The penultimate leg of a Grand Slam bid is often the ugliest, witness Ireland’s nervy win in Murrayfield in round four of their 2009 Grand Slam. This includes the 16-9 win over France in 2012 which sealed their second Grand Slam under Gatland and 11th overall. In 2003 they won one match, in 2004 they were whitewashed and in 2005 they won the Grand Slam under Mike Ruddock. Gatland, Edwards, this Wales squad, and the whole of the Welsh rugby fraternity for that matter, will embrace and relish this week and this occasion. So Ireland will have to produce their best performance of the Championship to win this game and so deny Wales and Gatland.

Source: The Irish Times March 12, 2019 06:56 UTC