Welsh will be a tough test - Niall Collins TD
Posted on 12/03/10 by Niall Collins
Tomorrow’s match against the Welsh will be a big test for this Irish team. While the Welsh have had a rocky start to the championship this year they have shown against the Scottish and the French that they still have the fire power to cause the Irish defence a lot of problems.
In both of their last two matches the Welsh have gone through late rallies which have really had their opponents on the rack. Given our own late show against the English in Twickenham, we might have to wait until the last 20 minutes of tomorrow’s match before the real action starts.
While in recent years the Irish have won most of their home games against the Welsh, historically speaking the Welsh actually have the slight upper hand over the Irish. Since the advent of this fixture back in 1882, the Welsh have won 47% of the matches held on Irish soil, compared to the 46% that resulted in home wins.
http://www.irishrugby.ie/18104_18115.php
The overall head to head record makes even worse reading with the Welsh winning 54% of the games against us.
However in recent years the Irish have reversed those stats. We have won 8 of the last 10 meetings between these sides, with the only reverses coming in years when Wales have gone on to win the 6 Nations Championship.
It is perhaps no surprise this streak has coincided with the career of arguably Irish rugby’s finest ever player – Brian O’Driscoll. Only a handful of players around the world have reached the milestone of 100 caps for their country. Tomorrow the Irish captain should join that group.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rugby_union_Test_caps_leaders
While he made his Irish debut in June 1999 during the tour of Australia, it was the following year during Ireland’s historic win over France when he scored three tries that O’Driscoll really captured the Irish sporting public’s imagination.
Since that moment it is fair to say that has been the dominant figure of Irish rugby. It is testament to his skills, character and attitude that he has worn the public expectations placed on his shoulders with great grace over the years since that moment. Every time a challenge has been put before him, O’Driscoll has overcome it with dignity and determination. The pride he has shown wearing a green jersey has come out in the quality and success of his many top class performances.
I am sure that the Irish rugby fans will pay sufficient tribute to this amazing Irish sporting figure when he steps out in front of a packed Croke Park tomorrow. He is an amazing player, one that any country would love to have as part of their team. More importantly though, he has become an Irish icon that the fans are rightly proud to consider one of their own.
http://www.brianodriscoll.ie/about.html
Tomorrow I hope the team will deliver the victory he deserves for such an occasion, bringing us one step closer to the Triple Crown.
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