1. Short term pain for long term gain

There have been hundreds of press releases in the past month or so detailing how all teams have been slogging away at their fitness in a bid to give them an edge when the World Cup rolls around. Wales have been at the forefront of this fitness-focused trend in the past few years, and given some of the basic errors they made against Ireland it seems as though they’ve been doing little else so far. There were some horrendously basic knock-ons, but most worrying was the alarming lack of defensive organisation – a handful of Ireland’s tries were walk-ins, thanks to very obvious-looking overlaps and the lack of guards around the ruck. Wales will be much, much better organised when the two sides meet again in a month’s time, but for now there is plenty to work on.

2. Last chance saloon

Several players, most notably in red, could have waved goodbye to their World Cup chances at the weekend in Cardiff. James Hook has long been a sore spot amongst fans and despite his great versatility and undoubted talent, he put in a very wobbly performance in the number 10 jersey. Gareth Anscombe was far more assured when he came on and gave Wales greater shape, and could well have leapfrogged the much-maligned Hook in the space of a 30 minute cameo. Similarly Lloyd Williams was much more impressive than Mike Phillips when he came on, but Phillips is a Gatland favourite and it’s inconceivable to think he won’t be in the final squad. Elsewhere Ross Moriarty showed plenty of raw potential but is probably too far from the finished article to make the final squad, while along with Anscombe the Dragons youngsters Hallam Amos and Tyler Morgan may well have usurped more experienced options as the few shining lights from this game.

3. A necessary evil

These warm-up games are a uniquely tricky prospect for players and coaches alike. They represent the last chance for coaches to gauge their players’ form and see which combinations work and which don’t. With that in mind, especially in a game with so many fringe players involved, players want to give their all to put their best foot forward for selection. But somewhere in the back of their minds must be the concern that they will get injured so close to the tournament proper. Four years ago Morgan Stoddart horrifically broke his leg at Twickenham, which not only forced him out of the World Cup but essentially ended his career. On Saturday Tommy O’Donnell dislocated his hip, and injury that sounds as painful as it is rare. He will miss the World Cup, and fingers crossed for his long term rugby future. He is the first and won’t be the last victim of these necessary but cruel warm-up games.

4. How loose should your loose forwards be?

One of the pillars of Joe Schmidt’s Ireland has been their excellence at the breakdown and it showed again against Wales. Jordi Murphy is a no frills player but his tenacity around the tackle area, whether jackaling or merely clearing out effectively, gave Ireland breakdown dominance at the weekend and it was a key reason for victory. His style is in stark contrast to Justin Tipuric, who is one of the most gifted ball players around (his try and assist showcased how good a footballer he is) but simply did not have an impact at the breakdown. With number seven on his back, that makes him quite a rarity and you feel that the only way he would be a regular starter at the World Cup is if others in the pack seriously pick up the breakdown slack. More likely, the weekend proved why he will be consigned to his usual role of impact substitute – he is a fine player, but a bit of a luxury when it comes to the nitty gritty.

5. Can Ireland go all the way?

This year must represent the best chance Ireland have ever had at getting their hands on the World Cup trophy. After their fine win over Wales and South Africa’s surprise loss to Argentina, they have jumped to second in the World Rugby rankings, and it feels a fair reflection of this side’s quality under Joe Schmidt. They fielded a more experienced side than Wales so their win was probably expected, and the coolness and composure that exuded from the players was a reflection of the qualities Joe Schmidt has not only instilled in his trusted lieutenants, but also across the wider squad as a whole. Few of those playing on Saturday had had much meaningful input into the Six Nations victories or November triumphs, and yet they played exactly how every Ireland team under Schmidt has – executing the basics effectively. It shows that Ireland have a real strength in depth and given their potential run to the semi-finals (if they win their pool) is one of the easier around, there is no reason they shouldn’t be considered amongst the favourites to life the William Webb Ellis trophy later this year.

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images