Winners
Matt Sherratt
The new,temporary coach of Wales seems to have transformed the team within just a few training sessions. The attack was reinvented. There was a range of passing, new formations and some exciting play that got the crows onside. They did meander a little in the midfield when they needed to kick earlier during the first twenty minutes but that didn't stop them from taking a surprising lead at half time. Overall, Sherratt's coaching made a difference and his selection decisions paid off in a big way.
Gareth Anscombe
After being controversially left out of the Wales squad, Anscombe was probably wondering if he still had a future in international rugby. After his performance on Saturday it seems silly that it was ever in doubt. Simply having a fly-half with the experience of Anscombe released the pressure on the team and allowed them to play more freely which meant that they could properly compete with the Irish.
Max Llewellyn
Another puzzling omission from Gatland's squad proved that he has what it takes at this level. Llewellyn brought a straight-line physicality to the Welsh midfield that had been lacking in previous games. His carrying consistently got his team over the gain-line and he did well in defence on top of that. All in all, it was as good of a return as anyone in Wales could've hoped.
Ellis Mee
What a debut! The 21-year-old was deadly out wide whenever he got his hands on the ball. His creativity and pace brought a skill-set and X-factor that Wales had been lacking ever since Rees-Zammit abandoned them for the NFL dream.
Willgriff John
I did not see that performance coming. Willgriff John has not even been the nailed on starter at Sale Sharks in the English Premiership but you wouldn't have guessed it from his performance against Ireland. He beat Andrew Porter in the scrum on a few occasions, which is no small accomplishment, and carried well in the loose. New scrum coach Adam Jones apparently picked his front row based upon their form in training and that decision was rewarded by his entire front row but John was by far the standout.
Losers
Jamie Osbourne
Jamie Osbourne was given a start instead of Hugo Keenan who was seemingly rested for the game against Wales. Unfortunately, he seemed to struggle under the high ball and didn't command the game in the backfield. He will probably get time to develop those skills this summer when Keenan is probably going to be away with the Lions.
Warren Gatland
Gatland is not the cause of every issue in Welsh Rugby but I have found some of the defence of his recent record to be very strange. Many media members were saying that you couldn't expect anything more from this group of players and that Gatland was their best shot. it was quite clear then, and is now proved by evidence, that Gatland was actually somewhat hindering the squad at this point and he needed to go. The showing on Saturday just proved that, despite the incredible legacy the Kiwi leaves behind, it was past time to move on.
Josh Adams
He obviously didn't play on Saturday but, if the coaching staff continues to pick on form, he might not play in the final two games either. The performances of Rogers, Mee and Murray in the back three were some of the highlights of the game so it will be a challenge for Adams to break through that.
Andrew Porter
He was penalised three times at the scrum when up against Willgriff John. That is not the level Porter will be expecting from himself. He wasn't terrible, but as a key pillar of this Ireland team his performances have to be good and he certainly can't afford to damage his team like that in games against stiffer opposition.
Add comment
Comments