26.there. No arms tackle in open play. Wheels have to go for the corner

:55:27. > :55:28.here, you feel. -- Wales. They wanted to change their minds, but

:55:29. > :55:50.somebody has called. No option now. He probably would have preferred to

:55:51. > :55:56.have punted it into the corner. But he can't let it affect his game. It

:55:57. > :56:01.is a lottery out there. It is just a matter of trying to judge as best as

:56:02. > :56:12.possible in very testing conditions. Wales need the points, but not

:56:13. > :56:21.getting them in this first half. The ball topples over. I know how he

:56:22. > :56:30.feels. On the 16th tee at Swansea Bay and the wind comes off, at its

:56:31. > :56:42.strongest. Good effort again. But, again, just outside. They are points

:56:43. > :56:48.that Wales so only need -- sorely need. That is cruel. Just taken by

:56:49. > :56:55.the wind at the end. You cannot blame the kicker for that.

:56:56. > :57:11.It fell nicely for Benjamin. Again, Ethan Lewis offers himself. It is

:57:12. > :57:20.taken up by Scott Andrews. That is James Sheekey. Benjamin brought down

:57:21. > :57:27.on the Irish ten metre line. Turnover by Ireland. A chance to

:57:28. > :57:34.move it. He has put the ball to good effect.

:57:35. > :57:48.They have done well. The kick scrambled away, but not out of play.

:57:49. > :58:12.But the penalty has been called anyway. Wales did well to get back.

:58:13. > :58:40.Not very cultured, but very effective. Two minutes on the clock

:58:41. > :58:53.in the ground. It is a stop clock, so a bit more than that. Tom

:58:54. > :59:08.Williams wallops it down the field. Back goes David Busby. Boat to

:59:09. > :59:11.safety on the touchline. -- back. Wales are looking for something

:59:12. > :59:13.before the interval just to give them a little bit of breathing space

:59:14. > :59:39.before the second half. Sheekey is beaten to it by Ross

:59:40. > :59:47.Molony. Great off-load. Superbly done.

:59:48. > :59:54.Wales are battling for it, but Ireland have it. A great ball,

:59:55. > :00:02.lovely hands from Dan Leavy. Great leadership from the captain. In the

:00:03. > :00:13.end, Ross Byrne doing what he did earlier.

:00:14. > :00:20.A good tackle by Scott Andrews. The penalty has gone Ireland's way as

:00:21. > :00:42.Wales come off their feet in the tackle.

:00:43. > :00:47.It will be interesting to see what Ireland do in the second half. Wales

:00:48. > :00:52.haven't been able to do anything with the wind behind them, with

:00:53. > :00:54.their territory. Byrne looking like a ten that could control things in

:00:55. > :01:16.the second half. At the end, they have to go to

:01:17. > :01:36.ground. Leavy is limping in the background.

:01:37. > :01:48.Wales are losing their patience and a little bit of discipline. The

:01:49. > :02:25.penalty will come. Well, Ireland have safely negotiated

:02:26. > :02:29.the wind in the first half. Just the one penalty from Ethan Davies and

:02:30. > :02:33.several very, very close attempts which were not quite there. It will

:02:34. > :02:36.be a tester for the Welsh boys in the second half, playing into the

:02:37. > :02:43.wind. At half-time it is Ireland zero, Wales three.

:02:44. > :02:50.With the weather playing its part tonight, that is the sure and plenty

:02:51. > :02:53.of niggle as we approached the grudge match tomorrow but it was the

:02:54. > :02:58.battle of the kickers in the first half. Eight attempts on goal, only

:02:59. > :03:04.one of them landing. Ethan Davies successful for Wales. 3-0 at

:03:05. > :03:07.half-time. That was a successful kick, brilliantly judging the wind

:03:08. > :03:12.to land the kick but it has been a game as the boys anticipated when

:03:13. > :03:13.the forwards are dictating things. Martyn, we never expected to be

:03:14. > :03:25.spectacular. In fairness, they have both tried to

:03:26. > :03:30.play. Wales, with the scrum, on top. I am hoping that kicks that Ethan

:03:31. > :03:36.Davies has missed do not come back to haunt him. We will talk about

:03:37. > :03:39.scrums in a moment but what is your general overview so far? I think

:03:40. > :03:44.might wed will be absolutely delighted it is half-time because if

:03:45. > :03:49.the conditions were better, I have to give credit to Davies, he keeps

:03:50. > :03:53.having a go at the kicks. -- I think Mike Ruddock will be delighted it is

:03:54. > :03:57.half-time. If the conditions were different, Wales could be out of

:03:58. > :04:00.sight in this game. For Mike Ruddock's team to be only three

:04:01. > :04:04.points behind, he's a great position so he will be very happy and they

:04:05. > :04:09.will need to come out in the second half. Wales are squeezing them and

:04:10. > :04:14.squeezing them and they are really up against it. One area they are

:04:15. > :04:18.squeezing them is the scrum. We saw successful Welsh scrum against Italy

:04:19. > :04:24.last year -- last week and they are kicking on this week? Yes, it is an

:04:25. > :04:25.area Wales have gone for. You see the ball in, great scrummaging by

:04:26. > :04:36.the front row. Here it is a game, great timing by

:04:37. > :04:42.the Welsh. The ball getting disrupted on the ground. It is a

:04:43. > :04:46.pivotal area. They didn't get a penalty, that is where Wales have

:04:47. > :04:49.been good in the tackling area. A lot of penalties but unfortunately

:04:50. > :04:56.Ethan Davies has not been kicking his goals. Let's bring Sean in,

:04:57. > :04:58.Ireland are lucky to be within touching distance but they have

:04:59. > :05:03.played the conditions reasonably well tonight. It may seem like there

:05:04. > :05:07.is not much rugby on show but there is a tactical element in these

:05:08. > :05:11.conditions and Mike Ruddock's team Wiley. Wales have 70% territory but

:05:12. > :05:15.Ireland have all the possession. They are keeping the ball, that is

:05:16. > :05:19.the way to do it. If we look at the style of play from Ireland this

:05:20. > :05:23.half, they are keeping a very close. They can't go wide because it is

:05:24. > :05:28.windy. They are kitted -- keeping it short, short passes between the

:05:29. > :05:31.forward, being very patient, hanging onto the ball because they know the

:05:32. > :05:37.second half they will have the element. He has lots of options

:05:38. > :05:42.outside him, just winning the gain-line, keeping the ball and he

:05:43. > :05:47.did away the clock. There are other ways. Sure restarts, kill the clock,

:05:48. > :05:51.get some more possession, there are clever ways. If you go wide in these

:05:52. > :05:55.conditions you are going to be in trouble and you are liable for

:05:56. > :06:01.forward passwords. With a bit of slice, they needed the kick and they

:06:02. > :06:07.will second half. Only one from six in the first half, it could cost

:06:08. > :06:11.Wales. Thanks very much for that. We will talk about the main event in a

:06:12. > :06:14.moment because there isn't a great deal more to analyse from the first

:06:15. > :06:18.half but a quick reminder that BBC Wales is your one stop shop this

:06:19. > :06:24.weekend and beyond for all your sporting action. Coming up next on

:06:25. > :06:29.BBC Wales, it is sport Wales. Dan Jones goes inside the camp to catch

:06:30. > :06:32.up with the boys ahead of the big game and talking of big games, John

:06:33. > :06:38.Toshack previews what could be the biggest south Wales derby ever.

:06:39. > :06:44.Tomorrow at 1pm on BBC Two Wales you can enjoy the magic 2008 Triple

:06:45. > :06:49.Crown again as Ryan Jones talks us through another Scrum V classic.

:06:50. > :06:53.Wales have won the trickle Crown. Then the main events, the grudge

:06:54. > :07:05.match, Ireland against Wales from 2pm. On Sunday, Scrum V six Nations

:07:06. > :07:11.special. He has had a shocker. That is 7:10pm on BBC Two Wales. On

:07:12. > :07:13.Friday night the Pro12 is back, so is Scrum V Live. Will it be

:07:14. > :07:23.victorious valentines for the Scarlets when they take on Ulster in

:07:24. > :07:27.Belfast? Sure maybe smug in the studio but he is earning his money.

:07:28. > :07:32.There is a Pro12 game, Ulster versus the Ospreys and you can bring us up

:07:33. > :07:36.to speed. I have double vision, the same elements in Northern Ireland,

:07:37. > :07:42.wind and rain, but it has turned into the Matthew Morgan show for the

:07:43. > :07:46.Ospreys. The diminutive quick ten is having a great first half, lots of

:07:47. > :07:50.line breaks and he is taking the Ospreys over. He nearly got a corner

:07:51. > :07:55.in a swamp and is breaking into the defence. They are playing into the

:07:56. > :08:00.wind. Who better to have than a guy like this in your midst, really

:08:01. > :08:04.dangerous. He was instrumental in Ospreys' try. Acute half Rake here,

:08:05. > :08:13.nearly gets to the line and forces the try. -- a cute half-break here.

:08:14. > :08:17.Watch for Tyler Ardron's great little flick at the back for Sam

:08:18. > :08:25.Lewis to score as early as the 10th minute. The Canadian was signed this

:08:26. > :08:31.year, goes into contact, and on his shoulder. It was nearly equalled by

:08:32. > :08:36.Ulster late on. Just a great try saving tackle from the centre. He

:08:37. > :08:40.went to the TMO, but he takes the ball and the referee does not give

:08:41. > :08:48.it. Ospreys lead 7-3 at half-time at Ravenhill. Thanks, fantastic results

:08:49. > :08:52.so far for the Ospreys at Ravenhill, always a difficult place to go.

:08:53. > :08:57.There is a full Pro12 schedule this weekend. The Blues face Munster

:08:58. > :09:01.tomorrow, on S4C at 7pm, and on S4C at 12:45pm of the following day the

:09:02. > :09:05.Dragons face Edinburgh, although that is currently in doubt because

:09:06. > :09:11.the pitch at Rodney Parade has taken a hammering with the rain. The

:09:12. > :09:16.Scarlets are awake in Treviso this weekend, not televised.

:09:17. > :09:22.Warren Gatland and Brian O'Driscoll say any grudge has been left in the

:09:23. > :09:29.past but as we said earlier, there is more than a bit of niggling

:09:30. > :09:33.tomorrow's game. The rivalry between Ireland and Wales is going to

:09:34. > :09:36.continue for a long time and nobody is going to want to take one single

:09:37. > :09:44.step back and everything that has happened before, all the drop

:09:45. > :09:49.goals, the Grand Slams, the triple cams, they are all in the mix, no

:09:50. > :09:53.doubt about it. It has been so close, the Irish Welsh affairs over

:09:54. > :10:01.the last few years. It comes down to a few points. The niggle is there.

:10:02. > :10:05.You have to love it. There is the controversies, the Mike Phillips

:10:06. > :10:10.try, the Gatland factor, it is familiarity breeds contempt as well

:10:11. > :10:14.as respect sometimes. There is a bit of resentment. We love that chip on

:10:15. > :10:18.our shoulder and we will use every bit we can get out of it. You need

:10:19. > :10:21.that chip on our shoulder and we will use every bit we can get out of

:10:22. > :10:24.it. You need the inner be focus and discipline as well. Ireland and

:10:25. > :10:27.Wales is like an eliminator, whoever wins takes on the big guns from

:10:28. > :10:37.England and France and it has been like that for years. There has been

:10:38. > :10:42.rivalry for but because of Gatland dropping him for the test, it is the

:10:43. > :10:45.fixture. No hiding from it. A word on the rivalry between Wales and

:10:46. > :10:49.Ireland. It seems to have developed and built over the last ten years.

:10:50. > :10:53.England always used to be the game that Wales look forward to and I

:10:54. > :10:57.dare say it was the same for the Irish. Is it rivalling the England

:10:58. > :11:03.game in terms of hype and expectation? Never! Lets call them

:11:04. > :11:08.spade a spade. And Ireland and England game is always tight. We get

:11:09. > :11:14.on and off the field as well. It is a very physical type of game and the

:11:15. > :11:21.key for me tomorrow and were looking into it, is the nine over ten, 12

:11:22. > :11:30.axis. It is very hard to find any weaknesses in the Welsh team but we

:11:31. > :11:37.know that Webb -- we know how well Priestland playing? Is he playing as

:11:38. > :11:41.well as he did previously? Is the vulnerable? The 12 channel, whoever

:11:42. > :11:46.is coming up, that is where they will go to. Ireland, through

:11:47. > :11:54.Murray, Sexton and the King Darcey ahead of martial for this week, it

:11:55. > :11:59.was a big call -- the King Darcey. Three changes, most of unexpected,

:12:00. > :12:02.Gethin Jenkins and Sam Warburton turning to the team and Nat Coombs

:12:03. > :12:11.stepping in. Do you think the return of Sam

:12:12. > :12:16.Warburton which could be lost at the breakdown could be crucial? They

:12:17. > :12:21.were disappointing last week, they did not have much ball so some will

:12:22. > :12:25.definitely add to that. He is one of the best in the world. Gethin

:12:26. > :12:30.Jenkins, one of the best props in the world. I know they don't come up

:12:31. > :12:35.against each other in the scrum but watch him, it will be all guns

:12:36. > :12:40.blazing. It will be a big improvement in the tackling area. A

:12:41. > :12:42.big day for Andrew Coombs on his first cut last year in the

:12:43. > :12:47.corresponding fixture and some big shoes to fill, literally with Luke

:12:48. > :12:51.Charteris. That is where Ireland were really strong last week in the

:12:52. > :12:56.pack. Let's look at the Irish team, two changes as Frankie alluded to.

:12:57. > :13:01.Gordon D'Arcy coming back in at the expense of Luke Marshall and Paul

:13:02. > :13:04.O'Connell, the Talisman, returning to the second row. That battle

:13:05. > :13:11.against Alun Wyn Jones, two test lines, the Lyons captains, is

:13:12. > :13:15.enormous. And we know Paul O'Connell and how motivated and aggressive he

:13:16. > :13:20.is. He is a leader's leader, he does what it says on the tin, he gets out

:13:21. > :13:24.there and does it. What a huge blow for Ireland to be told he has to

:13:25. > :13:29.pull out. In my memory, when parliaments have two pull out of

:13:30. > :13:34.games like that the first game he pulls out I always think the other

:13:35. > :13:39.team mates lift their performance by 25-30% out of pure fear. Oh, my God,

:13:40. > :13:43.Paul is not here, we have to raise the game. The dangerous fixture is

:13:44. > :13:47.the one after, maybe we didn't need Paul after all. That could be an

:13:48. > :13:50.opportunity for Wales. Made me they will not be in the zone. -- maybe

:13:51. > :14:00.they will not be in the zone. I thought the scrum was outstanding

:14:01. > :14:05.last week, the line-out was outstanding. That is the big area

:14:06. > :14:08.tomorrow. Wales have some firepower behind, it is difficult to stop, but

:14:09. > :14:14.if they don't match Ireland up front it will be a long day. Is Adam Jones

:14:15. > :14:18.firing on all cylinders? Is Gethin Jenkins just coming back? Will he be

:14:19. > :14:23.firing on all cylinders? I know Gatland, I know what he is like, he

:14:24. > :14:27.will have had them doing 70 or 80 scrums this week. It will be an

:14:28. > :14:34.intriguing battle. I can't wait. Brace yourselves, more fireworks and

:14:35. > :14:38.we all jumped when they happen! Let's turn our attention to this

:14:39. > :14:42.game. Conditions have eased slightly. The rain appears to have

:14:43. > :14:45.stopped a little bit. Can you see any difference in the second half,

:14:46. > :14:51.or more of the same and whoever gets the kicks will eventually prevail?

:14:52. > :14:55.Ireland have a great opportunity, they have to look at the subs bench

:14:56. > :14:59.and they will be looking at the front row, McNulty, Coulson,

:15:00. > :15:04.Heffernan, they will need to make a change and use the bench cleverly.

:15:05. > :15:09.From Wales point of view where you are into the wind, you have to carry

:15:10. > :15:12.more ball and you have to defend. Sometimes you relax, thinking the

:15:13. > :15:15.wind will win the game for you but that is not the case. Wales will

:15:16. > :15:20.have to carry more and hopefully hold out and kick the goals. Good

:15:21. > :15:25.stuff, how is this for a couple of owners, Wales' women are leading 6-3

:15:26. > :15:31.against the Irish counterparts, Ireland winning the Grand Slam last

:15:32. > :15:33.year. The Wales under 20s are 3-0 up. Plenty of time to go, it could

:15:34. > :15:46.change. Back to the commentary team. The wind is still beer, the brain is

:15:47. > :15:54.not quite as bad. -- is still there. Wales are playing into the

:15:55. > :16:03.wind. Ireland had all the possession, Wales had all the

:16:04. > :16:12.possession in the first half. Just a slender 3-point advantage. Again,

:16:13. > :16:24.they go just to the front of the line. Not fancy, just basic safety.

:16:25. > :16:57.Donohue tries to get the Irish boys moving forward again. Well kept and

:16:58. > :17:09.by Afon Bagshaw. Anybody can go for it. Ross Byrne, Timmins, Kelleher.

:17:10. > :17:18.The second line of defence was needed by Wales on that occasion.

:17:19. > :17:28.Led by Steffan Hughes. Very strong there. Thought he might have got

:17:29. > :17:42.away. He gets round the first line, very good cover defence from Wales

:17:43. > :17:47.defenders there. Steffan Hughes just doing enough to dislodge the ball

:17:48. > :17:58.before Kelleher got the kick in properly. What did I say? Not

:17:59. > :18:20.meaning is badly? Spoke too soon. -- not raining as badly?

:18:21. > :18:28.The scrums were good in the first half, the first one in the second

:18:29. > :18:39.half is rock-solid as well. Wales want to use that strength as much as

:18:40. > :18:49.possible. That is a very silly penalty.

:18:50. > :19:05.An extra bonus for Wales as Cian Kelleher feels to catch the kick --

:19:06. > :19:08.fails. That is the sort of break you need on nights like this. Might just

:19:09. > :19:43.build something from it. Tom Williams just waiting at the

:19:44. > :19:56.heels of Ben Roach once again. That scrum so effective. The only problem

:19:57. > :20:00.there was it was coming up on the Irish. Taking the eight away from

:20:01. > :20:11.the midfield area where he would prefer to run. Dan Leavy disengaged

:20:12. > :20:13.there. Penalty went against Ireland for walking around. This could make

:20:14. > :20:31.the difference. The first venture into the Irish

:20:32. > :20:52.22. Andrews provides the line-out ball. First man up.

:20:53. > :21:27.They didn't get the body positions quite right in that maul.

:21:28. > :21:38.Josh Adams has come off his wing. He got the first try against Italy. He

:21:39. > :21:54.hasn't seen too much of the ball, which is not the biggest surprise.

:21:55. > :22:15.There have been very close games between the two teams over the

:22:16. > :22:29.years, since the U20s were formed. 24-17 in 2010. That was Italy's best

:22:30. > :22:52.win. 11-6 in 2008. Wales's first when was -- first win. Dan Leavy

:22:53. > :23:02.again, disengaged. They comes -- off he comes.

:23:03. > :23:05.Nicky Thomas not agreeing with the referee's interpretation of that

:23:06. > :23:25.scrum. A good Welsh scrum. Molony just

:23:26. > :23:33.dropped on the ball. But Wales have won it back. That is Ethan Lewis,

:23:34. > :23:36.the hooker. An excellent scrum which has given them this space. Steffan

:23:37. > :24:05.Hughes. Within five metres. Tom Williams right not to pass his

:24:06. > :24:11.troubles onto Nicky Smith. Ireland managing to slow the ball down and

:24:12. > :24:18.get men out in midfield. Ethan Lewis again. No Nicky Smith. A good period

:24:19. > :24:34.of pressure from Wales. Again, the kick and go just around

:24:35. > :24:42.the corner. Edging nearer and nearer. Boyde wins another metre or

:24:43. > :24:52.two. Sheekey. Can't get the ball down. Now he has done safely. Dan

:24:53. > :24:59.Leavy driven off it. Still Wales have it. Boyde leading the gold

:25:00. > :25:09.towards the Ireland try-line. -- leading the way. They look for the

:25:10. > :25:12.first try of the evening. Tom Williams calling for more forwards

:25:13. > :25:14.and they are. In the end, they can't get to the try-line, but they do

:25:15. > :25:32.have a penalty straight in front. Difficult both ways at the moment.

:25:33. > :25:35.We complimented the Irish eight in the first half on how they carried.

:25:36. > :25:45.And this is better from Wales, actually. A concerted effort there.

:25:46. > :25:48.It was hard yard after Hardy yard. In fairness, just came up short in

:25:49. > :26:06.the end. Safety points for Wales, rewarded

:26:07. > :26:11.after all the efforts of the forwards. Into the wind. They get

:26:12. > :26:15.the first points of the second half. Ethan Davies with his second

:26:16. > :26:22.successive penalty. And the extent the lead.

:26:23. > :26:47.The Irish women's team have drawn level against Wales.

:26:48. > :27:14.That is a really good kick. Good yardage.

:27:15. > :27:27.Slightly off centre. The pressure coming on from Ben Roach. Ireland

:27:28. > :27:37.having to battle for it on halfway, but they do have that.

:27:38. > :27:53.Again, good strong tackling and defending by Wales, forcing a

:27:54. > :27:57.mistake and winning the scrum. We know that Wales can hold the scrum.

:27:58. > :28:03.Looking good in it. If they can just do the same here, have a platform.

:28:04. > :28:05.As much as they are against the wind, they can still find territory

:28:06. > :28:28.and put pressure on defences. Again, excellent work by the Welsh

:28:29. > :28:42.pack. That is such a strong scrum. Yes, forcing the Irish front row

:28:43. > :28:47.up. Take whatever you can get, don't be over ambitious. Five penalties

:28:48. > :28:52.they have had from scrums now, Wales. That dominance is giving them

:28:53. > :28:59.the upper hand at the moment in what is a very tight game. Ethan Davies

:29:00. > :29:05.takes it down field. Andy Goode down now to fill up. That early penalty

:29:06. > :29:09.for Wales, how much confidence will it give them?

:29:10. > :29:20.It would be to moralising for Ireland. -- it will be the

:29:21. > :29:33.moralising. Six points is a big lead in these conditions. The pack has

:29:34. > :29:41.been really impressive. Just digging.

:29:42. > :29:54.In 1978, Wales going for the triple Triple Crown. In the second half,

:29:55. > :30:07.Ireland came back. J P R Williams was being booed.

:30:08. > :30:14.Thanks, Phil, some great approach work by the Welsh forwards winning

:30:15. > :30:18.them yet another penalty. Yes. As hard as this is going to be, I

:30:19. > :30:23.understand the thinking here. If they can just pinch one. It will be

:30:24. > :30:25.very difficult for Ireland to get down into Wales' half and get points

:30:26. > :30:37.themselves, so this is daylight. Well, if they can make it a two

:30:38. > :30:48.score game and then that is really doing something.

:30:49. > :30:55.It is two from two for Ethan Davies in the second half and that is a big

:30:56. > :31:05.kick for Wales. It opens up a two score lead. They go ahead by 9-0.

:31:06. > :31:07.Sean, in Cardiff. From the coaching team, he will be asking the

:31:08. > :31:13.referee, five penalties at the scrum now, the Osprey props are dominant,

:31:14. > :31:16.should there be a yellow card for Ireland, just to create the

:31:17. > :31:24.dominance, run it home? Wales doing very well in the scrum.

:31:25. > :31:33.Well, there was a change in the front row now for Ireland anyway.

:31:34. > :31:38.Because Oisin Heffernan has come on at tight head so for the moment that

:31:39. > :31:41.will not be an issue because there's a new tight head on. There is an

:31:42. > :31:47.escalation post as well. We haven't heard him issue any warnings but I

:31:48. > :31:51.think tactically Sean is spot on. You need to start planting those

:31:52. > :32:02.seeds from the coach on the touchline or skip on the pitch.

:32:03. > :32:11.Let's see what Ireland can come up with.

:32:12. > :32:18.They know the game is slipping away from them. Wales have been dominant

:32:19. > :32:20.in the opening quarter of an hour of the second half. Looking to starve

:32:21. > :32:31.themselves back on this game. The crowd getting behind them as

:32:32. > :32:36.well. Peter Dooley going through the middle.

:32:37. > :32:46.A brilliant run by the prop. A good hit on Joyce, Wales needed that.

:32:47. > :32:57.Bagshaw is happy to put the ball off the park and Wales needed to keep

:32:58. > :33:02.their wits about them there, because Ireland had the bit between their

:33:03. > :33:06.teeth. Good rugby from both sides. Wales were under the cosh there. The

:33:07. > :33:10.Irish runners have got that bit more urgency about them. A two score

:33:11. > :33:16.game, they have to do something. It comes from a very unlikely source,

:33:17. > :33:17.actually, the loose-head. Catches them by surprise. That is a good

:33:18. > :33:24.run. In fairness, the Wales defence is

:33:25. > :33:33.very strong. Darren Cave has got a try for

:33:34. > :33:43.Ulster, they lead Ospreys 10-7. Wales are looking to pinch the ball

:33:44. > :34:39.but Ireland safely have it. Good pressure coming from Wales, led

:34:40. > :34:50.by Nicky Thomas. Wales have forced them back to the

:34:51. > :35:04.ten metre line. Ireland have to start all over again.

:35:05. > :35:29.Ethan Davies has hurt himself, going for the interception.

:35:30. > :35:35.Ireland having plenty of ball at the moment and Wales having to put-in

:35:36. > :35:37.tackle after tackle. It will take its toll by the end. It has been a

:35:38. > :36:03.gruelling game. The drop by Ringrose. That will hurt

:36:04. > :36:07.them. It is a very stoic Welsh defence, in fairness. Not giving

:36:08. > :36:15.them any space. The Irish runners are coming hard.

:36:16. > :36:21.That is the one, just took his eye off the ball to see where the

:36:22. > :36:29.defenders were, but Wales at the moment with a couple of injuries.

:36:30. > :36:38.Ethan Lewis, who put that tackling. Let's have an update from the

:36:39. > :36:42.Alcester versus Ospreys game. Yes, the Ulstermen are coming back. A

:36:43. > :36:47.great try from Darren Cave, put a bit of injection of pace into the

:36:48. > :36:52.line. A mismatch with Duncan Jones, he goes too high and Rouen Pienaar

:36:53. > :36:57.slots the conversion. Alcester go ahead 10-7 in the second half. --

:36:58. > :37:17.Alcester go ahead in the second half. -- Ulster.

:37:18. > :37:44.The elements, both sides better against the wind, so far.

:37:45. > :37:52.Down goes the scrum, the second time of asking.

:37:53. > :38:03.It is the tight head on the far side, Heffernan. He is getting a

:38:04. > :38:11.word from the referee. A raft of replacements any second. As Sean was

:38:12. > :38:14.saying, Ulster are coming back into the game, even more so because they

:38:15. > :38:22.have a second try and extending their lead. If there is a break in

:38:23. > :38:25.play here, we will go back to Barry Park, where Wales lead 9-0 and it is

:38:26. > :38:49.another decent Welsh scrum. The Welsh captain is over! That is a

:38:50. > :38:55.brilliant try! That is such a good try! The back row really working has

:38:56. > :38:58.been the basis for Wales. That scrum has been excellent and Steffan

:38:59. > :39:05.Hughes deserves to have a broad grin on his face. That could be a match

:39:06. > :39:12.winner. Wonderfully executed try, in fairness. They go to the wire hair,

:39:13. > :39:18.turning through 180 but he gets the advantage. Right in behind the Irish

:39:19. > :39:23.defence. This is good finishing. The Irish defenders are in trouble, one

:39:24. > :39:27.of the few occasions Wales have got behind them. It is the skipper that

:39:28. > :39:35.slides in. That should, you think, be the winning try. Ethan Davies

:39:36. > :39:40.puts over the conversion as well and it is all Wales in the second half.

:39:41. > :39:49.Into the final quarter, they lead 16-0. Matt Taylor, Wales team

:39:50. > :39:53.manager, what a great try? Yes, to be fair, showed patience and got the

:39:54. > :39:56.ball in hand and converted the dominance we have had. An excellent

:39:57. > :40:02.scrum in the second half. We got physicality going as well. A reward

:40:03. > :40:10.with the try. Get You are making changes. What is the reason? Some of

:40:11. > :40:14.the bigger boys up front, they are getting fatigued, so to keep the

:40:15. > :40:19.momentum up front. Now it is managing the last 20? We have to

:40:20. > :40:23.play in the right areas and apply the pressure, making sure that

:40:24. > :40:29.defence is strong. Thanks for your time. A big shift from those boys

:40:30. > :40:34.coming off, in fairness. They have been the reason why Wales are in the

:40:35. > :40:44.position they are, with the scrummaging effort.

:40:45. > :40:52.It is all going wrong for Ireland! That has been the story in the

:40:53. > :40:59.second half, pressure from Wales. Irish mistakes. They get the benefit

:41:00. > :41:04.there, they get the first offence. Another opportunity for Wales to

:41:05. > :41:13.build something. I spoke too soon earlier. The second try that Ulster

:41:14. > :41:20.had, was disallowed, so it is 10-7 against the Ospreys. Changes in the

:41:21. > :41:22.Welsh front row, Scott Otten, the hooker, and Callum Lewis from the

:41:23. > :41:44.Blues. Just as well the referee blew up

:41:45. > :41:49.then because there was a temptation for Ollie Griffiths to kneel back

:41:50. > :41:54.and get the ball, it was too great. Yes, missed the strike, straight

:41:55. > :41:55.through. It happens in the scrum, ordinarily, but the whistle beat him

:41:56. > :42:11.to it. Scott Benjamin has gone back to aid

:42:12. > :42:16.from the open side position, James Benjamin, sorry. -- he has gone back

:42:17. > :42:28.to eight. England have got half a dozen tries

:42:29. > :42:39.and 40 points against Scotland at under 20 level.

:42:40. > :42:46.Taggart wearing 20, in the scrum cap. He has come on in the Irish

:42:47. > :43:02.back row. Too early against Heffernan. They

:43:03. > :43:11.will ask for the scrum again, won't they?

:43:12. > :43:21.The reset scrum, the chance for the latest Wales change. Dragons' Tyler

:43:22. > :43:32.Morgan, wearing 23, on in midfield for Garyn Smith. Grandson of Joe

:43:33. > :43:59.Swift, the former Pontypridd coach. -- Joe Smith.

:44:00. > :44:09.He could not quite get his hands on it. Ireland safely have it.

:44:10. > :44:47.Second change in the Irish front row. Coulson on for Peter Dooley.

:44:48. > :44:55.All those changes in the front row, we'll see what that does. The

:44:56. > :44:58.Ireland scrum is looking better. Yes, since the changes Wales have

:44:59. > :45:47.not been as dominant. McCarthy to Byrne. Incomes

:45:48. > :45:53.Fitzpatrick, straight through the middle from Fitzpatrick. He took it

:45:54. > :46:03.on himself and Bagshaw got the tackle in. Dislodged the ball. And

:46:04. > :46:12.that was certainly a chance. That was a lovely move. The blind-side

:46:13. > :46:19.Wenger coming in off the wing. -- winger. Even though the Welsh

:46:20. > :46:25.defenders are tracking him back, he has to try and fix that last man. A

:46:26. > :46:38.precision pass would have done the rest. Just a hint of blocking by Dan

:46:39. > :46:47.Goggin. That was a lovely move. Bagshaw did what he had to do.

:46:48. > :47:05.Sheekey replaced in the second row by Rory Thornton.

:47:06. > :47:14.Wales looking to put this game to bed now. This would be a big, big

:47:15. > :47:24.win for them. It has been a tremendous second-half performance.

:47:25. > :47:39.Wales have put in twice as many tackles as their counterparts.

:47:40. > :47:48.He's a good player, the Welsh captain. Last week in Colwyn Bay,

:47:49. > :48:20.when he needed to, he led by example.

:48:21. > :48:27.Picked up by Robb. Wales calling for more defenders on the fireside.

:48:28. > :48:38.Straight down the middle from Ireland. -- far side.

:48:39. > :48:45.They really are playing for each other out there. Yes,

:48:46. > :48:51.psychologically turning round after the first half went the way it did,

:48:52. > :48:59.to have that belief, they have shown it very effectively.

:49:00. > :49:07.What are your thoughts on that one? We have been talking a lot about the

:49:08. > :49:11.contact. Critical for me would be the quality

:49:12. > :49:18.possession Wales deliver in the tackle area. That was part of the

:49:19. > :49:34.difficulty last week. We did not have that temple, that quality ball,

:49:35. > :49:38.that cleanliness. -- that tempo. Pull delivery for once and it has

:49:39. > :49:42.put Tom Williams under real pressure from Donohue. Wales have done

:49:43. > :49:47.extremely well just to come out of there with the ball. The former is

:49:48. > :49:57.all a big debt to the scrum-half for saving them. Nicky Smith.

:49:58. > :50:07.Back to the hard graft for Wales. Inching their way down field. Get

:50:08. > :50:10.away from the danger area. Tom Williams goes every, but goes out of

:50:11. > :50:28.play. -- goes aerial. This Driscoll factor is so massive.

:50:29. > :50:31.When you get dropped, arguably the most high-profile selection decision

:50:32. > :50:39.of all time, and it will not be forgotten. For him, his team-mates

:50:40. > :50:43.and the whole nation. Fascinating. The other Driscoll factor, in his

:50:44. > :50:55.final year, they want to say goodbye in the best possible way. They will

:50:56. > :51:08.be bouncing off the walls. Conor McKeon... Stephane Hughes is

:51:09. > :51:16.injured at the moment. Just trying to pick any defensive position. He

:51:17. > :51:21.will not want anyone running at him. Wales can give their skippers some

:51:22. > :51:36.attention. Good positioning from the fullback.

:51:37. > :51:56.Passports them under pressure. The ball was called out. On. Good

:51:57. > :52:02.hounding by Wales. But basic errors by Ireland. But under pressure, as

:52:03. > :52:15.you mentioned. Wales players have been chasing everything.

:52:16. > :52:45.Advantage. A big advantage for Ireland. We comes McCarthy. A great

:52:46. > :52:55.tackle by Ashton Hewitt. In those Conor McKeon -- in goals. Ireland

:52:56. > :53:04.desperate to get their first points on the board.

:53:05. > :53:24.All of side in midfield. In 1992, Neil Francis was failed by

:53:25. > :53:29.Tony. What I loved about that story was apparently after the game Tony

:53:30. > :53:37.complimented Neil Francis are not making too big a deal of it.

:53:38. > :53:45.That was a belter. How we stayed on the pitch. How would the referee

:53:46. > :53:57.just give him a finger wagging and that was it. He took it a bit too

:53:58. > :54:07.literally, I think. The Welsh women have gone down to their second

:54:08. > :54:13.defeat. 14-6. Ireland's women have one their game. The last of the

:54:14. > :54:40.Welsh substitutes coming on, mate in the game. -- late.

:54:41. > :54:51.On the ground clock, there is only a minute left. But that is not stop

:54:52. > :54:53.clock. A few minutes to be added. But it is all academic as far as

:54:54. > :55:20.Ireland is concerned. We'll is happy to see the ball in

:55:21. > :55:25.there. They will be happy to see the ball of the park as well. Connor

:55:26. > :55:29.Lloyd fires in back. Luke Price gets it away. Well done by the Welsh

:55:30. > :55:43.defence. Two blank this Irish side takes some

:55:44. > :55:48.doing. Especially the way they started. I'd expected big things of

:55:49. > :55:57.them when they turned around in the second half.

:55:58. > :56:07.Ireland have had their fair share of possession. Especially in the first

:56:08. > :56:16.half. But Wales have responded extremely well. Coulson, their

:56:17. > :56:23.replacement prop. The ball comes back from Taggart. But Wales

:56:24. > :56:31.disrupt. Disrupt illegally however. No arms tackle. They have got to tap

:56:32. > :56:40.and go, Ireland. They are looking for a few crumbs of comfort in this

:56:41. > :56:41.game. Great tackling by Wales. They really have squeezed the life out of

:56:42. > :56:58.Ireland. David Busby. Or Donohue. They have kept the lid

:56:59. > :57:03.on him this evening after an impressive performance last week.

:57:04. > :57:11.Heffernan looking for a Dan Leavy. A clever pass, but nobody there on the

:57:12. > :57:22.end of it. Again, we'll subject in their back out of the 22. That Welsh

:57:23. > :57:35.line is waiting. -- again Wales have driven them back out of the 22.

:57:36. > :57:46.Garrett is penalised for hanging on.

:57:47. > :57:58.James Benjamin has been given the man of the match award. Playing

:57:59. > :58:09.seven this week. Visible again. I would have to look at scrummaging is

:58:10. > :58:16.a collective effort. But the back row have profited from the effort.

:58:17. > :58:27.One last effort from Ireland. Can Wales keep a clean sheet?

:58:28. > :58:38.They haven't shirked their task at all this evening.

:58:39. > :58:46.Again, piledriving into the tackle. Dan Leavy. Conor McKeon juggles the

:58:47. > :59:01.catchers and gets the pass away. In the final minute of the game.

:59:02. > :59:08.Ireland looking for their first points. Fitzpatrick, who could well

:59:09. > :59:15.have got them on the scoresheet with that clean break. Those missed kicks

:59:16. > :59:22.in the first half have not come back to haunt Wales.

:59:23. > :59:26.Another penalty goes the way of Ireland. Again, they go for the

:59:27. > :59:46.quick tap and go. Could be the last effort from

:59:47. > :59:55.Ireland coming up. One more bit of defending four Wales. Heffernan

:59:56. > :59:59.tries to get his way over. McCarthy. Still this Wales team will not give

:00:00. > :00:12.up, will not let them in. Conor McKeon. Again, effectively hacked

:00:13. > :00:17.through. Knocked on. That is a superb win by Wales, their best ever

:00:18. > :00:21.win against Ireland. Only their second ever on Irish soil and to

:00:22. > :00:26.blank this very good Irish team has been a quite outstanding effort from

:00:27. > :00:30.Byron Hayward's boys. Steffan Hughes, the captain, with the only

:00:31. > :00:35.try and the boot of Ethan Davies, into the wind as well as with the

:00:36. > :00:41.wind, proving this -- proving decisive. The Welsh boys can feel

:00:42. > :00:47.rightly proud of themselves. It is two from two for the Wales under 20s

:00:48. > :00:53.and that is a performance they can look back on and savour. Conditions,

:00:54. > :00:58.awful, but the performance, top drawer, and the victory of 16 -

:00:59. > :01:02.zero. Yes, very impressed with that. We know from the stats that the

:01:03. > :01:07.Irish under 20s are very, very strong here and that is a job well

:01:08. > :01:11.done but in the early parts of the game it did not look as if it would

:01:12. > :01:15.be coming but when they turned around, the mentality changed. The

:01:16. > :01:20.wind can do that to you. You are thinking, you have got to carry

:01:21. > :01:23.against the wind, they are giving us territory, and sometimes your game

:01:24. > :01:29.goes and we saw both sides doing better against the wind. An

:01:30. > :01:34.excellent win from Wales. 16-0, the try scorer, there is captain Steffan

:01:35. > :01:40.Hughes and the man of the match James Benjamin joins us.

:01:41. > :01:47.Congratulations, how does that feel? Fantastic, the desire throughout the

:01:48. > :01:51.game was phenomenal and at the end in the defensive sets, 80 minutes

:01:52. > :01:54.into the game and we defended superbly. I thought the front row

:01:55. > :01:58.were outstanding and the whole team had a great performance. You made

:01:59. > :02:03.double the tackles that Ireland had to make. Did it feel that type of

:02:04. > :02:07.game? Yes, the conditions dictated the game would be tight and we

:02:08. > :02:10.played a lot off nine and their attack was very good but the effort

:02:11. > :02:17.we showed was phenomenal and I am proud. Man of the match, Newport's

:02:18. > :02:20.pride and joy, how good was that forward performance? Fantastic, we

:02:21. > :02:24.had a great base in the scrum which performs throughout the game. We

:02:25. > :02:27.knew it was important to get territory and to get a try on the

:02:28. > :02:33.board and we did it and towards the end it was pure effort and desire to

:02:34. > :02:39.not concede points. A word for the boys tomorrow, the big one? Do a job

:02:40. > :02:45.like we did. A great win for Wales, here is the story of the match.

:02:46. > :02:49.We knew it would never be a thriller and the conditions did play their

:02:50. > :03:00.part. Getting immensely hard. Ethan Davies missed five in the

:03:01. > :03:03.first and took a couple in the second to take Wales into the lead.

:03:04. > :03:11.The solitary try of the game, great handling, despite the ball being

:03:12. > :03:15.like a bar of soap. It was decisive, 16-0 was the result for Wales and we

:03:16. > :03:21.can go back down to Phil Steele, who is with Byron Hayward, who won the

:03:22. > :03:27.Battle of Blaenau. You have won the battle, how good

:03:28. > :03:31.was the performance, particularly from the forward? We needed a

:03:32. > :03:33.massive performance into the wind and it was set by the forwards and

:03:34. > :03:43.in particular the scrum. Tactically we were spot-on and the

:03:44. > :03:48.kicking game was impressive. We took the chances, took the goals and

:03:49. > :03:52.scored a try from a turnover scrum. Was there anybody at half-time that

:03:53. > :03:57.did not have enough on the board? Possibly, but we had to believe we

:03:58. > :04:00.were in front. We missed a few kicks but conditions were difficult. We

:04:01. > :04:04.had to believe in what we were doing and they did that and I thought our

:04:05. > :04:10.defence won the game, combined with the scrum. You may double the

:04:11. > :04:15.tackles that Ireland made. Yes, I think until about 30 then it's into

:04:16. > :04:20.the game we had 27% possession, so that is the reason for that. Well

:04:21. > :04:27.said. A word for the boys tomorrow in Dublin? Yes, good luck to them,

:04:28. > :04:30.obviously. Hopefully they can take encouragement from us tonight and I

:04:31. > :04:34.am sure they will put up a good performance and give a positive

:04:35. > :04:40.result tomorrow. Weldon, two from two. Cheers. Here's a mild mannered

:04:41. > :04:45.individual, Byron Hayward, he did not seem as delighted as you would

:04:46. > :04:49.expect but that was a significant result for his young team away from

:04:50. > :04:55.home. Conditions were awful, he did -- he deserves huge credit. The last

:04:56. > :04:59.two or three minutes the game was won and they could have thrown in

:05:00. > :05:05.the towel and that Ireland get over the try-line but they were desperate

:05:06. > :05:10.to make tackles, so huge credit and a show of character from the Welsh

:05:11. > :05:14.lads. Forwards decide who wins matches, backs decide by how much,

:05:15. > :05:18.and Wales were very workmanlike about what they did today. They went

:05:19. > :05:23.about their business. We spoke about how they had to play the conditions.

:05:24. > :05:26.I thought they did that really well. They mauled the ball, concentrated

:05:27. > :05:32.on the scrum and did a fantastic job. I take my hat off to Wales, a

:05:33. > :05:37.very good win. Thanks, very generous of you. Sean Holley, a mature

:05:38. > :05:41.performance, the try sealed it but other than that defensively and as

:05:42. > :05:47.Frankie mentioned, in terms of the approach, a mature performance from

:05:48. > :05:51.a young team? Very mature, a lot of bravery, one thing they do similar

:05:52. > :05:55.to their senior team this -- senior team is tackle and defend. It showed

:05:56. > :05:57.in the tackle count but Richard Hodges has worked hard with his team

:05:58. > :06:07.already. They adopt a low tackle focus and

:06:08. > :06:11.make it difficult. There was a lot of Irish errors but it was caused by

:06:12. > :06:15.the urgency and accuracy of the tackle. Even last-ditch, you see

:06:16. > :06:21.Bagshaw, who has got to make this tackle and he does. Ireland spilled

:06:22. > :06:25.the ball. A fantastic effort. The scrum was dominant, particularly in

:06:26. > :06:29.the second half. Nicky Thomas and Nicky Smith and Ethan Smith did

:06:30. > :06:35.fantastically well, dominating, and they knew in the second half, one

:06:36. > :06:39.chance you will get. Benjamin, the man of the match, barges off and

:06:40. > :06:44.gets the gain-line. Even though this is not perfect, the urgency of them

:06:45. > :06:47.to get up in the line and support showed the team spirit they would

:06:48. > :06:55.need to take the one chance. Fitting the captain Steffan Hughes took it.

:06:56. > :06:58.Fantastic. Thanks. Martyn come you would expect the try when it

:06:59. > :07:02.eventually came to have been a kind of bundle over from two yards out

:07:03. > :07:07.but it was, given the conditions, impressive? Yes, the line and the

:07:08. > :07:14.ball from Tom Williams, a great power, a big game. Glory boy seven

:07:15. > :07:19.after all the hard work the front row had done. Brilliant hands,

:07:20. > :07:23.clinical finishing one chance and it really isn't a game like this, you

:07:24. > :07:27.get the one chance and the try, so valuable. Thoroughly deserved the

:07:28. > :07:29.win. The man who lost the battle of Blaenau, Mike Ruddock, is with the

:07:30. > :07:41.Phil Steele. Al played at forward, do you think?

:07:42. > :07:44.We lost Sean Lock, the tight head and we needed his weight and

:07:45. > :07:50.techniques. Once we lost him Wales got on top. They deserved the

:07:51. > :07:53.victory. Last week we patted ourselves on the back against

:07:54. > :07:57.Scotland, we scored well against them but well done to Wales, they

:07:58. > :08:03.fully deserved it. I did not know they knew that much about forward

:08:04. > :08:08.play? We know about forward play and back play. Tomorrow's game, so

:08:09. > :08:14.evenly poised. How do you see it? It is, it will be a hell of a game. Two

:08:15. > :08:18.years ago Stephen Furnace made a late tackle, and illegal tackle,

:08:19. > :08:22.that won is a penalty from Wayne Barnes in the last minute and it

:08:23. > :08:27.could come down to something like that. Joe Schmidt coming in, a bit

:08:28. > :08:32.of momentum, it might just to pick Ireland's way but who knows, it will

:08:33. > :08:35.be very tight. We have been talking about controversial moments. Between

:08:36. > :08:40.Wales and Ireland over the years, all right. What is it about these

:08:41. > :08:43.games that makes it so special and confrontational? They are physical

:08:44. > :08:48.teams. The youngsters went at each other hammer and tongs upfront and

:08:49. > :08:54.Wales fully deserved the victory tonight, but they are both Celtic,

:08:55. > :08:58.passionate nations and that is what you will get. No quarter given or

:08:59. > :09:06.asked. Are you wearing the daffodil of a shamrock? 50-50 again! You

:09:07. > :09:12.can't quite believe with that accent he would be 50-50. Let's talk about

:09:13. > :09:15.scrums. It was a bugbear of yours, we talked about the dominance but

:09:16. > :09:19.Wales were achieving in that department and you were crying out

:09:20. > :09:23.for substitutes to be brought on by Mike Ruddock to perhaps address that

:09:24. > :09:26.problem. He left it too late, didn't he? The writing was on the ball at

:09:27. > :09:35.half-time. This is an Irish scrum, this was the

:09:36. > :09:38.Welsh scrum going forward and they were dominant but I made the call

:09:39. > :09:42.and we both made the call to say why doesn't he make changes just after

:09:43. > :09:47.half-time? This wasn't going to change. Look at this. It is not just

:09:48. > :09:50.the scrum going back, it is the psychological damage that does do

:09:51. > :09:56.not just the front row, the back row, the whole lot of them behind.

:09:57. > :10:00.On 56 or 57 minutes the changes were made, the tight head and the

:10:01. > :10:03.loose-head and the scrum turned around. I am not saying that Ireland

:10:04. > :10:07.would have won the game but it would have been a close contest and nobody

:10:08. > :10:12.minds losing but I think there was more in this Irish team and I think

:10:13. > :10:16.they left a lot behind them and to be beaten 16-0 and probably should

:10:17. > :10:21.have been beaten by more considering the penalties missed, it was

:10:22. > :10:24.disappointing. The scrum was a contributing factor to the victory

:10:25. > :10:29.and the Welsh defence. They put-in twice as many tackles as the Irish.

:10:30. > :10:33.Some of the Blitz defending was aggressive and snuffed out

:10:34. > :10:37.potentially dangerous attacks? Yes, impressive against Italy and you

:10:38. > :10:40.find your character in defence and it was outstanding. To put your body

:10:41. > :10:46.on the line and work like they did, really was top drawer. The attacking

:10:47. > :10:51.is different with the Welsh national side, the defences based on the

:10:52. > :10:55.Welsh blitz defence and they are Welsh -- they are well-organised and

:10:56. > :10:59.having conceded a try in the last two games, it is working for them.

:11:00. > :11:04.They came within inches of winning this tournament last year, defeated

:11:05. > :11:07.by England who took the Grand Slam ultimately. Can you see them going

:11:08. > :11:11.all the way on the evidence we have seen? They will take huge

:11:12. > :11:16.confidence, particularly coming away from home. France next, England is

:11:17. > :11:21.always the big one. They are so powerful, they have so much depth.

:11:22. > :11:26.There is no reason why, on the basis of these first two games, they can't

:11:27. > :11:30.win the whole thing. It is the psychological victory of winning

:11:31. > :11:33.away from home and we spoke about the question at the start, what

:11:34. > :11:37.thoughts will be going through these guys' minds as they arrive at the

:11:38. > :11:41.ground and we get these negative monsters that jumping, you can't do

:11:42. > :11:44.this or that and you can bet that during the course of that game there

:11:45. > :11:49.were 100 other places they would rather have been, there lungs

:11:50. > :11:52.burning and freezing cold, but to engage with that and overcome it

:11:53. > :12:00.says a lot about Welsh team and the manner of the win. You enjoy winning

:12:01. > :12:04.those games more, you have to sit in the changing rooms and there is no

:12:05. > :12:09.better feeling. Going forward, it is a huge confidence and momentum for

:12:10. > :12:13.them. Congratulations to that under 20s. Let's talk about tomorrow. We

:12:14. > :12:16.have talked about it in detail at half-time but I will put you on the

:12:17. > :12:22.spot. We will start with you, Frankie, will you predict and

:12:23. > :12:25.Ireland win? It was close last week with my predictions so the golden

:12:26. > :12:28.rule, don't do it twice in a row because you don't get it. The

:12:29. > :12:33.bookmakers are giving Ireland a 2-point advantage and I would be

:12:34. > :12:38.thinking that, it is quite accurate. The weather will play a role. Both

:12:39. > :12:42.those teams, an interesting question to the coaches, is their stuff they

:12:43. > :12:46.can pick up? They certainly can. They can watch the mistakes that

:12:47. > :12:53.were made today and just getting on with the workmanlike way the Wales

:12:54. > :12:57.-- the way that Wales won today. My answer is, Ireland. Before Sean

:12:58. > :13:02.Holley packs up his bags, I will bring him in. Your prediction for

:13:03. > :13:07.tomorrow? For what it is worth I think it hard to go against Warren

:13:08. > :13:11.Gatland. He has proved time and time again, Wales will need to raise

:13:12. > :13:15.themselves, Adam Jones is due a big game, Jamie Roberts and Scott

:13:16. > :13:19.Williams, you have George North. I can't go against Wales. It will be a

:13:20. > :13:28.passionate game, huge atmosphere, but Wales by two. Good man, so 1-1.

:13:29. > :13:35.Martyn, the casting vote? Wales, I think they will. It will suit Wales,

:13:36. > :13:40.the wet and windy it is, the defence and the power game. We have Leigh

:13:41. > :13:45.Halfpenny and Sexton cooking, it will come down to that and he will

:13:46. > :13:49.be the difference. 2-1 to Wales, the panel have been biased tonight but

:13:50. > :13:54.thanks for your company. It has stopped raining, typical! We have to

:13:55. > :13:58.go now but the big one is tomorrow. It has been a good starter. The main

:13:59. > :14:02.course is coming tomorrow. We know the rivalry is a very fierce one but

:14:03. > :14:18.we are all best friends really, aren't we? Good night.

:14:19. > :14:34.# Give got a friend in me # You've got a friend in me

:14:35. > :14:38.# Yes, give got a friend in me #.