SIX NATIONS 2018

B Y the time we get to the finish of this Six Nations, I fully expect Wales’ campaign to have unfolded in just the way most of us expected.

They’ll have won their three home games – and I believe they will beat France and Italy in Cardiff – but come up short away to England and Ireland.

And despite playing some fantastic rugby in short bursts, they did come up well short against the Irish and can have no real excuses.

Ireland were dominant and the fact that this was their 10th successive win says it all about the momentum they currently have.

That Wales were actually in a position to win as they launched their last desperate attack was down to a couple of superb tries by Aaron Shingler and Steff Evans.

That has to be the future for Wales in terms of style, but in rugby you always have to earn the right to play like that.

Wales didn’t manage to do that against Ireland, they lost the forward battle and so never gave themselves a platform for victory.

In Conor Murray and Jonny Sexton, Ireland had the two outstanding players. They were the decisive influence.

Even though Sexton had a rare offday with his goalkicking, the way he orchestrated things in open play really was first class. His pass for Jacob Stockdale’s first try was sheer class.

And in Murray, Sexton has the perfect modern day rugby general dictating the tempo. They really are a terrific pair to be able to call upon.

Ireland will be buoyant and if they take care of Scotland as I think they will, then there will be no reason why they can’t got to Twickenham on the final weekend and win a Grand Slam. What an occasion that could be on St Patrick’s Day.

As for Wales, they too have the players in Hadleigh Parkes, Scott Williams, Gareth Davies and Steff Evans to worry international defences. I wouldn’t be too downcast if I was Warren Gatland.

I think in the first two matches, and to an extent against Ireland, Wales have unearthed the way forward in terms of strategy heading towards the World Cup.

They have shown they can be more creative in attack, they have shown they have pace and skill to exploit opportunities. It is the way they have to play moving forward.

The problem they have had at Twickenham and in Dublin is being too slow out of the blocks.

England scored all their points inside the first 20 minutes and, though Ireland were only 15-13 ahead at half-time the scoreline at that stage did no justice to the overall picture.

Wales’ defensive effort was bound to take its toll later on and although they showed great charcter to keep themselves in contention, there were too many lapses in technical discipline. It set the entire tone.

It was a pity the Wales back row players couldn’t be as prominent as they were in the first two matches, but they just had too much defensive work to do.

The result against Ireland is a setback, but I don’t believe it is reason for the Welsh public to despair by any means.

There will be no title, no silverware next month, but if Wales win three out of five I think they will be able to reflect on a solid campaign.

Already there have been plus points in terms of individual performance and the quality of some of the rugby the team has produced.

Wales must now be ruthless against Italy in a fortnight and claim a bonus point victory then see off the French.

I believe that’s just what will happen.