In a new regular feature this season we’ll be sharing some of the initial “keyboard warrior” response to our featured matches of the weekend ahead of our writeup.
If you’d like to contribute stay tuned to our Facebook page for our “Feel free to leave your thoughts…” posts which show up around full time after Leinster & Ireland matches.
Numerous outstanding performances, I personally thought Henshaw was exceptional. CJ deserving MOTM though. Once again we were screwed by our inability to score for large periods of a match (27th - 74th minute), just like against NZ in 2013. Garces did us absolutely no favours, useless showing. Sexton was ready to kill him at one point after a good choke tackle & hold up
Conor Murphy
Lots of superb performances for Ireland; Earls and Trimble, all four backrowers, McGrath. Extra debuts points for CJ #SixNations
— Ronan Murphy (@Ro_Murph) February 7, 2016
Good result considering the amount of injuries. Best half I have seen in a long time first half. Shame about the second. J10 was awesome at times. Good to see him back at his best in flashes, hopefully he is fit for next week. Need to sort the fullback issue out quickly. Earls was pretty good to be fair, as was trimble. McGrath did a huge amount of work too. Lot of positives from it. Less said about the second half the better
Iain O'Connor
Draw not such a bad outcome. Wales edged the second half and if anyone was going to steal it I feared it was they. Punishing game.
— Whiff of Cordite (@WhiffofCordite) February 7, 2016
Happy with it but nowhere near as a happy as Paddy Power.
Paul Meade
Hard luck @IrishRugby but we're still in the championship, just no chance of triple crown/grand slam. Great performances out there #IREvWAL
— Olivia O'Sullivan (@oliviaos) February 7, 2016
Phew... A cracking physical game... Defence was immense on both sides... A draw summed up the performances on both sides... No stand out winner.... Had my worries at the starting whistle but Pleased at how an injury ridden squad didnt compromise a decent performance by the selected team.. Things to build on but a fairly decent start to our 2016 campaign.
Monica Keeler
Serious performance from Ireland. Stander was immense. Roll on France next Saturday!! @HarpinOnRugby @BHHooker #IREvWAL #6Nations #Stander
— Trevor Scanlon (@tscanlon82) February 7, 2016
Zebo is not a full-back! He fails to execute the basic skills associated with this position. It worries me we lack creativity and this has to do in part that we play 2 guys in the centre who are not playing their natural position. There surely is an argument to play McCloskey at 12 next Sat, Henshaw at 13 and Payne at 15. Zebo could maybe on the bench. Miss Mike Ross quite badly. All in all, considering the gloom prior to the game, Ireland definitely will take confidence from this game
John Peeters
What a match definitely the right result despite playing at home and weakened Best two teams so far. @HarpinOnRugby @GarethCoom @BigJoeShep
— Richard Mifsud (@Richmif) February 7, 2016
Great game. Lots of physicality, pace, power and a huge amount of raw passion and emotion.
However, if we're being honest, both sides were a bit blunt, lacking the touch of class necessary to go on and win the game.
Draw was definitely a fair result.
Daragh Faughnan
People who say "a draw in rugby is like kissing your sister" have obviously never seen my sister.
— Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (@RossOCK) February 7, 2016
At the end of the day it makes the France game a must win! Best was shite today I think give the captaincy to Sexton and let Best focus on his game! Trimble and Payne offered little today they need to start taking risks even if they make a few mistakes! no risk = no reward! I'll be surprised if they even make the bench for the French game! Thankfully we had a good ref that could tell the difference between a deliberate tip tackle and a fair tackle otherwise Earls could have been hard done by with a yellow card! Earls and Zebo made great carries today but Zebo made a few mistakes but when you endeavour to succeed you will make a few mistakes so Joe will forgive him as he was playing full back not the wing
Darren Whitty
Spirited performance from an Irish side many had written off before a ball was kicked. Credit to both sides going for win. #IRLvWAL
— Harpin' On Rugby (@HarpinOnRugby) February 7, 2016
Many thanks to all who offered opinions.
Look out later today for our match writeup JLP
