Rugby World Cup 2011 Quarter-Final Match Report: Ireland 10 - Wales 22
An impressive Wales denied Ireland’s golden generation with an almost flawless display to set up an intriguing semi-final against France
Rising at an hour so unfamiliar, with the sun yet to rise and a slight crispness to the air, the first 6am start of the weekend felt a little bit like Christmas. Walking into the living room to find the floor bare of presents was a slight disappointment, but this was quickly made up by what these two teams gave us in the first quarter-final of the weekend. Both teams started with an unbelievable ferociousness, turnover ball in their own half leading to Wales Jamie Roberts almost shattering Donnacha O'Callaghan when he tried to make a tackle on the Welshman. Just inches short it was no surprise that it was record try scorer Shane Williams who managed to squirm over between his opposite number and the touchline for the opening score, Rhys Priestland adding the extras. The tone had been set and not being one to flinch away, Ireland turned down an eminently kickable penalty to go for the corner. The ambition came to no avail though. Impact after impact was phenomenal with Brian ODriscoll and Gordon Darcy finding holes between would be tacklers as Ireland worked hard to keep the ball off the floor and negate the influence of Wales fetcher in the rucks, Sam Warburton. Shane Williams in fact gave his best Warburton impression as Ireland threatened, getting under the man to deny a try and doing the hard stuff a winger traditionally doesnt as Ireland threatened repeatedly before the thrust was quelled. 
The form book had been tackled into touch this tournament for these two teams with both impressing against Southern Hemisphere opposition. The teams on show here in Wellington looked full of class and ambition, the ineptness both have shown in the last 12 months nowhere to be seen in the opening exchanges. After spurning several opportunities, Ireland were gifted a penalty meaning Ronan OGara could kick them onto the scoreboard with the three points. Almost instantly Leigh Halfpenny responded with a penalty from the half way line as the Welsh tackle count ticked towards 60 with the half-hour mark still to come. The industrious Tommy Bowe carried well, with the returning Rob Kearney also running willingly, but the half-time whistle came with no further change to the score in a half that had seen Ireland have more chances but be subdued by the fitness and defence of the Welsh. With Ireland needing the next score, Keith Earls provided it, sliding over for his fifth try of the World Cup but not before having to win favour of the Television Match Official. Despite the blustery conditions, OGara kicked the conversion to bring parity to the scoreboard. With Wales starting to visit the Irish 22, a blind side dart by Mike Phillips saw an exquisite try being scored, Phillips doing his best Superman impression to touch down with the touchline mere centimetres away. A missed conversion meant the gap stayed at 5 points as the onus shifting back to Ireland to find the points. Minutes later though it was Wales who had the chance to increase their lead, the ball cannoning off the upright from the penalty kick as Wales started to turn the screw as the game entered its final twenty minutes. 
With the next score crucial Jonathan Davies saw the benefit of quick thinking by Priestland to switch the angle of attack, fending over some weak tackles to dive over to the cheers the Welsh coaching staff. The conversion made, the visibly tiring Ireland were now 12 points behind with 15 minutes to go. Ireland upped the urgency but were plagued by more unforced errors as the skies opened to make things even harder. Ireland no matter what they tried did not look like they could overcome the Welsh, such was the contest at every contact situation that disrupted any momentum. Failure to compete legally at one such contact led to Priestland been given the opportunity to edge the lead out to 15 points, but again hit the post. Try as they might Ireland just could not pierce the wall of red, the Welsh back row exceptional with Dan Lydiate refusing to yield. With no time remaining to change things, the Welsh waited for the clock to pass 80 minutes, to kick the ball out and to celebrate in contrast to the dejected faces of the Irish. It wasnt to be for the golden generation of the Irish team, retirements of some of their most senior players seemingly inevitable as Father Time lingered over their shoulder. But for all the experience in the world, the Irish just could not match the quality of the Welsh performance. This was a victory built on their impressive fitness and determination, driven by their archetypal Captain Warburton you always felt the Welsh had it in them to overcome the sea of green that came at them. There were huge performances from all over the field, the scrum holding firm, the rucks contested constantly and the attacking play looking razor sharp. The fact James Hook entered the fray late on without comment from the commentators said it all. This was a team display, a collective effort that has well and truly shown Wales to be a threat as the business end of the competition approaches. With the sounds of Tom Jones echoing around the Wellington stadium, this was heck of a way to start your Saturday. 