Thomas inspires Welsh win

This defeat should rankle, primarily because most of the damage was self-inflicted: Ireland's errorcount at Thomond Park yesterday sky-rocketed after an auspicious beginning to the match. Handling errors, a lack of vision and several poor performances conspired to make Wales's victory relatively facile in the end.

One may also point to Welsh willo'-the-wisp Arwel Thomas, whose 22 points offered a fitting embellishment to an exceptional performance. A fragile temperament has hampered his international career, but under sun-kissed skies, he oozed confidence.

Once Ireland abdicated control, Thomas stepped into the breach and shrewdly directed the Welsh backlash. He was aided and abetted by a pack who wrested control and in which Martin Williams was outstanding. His speed to support the ball carrier was crucial to Welsh continuity: to their credit, they sought to keep the ball in hand.

In Daffyd James, they enjoyed the game's most effective three-quarter: his physique punched holes in the Irish midfield into which his teammates poured. Replacement full back David Weatherley was another to impress, grabbing two tries in the process.

Nevertheless, for all Wales's virtuosity, one can not ignore the manner in which Ireland capitulated. They enjoyed a superb start and should have been 20 points clear, but a lack of potency and, at times, common sense allowed several scoring opportunities to slip away.

Few were not affected by the general malaise, the primary exception, captain and out-half Paul Burke. For the 54 minutes that he was on the pitch before being stretchered off and taken to hospital with suspected knee-ligament damage, he exercised a hugely positive influence over the Irish performance.

Burke's distribution, kicking and peripheral vision kept Ireland rumbling forward. Eddie Halvey, David Wallace, Kieron Dawson, Gabriel Fulcher and Justin Fitzpatrick battled gamely, if in vain. The industrious Steve McIvor, Killian Keane and Darragh O'Mahony never shirked their respective responsibilities.

Ireland enjoyed the perfect opening gambit: Fulcher won the kickoff, Kieron Dawson attacked the Welsh 22, ball was recycled twice in quick succession before Burke's neat dink allowed John McWeeney to out-jump his opposite number, Richard Rees, and dive over for a try.

Burke kicked a great conversion and the 7,000 Limerick crowd sensed an entertaining afternoon. However, despite their dominance, Ireland's failure to avail of chances, outside of a Burke penalty, and their needless transgressions, allowed Thomas to kick two penalties to keep Wales in touch.

On 25 minutes, Gary Longwell won a line-out on the Welsh 22, O'Mahony hit the line on the crash ball and when the ruck was won, Burke jinked over under the posts, before adding the conversion.

Wales's riposte was swift: from a line-out eight metres out, Robin McBryde hit Gareth Llewellyn, who threw the ball back to the hooker. His pass allowed Chris Wyatt to crash over for a well-worked try.

Thomas kicked a penalty just before the interval and then converted Weatherley's brace of tries in the opening 12 minutes of the second half. Burke's penalty sandwiched between the scores offered nothing more than a token gesture. He departed soon after on a stretcher and with him went the last vestiges of hope.

Wales exploited some fragile defence, particularly that of a deflated Kevin Nowlan and, surprisingly, Mervyn Murphy, playing with a newly-discovered arrogance. They added further tries from Thomas and scrum-half Andy Moore, both of which stemmed from Irish mistakes. The out-half posted the two conversions. Ireland then received a late consolation with McIvor's try on 71 minutes, a reward for his doggedness and perseverance.

Quimper was but a distant memory. Of greater concern for several individuals, however, will be the fact that they allowed an opportunity to copper-fasten a place on Ireland's summer tour to South Africa to escape. Some may not receive another chance.