Opening fare whets the appetite for tasty and feisty renewal of Celtic rivalry

Whereas France's entrée was straight into les rosbifs in what was always going to be the pick of the opening weekend, Wales and Ireland have begun with more of a set menu. Watching them eventually subdue Italy and Scotland, rarely have encounters on the opening weekend been so over-shadowed by the thought of what is coming up in round two. Each win was entirely expected, and was largely viewed in the context of how they were shaping up for next Saturday's tasty and potentially feisty renewal of their Celtic rivalry.

Each emerged unscathed, with room to improve as both assuredly will do, and with the scope to make a couple of changes. It could be argued that Ireland had the more convincing win, but equally that Italy offered more, both defensively and offensively, than Scotland did. Although Wales are back-to-back champions, and have won four of the seven meetings since Warren Gatland became their head coach, Paddy Powers have made Ireland two-point favourites, presumably as they are at home. Yet, historically this fixture has yielded more away wins than home wins in every decade since the '80s, with 21 away wins to eight by the home side, and one drawn, in the last 30 championship meetings since 1984.

Requisite desire
Besides, if Wales were more under par, that may not displease Gatland and the Welsh think tank unduly. It will ensure the requisite desire for improvement within the context of a full week's preparation as against Ireland's truncated week.

By rights, Ireland should also have whatever benefits can be accrued from the IRFU running an infinitely better ship than the WRU, whose regions will sever ties with their governing body next week when they declare their intentions to press ahead with an Anglo-Welsh League.

The respective chairmen of the Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets, Peter Thomas and Nigel Short, are akin to the new breed of owners at some English and French clubs in that they are wealthy businessmen generally used to getting their way, or at any rate not taking orders. No less than the Ospreys chief executive Andrew Hore, they resent what they perceive as the attempt by the WRU to run down the regions and force them to walk away. For them, there is now no turning back. The implications for the Rabo Pro12 are potentially disastrous, but that’s for another day.

Regarding next Saturday, whereas the IRFU have managed to stave off Toulon and co for a batch of front-liners, leaving only Dave Kearney at Leinster unresolved of last Saturday's match-day squad, the Welsh are on the verge of a full-blown crisis.

Out of contract
By contrast, not only are Adam Jones, Rhys Priestland and Scott Williams all out of contract at the end of the season with their futures unresolved, and a bunch more heading to France, the remainder have no idea what the future holds. Yet no less than the contrasting European form at regional/provincial level, as ever this probably won't matter as all involved cocoon themselves in Club Wales.

Gatland will assuredly recall Sam Warburton to lead the side, with Justin Tipuric likelier to drop to the bench, and is likely to recall Gethin Jenkins given Paul James was pinged on three occasions at scrum time. Recalling Jonathan Davies for a match-up with Brian O'Driscoll over a month ahead of schedule would be a gamble given his 40 minutes for the Scarlets at the weekend was his first half of rugby since mid-November, although it wouldn't be beyond Gatland.

The Jamie Roberts-Davies axis is proven, but in any event Roberts had his best game for Wales for some time with Rhys Priestland restored and taking the ball to the gain line. Roberts carried 14 times for 49 metres, and the way he bounced Alberto Sgarbo to create Scott Williams' try was a reminder of their threat up the middle. Thus, it would be no surprise if Joe Schmidt re-united Gordon D'Arcy with Brian O'Driscoll, as well as restoring Paul O'Connell.

Down the middle
Wales, true to type, kicked long down the middle rather than afford Italy lineouts, and as Ronan O'Gara noted on RTÉ the ensuing low trajectory of Priestland's kicks are all potential blockdowns, added to which is a tendency to take three steps into his kicks. The increased opportunity to run ball back is encouraging given the well-being of Rob Kearney, whose countering led to one penalty and ultimately to his own try.

Also true to type, Wales had a dozen offloads to Ireland’s half dozen. For 15 years, O’Driscoll has often been Ireland’s sole exponent of an offloading game, and had his pass in the tackle off the deck after straightening the line been held by Chris Henry Ireland were in business.

Three of Ireland’s six offloads came in the nine-phase attack which led to Kearney’s try, first by Seán Cronin and O’Driscoll, enabling Johnny Sexton to give Dave Kearney a run up the left, before Dan Touhy’s offload put Henry in behind the Scottish defence.

After finishing bottom of the pile last season, it was no great surprise France produced such an emotionally charged and intense performance against England, even if they lost their way for a large chunk of the game after such a positive start. They are far from a vintage French team yet, with problems still at outhalf, and it's possibly the result that keeps the title wide open.
gthornley@irishtimes.com