Why Ireland fans should be worried about the performance against Wales

Ireland are the only team left in the running for the Six Nations Grand Slam.

They bagged a bonus point win against a side Joe Schmidt’s team have consistently had problems beating, especially at home. Meanwhile, England’s Sweet Chariot has been derailed in Edinburgh and Eddie Jones’ side suddenly look eminently beatable.

All is rosy in the Irish Rugby garden right?

Wrong.

Ireland’s effective attack is a papering over a defence that breaks down rapidly and leaks tries; and the stats back this up.

Despite having just 31% of possession and a mere 25% of territory, Wales managed to run in three tries. Wales’ attack – a mirror image of the Scarlets- is potent, but no side other than the All Blacks should be able to do that against a functioning Tier 1 defence.

While a good defensive system is designed to sustain missed one on one tackles, Ireland’s tackle completion rate leaves much to be desired.

Despite only having to attempt 89 tackles, Ireland managed to miss 12, which works out at a 86.6% tackle completion rate. The Welsh on the other hand missed 17 of 225 tackles, for a respectable tackle completion rate of 93%.

What will be more concerning to Schmidt however will be how Ireland’s defence fell apart relatively quickly – usually within three to four phases.

Gareth Davies opening try is a case in point, it took just four phases off a lineout to disintegrate. Stockdale – a fantastic attacker but at this stage a naive defender – gets lost in no man’s land and is left grasping at thin air.

Aaron Shingler’s try was worse again. No beaten defenders, Wales simply hoof a long ball out wide and catch an unstressed Irish defensive system asleep at the wheel.

Steff Evans try was the best worked of the bunch, although it ultimately came from an Irish error: Fergus McFadden inexplicably bites in on Hadleigh Parkes, who gets an arm out of the tackle for the offload.

While Ireland’s scrum, breakdown and discipline were excellent, Schmidt and defence coach Andy Farrell will be unhappy with how easily their defensive system is unravelling.

After the Italian game, in which Ireland also conceded three tries, defence coach Farrell was fuming. “We need to be more ruthless in that and learn to play even when the scoreboard is well in our favour to be ruthless,” said Farrell a week and half ago. “The players know that and some young lads who hadn’t got vast amounts of experience might have been getting carried away with themselves a little bit. To knock off, you can talk about any technicalities you want – to have a lack of intent was not acceptable.”

While he didn’t pick any players out, we can safely assume Farrell was referring to Leinster tyro Jordan Larmour, who made a number of defensive errors and was replaced in the 23 for Wales by McFadden.

This is easily the least robust defence of any Joe Schmidt side in memory, a coach that prides himself on attention to detail and defensive effort. Ireland have much to be happy about, yes, but the glaring problems with their defence need to be sorted.