Home comforts could be key

WARREN GATLAND deserves to sign off his Wales tenure in style with a third Grand Slam because he has done an amazing job with them and the Lions. Today is massive for him and his team and if they win it will be a huge boost in the context of the year, with a potential northern-hemisphere World Cup quarter-final against France or England. Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has had a bit of a battering. His side do not look like they have recovered from that first 90 seconds against England, when Manu Tuilagi took that crash-ball off the lineout, then Jonny May scored. Maybe they have a big performance left in them — one to set up the rest of the year. Schmidt has a great record against most sides, but the two teams against which he has lost more than he has won are England and Wales — and he has

never won in Cardiff. Still, Ireland looked better against France, have a strong starting team and may just be getting their mojo back. It is amazing how good a coach you become when your side are fit. It is interesting that whenever Wales are going for a Grand Slam, they are at home. In four attempts, my England side always went away. It makes a big difference. I am expecting Wales to win, because home advantage is so important.