Wales tipped as side to fear

Forget about Ireland’s threat at next year’s Rugby World Cup, Wales are a greater danger.

That’s the view of English critic Stuart Barnes, a former England and British & Irish Lions player.

Writing in The Times, Barnes said Ireland’s win over the All Blacks, their first on Irish soil would be the overriding memory of the November tests and a game that would go down in the annals of the game.

But he added, “Even the most partisan of Irishmen probably recognise that, with neutrality and a season significantly geared towards the World Cup, New Zealand remain the team to beat.

“Their vulnerability was there for all to see at Twickenham and exposed by a team nearer their peak a week later in Dublin. Wales will be wondering whether this might have been their moment to end more than 60 years of All Blackinflicted misery had their paths crossed in Cardiff.”

Barnes said Wales were being under-estimated, as was the defensive work Shaun Edwards had done with the side. His efforts were as good as any in the world.

There was now a belief in the side that had been missing.

“Men such as Alun Wyn Jones and Jonathan Davies do not fear New Zealand. Much as it goes against perceived wisdom (Wales are twice the price of either England or Ireland for Japan), Wales are heading towards next year as a dangerous threat to the rest of the world,” Barnes said.

Ireland did have two top forwards in Tadhg Furlong and James Ryan while they had strength in the loose but Wales were a side capable of making a greater improvement than that already achieved by Ireland.