Under-21s sink in the mud

Crestfallen, mud splattered and the recipients of an object lesson in forward play, Ireland trudged dejectedly from Virginia Park having received a more comprehensive beating than the final scoreline suggests in yesterday's under-21 international at Caerphilly. It was a chastening experience for a team weaned on success.The scrummaging, a weakness in the victory over France, proved even more brittle as the Welsh eight ruthlessly exposed their opponents' shortcomings in this respect. Deprived of stability let alone a platform, Ireland struggled desperately and the damage would have been more acute were it not for Peter Smyth's clean striking and scrum-half Peter Stringer's quick hands.Compounding this frailty was the underfoot conditions, the pitch a morass of mud and not conducive to expansive rugby. Nevertheless Wales attempted to put the ball through the hands and were rewarded with three second-half tries. Ireland in comparison failed to take the game away from the powerful Welsh pack until it was almost two late.Ironically they enjoyed their best passages of play five minutes from time as they desperately tried to overhaul a 24-18 deficit: their ministrations culminated in a prolonged surge towards the Welsh line, stopped in the shadow of the posts. During these moments full-back Geordan Murphy, who enjoyed a fine game in the conditions, was particularly prominent.But victory would not have been merited on the balance of the second 40 minutes which Wales dominated. Their back row of Alex Popham, Nathan Bonner Evans and Gavin Thomas was particularly effective in breaking the gain line and wreaking havoc amongst the Irish defence. Outhalf Stephen Jones directed affairs shrewdly and the home side had a match winner in sprint champion Martin Giraud on the wing.Ireland tackled courageously - centre Kevin Hartigan and wings David Quinlan and Tom Keating, Richard Woods, Paul Neville and Stringer being particularly resolute with Murphy preventing two certain tries with great last-ditch tackles. There was an honesty of commitment but without possession Ireland could never survive on scraps.They led 15-6 at the interval scoring two tries, the first gifted by Welsh full back Morgan with a fresh-air swipe. O'Driscoll hacked on to score and the second try for Bryn Cunningham came after some fine controlled driving by the pack. Murphy kicked a penalty and converted one of the tries. But the Welsh revival was prolonged and uncompromising, as they crossed the Irish line three times, all inspired by the superb scrumhalf Gareth Cooper.A Murphy penalty prior to the third Welsh try temporarily lifted Irish aspirations but it wasn't until defeat was virtually certain that they abandoned their conservative approach and came within a whisker - Marcus Horan was held up over the line - of stealing an unlikely victory.