Convincing Irish on track for Slam dunk

IT’S amazing to see Ireland clear at the top of the Six Nations with two games remaining, writes David Wallace.

The Grand Slam decider with England on the final day can’t happen, after England were shocked by Scotland, but that won’t matter to Ireland.

Ireland could wrap up the championship against Scotland and then they could seal the Grand Slam in Twickenham.

But for now, Ireland are just basking in a brilliant nail-biting win over Wales. It was always going to be like that. I would have taken a one-point victory prior to the game.

It was the most positive game from Ireland so far. The French game was always going to be tough. Ireland got out of jail with some excellence. In Round 2 the Italians exposed the Irish defence and scored three late tries, but they still were easy winners.

Ireland looked so potent against Wales. They made ground by moving the point of attack with their one-out runners.

CJ Stander and Johnny Sexton were always looking for players running off their inside because they knew the Welsh would come with a hard press.

That left gaps and when the first receiver got the ball, the defensive shooter left a gap in the line, and Ireland exploited it.

That was just one facet of a complex Irish game-plan that outwitted Warren Gatland and Wales. Ireland march on.