RUGBY:I noted on 57 minutes that if Wales had any rugby brains they would win comfortably. They did win but as for brains I'm undecided, writes LIAM TOLAND

LET’S PARK the infamous lineout a moment and take a look at the Six Nations man of the match. As discussed on Friday, this match was always going to hinge on our use of the ball and his opening 20 minutes. James Hook was to be crucial, especially in this opening quarter. On the 19th minute he kicked Wales back into the match – 3-7.

However, the next couple of minutes tell us much about these two sides and Hook. From the kick-off Ryan Jones fielded from Ronan O’Gara. Deep inside the Welsh half Hook received from Mike Phillips. Having conceded much to Ireland in the opening quarter if you were Hook what would you do next? Unbelievably, he decided to ignore match management and once again chipped aimlessly, this time to Tommy Bowe and through Gordon D’Arcy, David Wallace and Brian O’Driscoll Wales found themselves defending from five metres out.

Phillips cleared poorly down the tram tracks. When Keith Earls fielded on the 15-metres line he had Luke Fitzgerald, Bowe and O’Driscoll spread across the pitch. With such quality the counter was on. On receiving early, Fitzgerald ignored Bowe and O’Driscoll, chose to run back where the ball came from into traffic and spilled the ball. The error was ignoring Bowe and O’Driscoll not the spill.

Is this team or individual?

Sam Warburton pounced and Phillips found Hook. Two minutes had passed for Hook and again he was in his own half. This time facing Rory Best and a six-on-two outside him; he blows it but Wales hold the ball and Shane Williams gets his chance but jumps into a great tackle from Fitzgerald; another error? Yes but the bigger one was he had Jonathan Davies free on his inside.

I noted on 57 minutes that if Wales had any rugby brains they would win comfortably. They did win but as for brains I’m undecided. Although full of class players, neither side are comfortable as a team.

So to the lineout. Last Tuesday Robin van Persie was sent off in Camp Nou due to a most outrageous refereeing decision. Many pundits expressed sympathy for the Arsenal but ultimately all agreed Barcelona were far too good. Wales unfortunately are no Barcelona and although similar, Shane Williams is no longer Lionel Andrés “Leo” Messi.

Ireland lost the game for a multitude of reasons (the lineout being just one). Ultimately, Ireland lost because they couldn’t impose their game on the Welsh. With England around the corner that is a major concern.

But what is Ireland’s game? In so many departments Ireland and Wales drew but none more so in an unwillingness to win the game. The ding-dong, dink around, chipping, grubbering, garryowening and kicking drove me to distraction. Contrast them to Italian fullback Andrea Masi who powered his way through, around and over French men at will, ably supported by his team. It is easy and very lazy to isolate poor individual performances but it is the team that lacked a buzz that was so obvious in the Azzurri last Saturday.

More’s the pity as the Welsh defied my expectations in starting slowly, with Ireland scoring a cracker after just two minutes. Hook flirted on the gain line with both Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies but soon drifted out of play. It wasn’t until the 45th minute before I recognised he was still playing. How many overlaps did he and Wales squander?

Hook was not my man of the match – that goes to Phillips but not because of his try. Over the course of the 80 minutes he did most to nullify the Irish, both in defence and with ball in hand.

Far too often the Welsh, especially their backrow and in particular Dan Lydiate, carried into contact and were turned over. Great work, Ireland.

As always there were positives to take from the loss. Once again Seán O’Brien was ridiculously good in contact, which brings me back to the team. O’Brien is at his best when the ball is very hot from the breakdown and he takes it wide. The best Irish play of the day brought us to 13 points.

Coincidentally it was on half-time with Fitzgerald hitting the line at pace who offloaded to O’Driscoll. From the “kinda” ruck O’Brien struck. His team need to understand how to maximise his value which should counteract his high-penalty count.

Allow me to forget the set-piece totally. Outside of tactics the players that will do damage are Cian Healy, O’Brien, David Wallace, Jamie Heaslip (if the mood takes him) and our back three. That means the remaining eight players need to dedicate themselves to providing opportunities for the aforementioned but prioritise just two – O’Brien and the fullback.

There was a lovely moment in Cardiff last Saturday when Ireland turned over the ball. Welsh prop Darren Yapp found it and the look on his face told everything as he knew his role in life was to get that ball into Williams’ hand ASAP. Do each and every Irish player fully understand and buy into what it is they do when the ball arrives into their hands?

If we’re trying to mix up our play between tactical field position and running we need to make changes to our starting 15.

On the 79th minute, Seán Cronin stood five metres from the Welsh line. It was Ireland’s last throw of the dice. The lineout was called and I prayed they’d make it easy for him. He stood, cocked and fired a beautiful ball, perfect trajectory to the very tail of the lineout. Job done, he’s now ready to start against England.

Paul O’Connell worked his socks off but requires a ball-carrier with him. Our backrow, full of brilliant ball-carriers requires a link man. Our back three require more team orientated/integrated play that will give them the confidence to run. All three at the back look very threatening when on the ball but tend to be on their own running down blind alleys.

Italian fullback Masi runs with confidence for two reasons. Firstly the rules of the game are totally in the ball-carrier’s favour and secondly, his team support it.

This was a very troublesome performance and thank God it is England who visit our shores next week. Nothing can focus the mind of these players like an English upset. As we approach the end of another four-year cycle I wonder what our game plan is and who is our best fullback, outhalf, scrumhalf and starting pack to deliver it?

PS. In my article three weeks ago I stated that “Fergus McFadden looked a better bet for the bench, having played on the wing and centre this season he represents a meatier impact than Paddy Wallace. Given a choice if Luke Fitzgerald became injured I’d prefer Bowe or Earls at 15 if required, allowing McFadden on to the wing ahead of Wallace.”

PPS. Poor old Scotland look pretty good.