FROM THE ARCHIVE MARCH 18th, 1985/Wales 9 Ireland 21: EDMUND VAN ESBECKon the joyous scenes as the Welsh hoodoo in Cardiff is finally ended and a Triple Crown rendezvous with England is set up

THE SOUNDS, faint but audible, in the aftermath of Ireland’s success at Murrayfield – “Ireland for the Triple Crown” – were resounding around Cardiff last Saturday afternoon as the thousands poured out from the National Stadium. For almost 20 years we have waited, ah yes, and suffered too, as Welsh supremacy asserted itself. Not this time as Ireland fashioned a great victory in a manner remarkable yet thoroughly deserved.

For the first time since 1967 Ireland beat Wales on their own formidable heath, and by the most decisive margin there.

The scene is now set fair for the match against England at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week when victory will not alone yield the Triple Crown, but also the championship.

That delicate but essential amalgam of talent, youthful exuberance and experience now seems embodied in this team and the right touch of arrogance fundamental to self-belief, and leadership of incalculable value in the person of Ciarán Fitzgerald.

All those characteristics and a few more were demonstrated in a game that will live long in the memory and, even the gamble of entrusting the place-kicking duties to a player inexperienced in this vital facet has come off because of the temperament and accuracy of Michael Kiernan, who had five successful kicks at goal.

Wales paid a very high price for failing to take goal-kicking opportunities and, although they dominated the lineout and had the steadier scrum for most of the match, they were outpaced in the loose, outplayed behind the scrum and faced by a side whose tackling was seldom less than ironclad.

Indeed the familiar Welsh chant of exultation we have heard so often when the visiting side was on the run, Bread of Heaven, got but one muted rendering and that after Wales had erased the nine points lead Ireland had built up 16 minutes after the start.

That score had been built on a penalty from Kiernan 27 yards to the left of the posts after nine minutes and seven minutes later a try from Trevor Ringland, the product of his tenacity and Michael Bradley’s perception as he floated a beautiful kick into Ringland’s flight path. The ball rolled over the Welsh line and Ringland beat Phil Lewis to ground it for a try.

Kiernan added the conversion from a wide angle on the right and Ireland were nine points up.

The Welsh made a valiant enough effort, but this team just did not have the rounded skills to deal with an opposing force imbued with an unquenchable spirit and armed with sufficient skill in vital areas to counter the Welsh strengths where they lay.

Yet Ireland built this win against a background of some difficulties, foremost the problems in the lineout, where Wales won comprehensively, at a ratio of over three to one. But there were some compensating factors, primarily that Wales often failed to tidy up after the ball was won and some of their feeding to scrumhalf Terry Holmes was very poor.

These factors played into the hands of an Irish pack, and a backrow in particular, that was much faster around the field. Often, after Wales got the initial touch, very often through Richard Moriarty at the back, the Irish poured through to harass and spoil Holmes, and the Welsh, instead of launching attacks, found themselves desperately trying to contain the Irish advance.

The rucking of the Irish was much more authoritative and here it is opportune to mention the work of the backrow trio, Philip Matthews, Brian Spillane and Nigel Carr. No praise is too high for this magnificent trio whose tackling, support and general contribution were immense.

Carr must be a candidate for man of the match, but would have to yield to the diminutive Keith Crossan on the left wing. Not alone did Crossan mark the occasion by scoring his first try for Ireland – he will never score one more valuable – but the general level of his performance was excellent.

This young man has immense talents and considerable pace and is now investing those attributes with a keen appreciation of the team’s needs, notably in defence, and on three occasions here, that was as evident as it was valuable.

It is not often one can say Ireland’s backs outplayed Wales, but every one of Ireland’s seven last Saturday deserve great credit and they imposed prolonged anguish on the Welsh, who just did not have the pace, skill or wit to beat the Irish defence, despite enjoying more and better set-piece possession.

Furthermore, Ireland were faced with a crisis after that bright beginning that yielded the nine -points harvest: Gradually, Wales played themselves back into the match and, when Gareth Davies dropped a neat goal in the 28th minute, it was the preface to some dangerous and sustained Welsh attack. They were winning the cleaner ball in the scrum and Holmes looked as if he might exert his influence .

He was almost in after a scrum under the Irish posts. Then, Wales won a scrum, comfortably enough to control the ball in the backrow and turn towards the short side. Holmes gestured to Davies to move left and the long, looping pass went out. Davies made ground before being buried by Matthews, but got the pass away and Lewis was in the clear and over the Ireland line. Fullback Mark Wyatt, destined to have a nightmare afternoon, kicked a conversion from the touchline and Wales were level.

Now Ireland faced a test of their character and courage and passed it with honours. Just on half-time, Kiernan got a second chance to kick a penalty goal and he duly obliged and Ireland faced the second half 12-9 in front.

There were worries that Wales, having hauled themselves back from the brink, would hit early in the second half and they got a great chance when Phil Orr was penalised for an obstruction on Holmes. But, Wyatt made a mess of a great penalty chance.

That was Wyatt’s fifth kick at goal and he missed all but one, the conversion. With the Irish backrow keeping Holmes in check and Davies under pressure, the Welsh backline looked anything but competent and were ready prey to the great Irish tackling.

There were a few close calls and, at times, Hugo MacNeill was hesitant, but never less than safe under the dropping ball and a major contribution was at hand from him.

It came in the 16th minute of the second half and, as he had done at Murrayfield, MacNeill provided a brilliantly-timed scoring pass, this time for Crossan after a great passing movement.

Ireland had attacked on the right but Ringland was halted. His great strength and determination enabled him to keep the ball in play before Matthews arrived in support. Ireland won the ruck and the ball was moved with swift accuracy right across the line, with MacNeill coming up to take the pass outside the second centre; he made ground and then transferred to Crossan and the Welsh defence was breached and their spirit effectively broken. Kiernan kicked the conversion and Ireland’s nine -point lead was restored.

Wales now played like a side resigned to their fate. They continued to try and spread the ball across the back line, when perhaps it might have been better to try and capitalise on their advantages in the set-pieces.

But their scrummaging power was by now diminishing and Ireland finished the stronger in this important area.

Wyatt got another penalty chance and again missed badly at a time when Wales so badly needed a score. There was no way through the Irish defence and each passing minute hardened the conviction that a great win was at hand. Any small element of doubt was finally quelled when in the 78th minute Kiernan kicked his third penalty, for a personal contribution of 13 points and that was that.

The circumstances that disrupted the championship this season now decree a final showdown against England 12 days hence that presents Ireland with the chance of a dual accomplishment.

That has been earned by away wins against Scotland and now Wales and the home point against France. It should add to the occasion that England, too, are still in contention for Crown and championship and that will curtail any element of complacency that might exist.

But the sounds will go up “Ireland for the Triple Crown”, and we have reason for optimism that such a dream will be realised. And the footnote to events in Cardiff is that, quite apart from the satisfaction of the win and the manner in which it was attained, the match was free from any element of the distasteful on the field of play.

Prior to the match on Saturday there was a very significant gesture by the Ireland side. As they stood for the Welsh anthem, all the players linked arms as a mark of their solidarity. Never was that characteristic better exemplified than in this truly remarkable match.

WALES: M Wyatt (Swansea); M Titley (Bridgend), M Ring (Cardiff), R Ackerman (London Welsh), P Lewis (Llanelli); G Davies (Cardiff), T Holmes (Cardiff), capt; J Whitefoot (Cardiff), W James (Aberavon), I Eidman (Cardiff); J Perkins (Pontypool), R Norster (Cardiff); M Morris (South Wales Police), R Moriarty (Swansea), D Pickering (Llanelli).

IRELAND: H MacNeill (Oxford University): T Ringland (Ballymena), B Mullin (Dublin University), M Kiernan (Lansdowne), K Crossan (Instonians); P Dean (St Mary’s), M Bradley (Cork Constitution); P Orr (Old Wesley). C Fitzgerald (St Mary’s) capt, J McCoy (Dungannon); D Lenihan (Cork (Constitution), W Anderson (Dungannon); P Matthews (Ards), B Spillane (Bohemians), N Carr (Ards).

Referee: K Fitzgerald (Australia).