Ireland…29
Wales…7
A very short time into his Championship debut against Dublin, Ollie Murphy palmed the ball into an empty net in front a packed Canal End. For any Meath player it can’t get much better than that. Well, at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon, shy of scoring a try, if there is such a thing as a dream debut, Connacht winger Mack Hansen had exactly that.
In fact, the entire story of the Canberra man in Irish rugby to date is nothing short of remarkable. After all, it’s only eight months since he went into the west. However, anybody curious about his inclusion – including this writer – well and truly had any lingering fears well and truly allayed.
At this point it’s worth pointing out that Hansen’s inclusion is due reward for Connacht’s rising status in the game which has seen them earn themselves a tilt at knockout rugby in Europe for the first time. Which, rightfully, has led to more of Andy Friend’s charges being called up by the other Andy.
Truthfully, Ireland never looked losing this Six Nations Championship opener, especially after a 70 metre run from new man Hansen put a try on a plate for his provincial colleague Bundee Aki after three minutes. If there was one disappointment in a near faultless Irish performance, it was the amount of scores they left out on the field.
Though leading 10-0 at the short whistle, that advantage could and should have been much greater. However, you get the impression they were told as much when digesting the Jaffa Cakes because they emerged a more purposeful. clinical outfit.
Tries flowed from the outstanding Andrew Conway (twice) and Garry Ringrose while Johnny Sexton kicked imperiously, especially on a day when even a fly half of his incomparable class could be forgiven for feeling picked on by the weatherman above.
Andy Farrell will hardly be amused at the concession of a soft try when keeping a clean sheet was a distinct possibility and should’ve really have been completed. You’d hope the concession of the late seven points won’t work against them later in the campaign.
On the upside, mind you, imagine being the unfortunate Welsh, you get pummled around the Lansdowne Road venue for over an hour, only to see the Irish empty the bench of Cian Healy, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray and Joey Carbery with a quarter of an hour to go. If the boot was on the other foot it would nearly be classified as cruel.
While it is indeed a healthy position for Farrell and his group, they will be acutely aware that they’ll need every resource they have going to Paris.
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