IRELAND ARE MORE familiar with Warren Gatland’s methods than most, but then again there are rarely major surprises against Wales.
With their direct ball carriers from set-piece, around-the-corner phase play, the kicking game of Dan Biggar and the chop-tackle-and-jackal threat of their back row, Wales are a highly identifiable unit.
That blueprint has helped the Welsh to two Grand Slams under Gatland, while the Kiwi also guided the Lions to their 2013 success in Australia with similar tactics.
“With Gats being involved in the last two Lions tours, we have quite a lot of players in our squad that know him quite well as a coach,” admits Ireland hooker Rory Best.
“You have an idea of what Wales are going to come with, but knowing what they are going to do and actually being able to handle it are two different things. If we prepare well we know we’re going to have to better than we were 10 days ago at the Aviva [against England].
“It’s a tougher challenge, Wales in the Millennium, a team that’s very much back on form and also chasing a championship now as well, so it’s a massive test.”
Indeed, the Welsh feel they are right back in the mix in this Six Nations after beating France 20-13 in round three. Home defeat to England on the first weekend of the competition had appeared to leave them in a poor situation, but all was not lost.
“I think it would be unfair to say they started the championship slowly, they really started well in the first half and England just came into the game and strangled it a little bit,” says Best of that loss.
Best worked with Gatland on the 2013 Lions tour. Source: James Crombie/INPHO
“They are a quality outfit, you just need to look down the teams they pick. They made a few changes for the French game, they freshened things up a little bit, and they really took France apart up front, which in Paris is no mean feat.
“You look through the spine of their team, and especially from my point of view, they have some real quality players in that pack.”
Last year, Schmidt’s Ireland produced a tactical masterclass to turn the Welsh strengths into weaknesses, kicking in behind their wings repeatedly to exploit their habit of joining the frontline defence early.