THE EVER-PRESENT QUESTION about the roof in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium would appear to have an easy answer for Ireland this week.
The defending Six Nations champions can take a giant leap towards defending their crown with a win away to Wales this Saturday.
However, the hosts also retain title ambitions after getting back on track after their opening night defeat to England and a closed roof would make for a bear-pit of an atmosphere compared to the average 14.30 kick-off.
For the roof to be closed, both teams must agree on the move. However, the perceived advantage it offers the hosts usually pushes visiting teams to decline the option.
“I think in good weather, the preference is for open,” Ireland team manager said yesterday.
“We’re waiting to see what the weather forecast turns out like. We don’t have to make a decision on that until Thursday, so we’ll probably wait until then until we make a final decision.
“I think overall our preference would be for a dry day and decent weather, rather than windy, wet, miserable. We’ll wait for Thursday and see what the weather is like.”
Like most old heads in the Irish side, hooker Rory Best needs no extra warning about the threat Wales pose this weekend.
“With the position they are in having lost last year to us and the year before they will need no extra motivation. There’s no doubt that Gats will them well up for it, they’ll not want to lose again to us, they will not want to lose in the Millennium Stadium and they will firmly believe that they can go on and win this Championship.
I suppose the flip-side of that is so do we, we’ve a lot of confidence going forward and a lot of belief in our ability, but we know that that didn’t just come from words it came from actions, getting our stuff right and that come Saturday at 14.30 we’re ready to go and we’ve left nothing to chance.
“It’s a fantastic place to play rugby, it’s a proper rugby venue, close to 80,000 fans and the first row of the stand is right next to the pitch. They are very passionate supporters.
“Obviously it’s somewhere that’s Irish fans traditionally travel to as well because the whole Cardiff experience with the stadium being in the middle of the city, the city usually basically closes down for an international. So it’s usually a great occasion and the Millennium Stadium is just a fantastic place but a very tough place to play.
“Ireland have a decent record there over the last while, and the provinces have had a fair bit of success as well in European cups.We don’t underestimate the task ahead of us, but the big players enjoy playing at the best stadiums in the big games, and there’s no doubt the Millennium Stadium poses that.”
