IN A GAME that featured Paul O’Connell’s return from a chest infection and Brian O’Driscoll duelling with Warren Gatland’s Wales for the last time, Andrew Trimble got the loudest applause.
There was no try for Trimble during the 26-3 humbling of Wales but everything else was top-class. He was subbed off after 60 minutes and large sections of the home crowd stood to applaud his excellent contribution. Either the Andrew Trimble Fan Club ferried down seven or eight bus-loads of Trimbaholics [TM] or the majority of Irish fans were giving their seal of approval.
Saturday’s start on the right wing was the first time the winger started consecutive matches for Ireland in two years. Having suffered from a loss of confidence, and trust, under Declan Kidney, Trimble returned to Ravenhill and starred week-in, week-out for Ulster. Luke Fitzgerald’s groin injury meant he got his chance against Scotland — with Dave Kearney shifting to the left wing. If Trimble grasped that chance against the Scots, he truly wrung its neck against the reigning Six Nations champions.
Trimble spoke, on Thursday, about his task of subduing gargantuan Wales winger George North at Lansdowne Road. “I think just you’ve got to go low on them to be honest,” he said. “If you go in half-cooked against [Alex] Cuthbert or North, you’re going to get bounced.”
The Derry native backed up his words as early as the fourth minute as he tackled North below the knees and stopped him in his tracks. Wales managed to keep the attack alive until Paul O’Connell smashed Dan Lydiate in a tackle and Peter O’Mahony secured a turnover. The passage of play elicited a booming cheer that was only surpassed in the first half when Chris Henry finished off one of Ireland’s many beatly, rolling mauls to touch down.
After 52 Test caps there is a feeling that Trimble may finally be home on the right wing. The competition for places on the wings is frenzied but the Ulster man will hold down his spot for the trip to Twickenham and a game that could well decide the destiny of the Six Nations trophy.
Ireland’s back three caused migraines for their Welsh counterparts all afternoon. There was one jaw-dropping moment when Rob Kearney and Leigh Halfpenny sprung for a steepling high ball, caught it at the exact same moment and fell to earth wrestling for possession. The Irish fullback won the duel and soon forced Wales back into their 22 for a 5m lineout.
Trimble and Dave Kearney were equally as committed in the air as, in the words of Gatland, Ireland kicked the leather off the ball. Rob Howley, the Kiwi’s assistant, conceded the Irish back three were outstanding.
[Conor Murray] is tactically astute. He passing game is good and his kicking game’s not bad either. He put our back three under pressure, which we knew was going to happen. Our back three, and George North who moved to the centre, had to work their socks off today.”
The other pleasing aspect to Trimble’s game was the fact that he sought work all over the field and, along with Dave Kearney, displayed an evasiveness in the backline. His fleet of foot had the Welsh defenders reeling in the first half and he showed a decent awareness of his teammates to keep attacks alive.
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