Joe Carroll: Ireland live up to expectations with win over Wales

Substance was given to the hype in Cardiff on Saturday last. On the back of their run of success in last autumn’s series of Tests, Ireland were promoted to the head of the world rankings. Tests are Tests, but there’s a more competitive edge to games in the Six Nations.

On Saturday Ireland had their first outing in this year’s renewal, taking on Wales, and came through with flying colours, winning by 34-10 and collecting a bonus point. There hadn’t been an Ireland win at the Principality Stadium (as it’s now known) in a decade.

Andy Farrell’s troops were better than good in the first 25 minutes, laying the foundations for a most comprehensive victory. It was good to watch.

An even bigger challenge comes on Saturday, and if this yields another win, there’ll be good reason to believe there’ll be more to follow in the three remaining games, with Italy, Scotland and England, the latter the only visitors to Dublin.

France are coming to The Aviva, boasting of a hard-earned win over Italy. They’re high in the rankings as well and are sure to make it difficult. They host the World Cup later in the year, a competition which will come more and more into focus as the Six Nations is played out.

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The most competitive match of the weekend was England’s with Scotland at Twickenham. This was a thriller which produced a try that may not be bettered in the remainder of the season. It was scored by Scotland’s Van der Merwe.

The South African evaded several would-be tacklers as he made his way for the corner from beyond the half-way mark. It was a score reminiscent of the one Prince Obelensky scored for England against the All-Blacks in 1936. (There’s a profile of the Prince on Google, and it may also be possible to find a film of his famous score there as well.)