Keith Wood has pointed to the Welsh defensive resilience and Ireland’s lack of accuracy as the reasons behind yesterday’s Six Nations defeat at the Millennium Stadium.
Speaking to Joe on Off the Ball this afternoon, Wood pointed out a lack of a Plan B in yesterday’s game, saying that the side “were conditioned to the idea that that works normally.”
“In many respects, the forwards were certain they’d score and I think they have done against other teams, that relentless hammering away gets you the score, gets it under the posts, there you go for seven points” he reflected.
“We were bludgeoning them and they weren’t lying down.”
The main example of this in Cardiff was a spell of Irish pressure in the second period that amounted to over 30 phases but no try. Wood reckons a lack of imagination was obvious at that stage:
“I think there could have been a bit more creativity to be honest.
“We’ve said all along that when the opportunity arises, we do need to do something, we do need to attack a little bit more. But I’m not going to change what I would’ve said, I thought the manner in which we played needs to have been played at the same level and I think that if we played at the same level of accuracy, I think we would’ve won.”
Referee Wayne Barnes was subject to much criticism, particularly from the Irish support, at full-time. The Englishman awarded 25 penalties during the game, a tally that Wood found to be too high.
“I was often frustrated by Wayne Barnes and I was again in that period of time and I wouldn’t say exclusively from an Irish perspective but just in general I think, at times, the level of empathy that he has for what’s going on and for the level of physical nature of the game and the contact, I think he was blowing up or showing a penalty just too quickly” he said.
While the Grand Slam hopes are now dashed, there is cause for optimism.
“Let’s not get too despondent with it, or too over the top. We have won 10 matches on the trot with that style” Wood advised.
“It didn’t work on this occasion. Yes, it could’ve worked if we had been accurate enough and it didn’t. Does that mean we throw everything away? I don’t think so. I do think we need to have a little bit more of an arsenal but it’s only a small bit. But it’s what we learn from it now.”
England’s score difference is all that stands between Ireland and a Six Nations Championship, now, provided Ireland win in Murrayfield on Saturday. Scotland provide the final hurdle for Joe Schmidt’s team and Keith Wood thinks Ireland just need to worry about themselves next week:
“I don’t think Ireland have a fear of what Scotland might do, even though Scotland scored a cracking try yesterday and are able to do different things, but if Ireland are able to focus on what they do and do very well and are as accurate as they can be, you know, then they’ll be fine.”
You can listen to the full interview below.
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