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kicking off with an "8-0-review” from Big Joe Shep...
A good afternoons work! Second string Irish side given opportunities to shine. An average Welsh side made it look easy at times and allowed for chances. A strong, determined and well drilled Ireland played a number of different options, picking up loose balls and exploiting Welsh mistakes. Earls proves you don't need a huge centre to produce results. Strauss, Reddan. Heaslip all excelled. Found wanting at times both defensively and on counter attack. Need to keep tempo in last quarter!
Heaslip is a beast. So important to this team.
Shane O Leary
Game changed when Heaslip went off. A lot of lads putting their hands up, but the poor Welsh performance meant that, for the most part, we went untested. Realistically I don't think this game will have changed Joe's mind when it comes to his best starting XV or his World Cup squad.
Daragh Faughnan
Hope TOD & Trimble will be ok. Good to get the win & put Gatland in his place for a while. I thought 2 of the Welsh tries out wide were a bit soft & exposed the Irish defence which need to tighten up when defending. Thought Strauss had a good game along with some of the other forwards.
Gerald Williamson
Great to see such fine performances from Strauss, Ryan, Earls and Trimble. All four improved their chances of making the last 31. Ryan has to travel, IMO, as Ireland's second "enforcer" after Paulie!!!
Riocard Ó Tiarnaigh
A performance from Ireland & a non-performance from Wales that shows the difference between being well trained & being well coached. Ireland did the simple stuff well & good showings from fringe/forgotten players will give Joe food for thought. Still issues regarding staying focused for the full 80 but a win is a win is a win.
Also, get well soon, TOD
Derek McGee
I think the fact that we've moved to 2nd in the World Rankings says it all
Aoibhin Kenny
Earls and Jones were impressive and Reddan and Jackson proved a good pairing gives d Boss options! Delighted to see Donnacha Ryan put in a shift in a green geansaí
Michael O Brien
Nothing better than seeing Gatlands face at the end of the match.
Joanne Kilic
Like to see Marmion start next game best distribution
Christy Cusack
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Our HoR writeup will post on Monday.
