Wales legend ‘worried’ ahead of clash with ‘once in a generation’ Ireland team

wales legend ‘worried’ ahead of clash with ‘once in a generation’ ireland team

The BT Sport Industry Awards 2017 held at Battersea Evolution – Arrivals Featuring: Tom Shanklin Where: London, United Kingdom When: 27 Apr 2017 Credit: Lia Toby/WENN.com

Former Wales international centre Tom Shanklin has hailed Ireland as a “once in a generation team” ahead of their Six Nations fixture in Dublin next weekend.

Two sides with contrasting results in the first two rounds of the Championship will collide at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday when the Irish play host to the Welsh.

Andy Farrell’s men have 10 points from 10 so far after back-to-back maximum hauls, while Wales have lost both matches, albeit narrowly to Scotland and England.

Worried for Wales

Despite putting in a couple of solid performances in defeat, Shanklin is concerned that Wales could be set for a difficult afternoon in the Six Nations next weekend.

“I am worried because you’re playing against one of the best teams in the world, if not the best team,” he admitted while doing punditry for BBC Wales Scrum V.

“They are a team that would have had two weeks rest as well. A team that are unbeaten at the moment, and we’re going there not full of confidence against probably a once-in-a-generation team.”

Ex-Wales fly-half makes brave Johnny Sexton call for ‘world-class’ talent Jack Crowley

Ireland proved last weekend that they are able to punish sides not at their standards, with Italy given a 36-0 hiding that could, in all honesty, have been much worse.

Former Cardiff, Wales, and British & Irish Lions centre Shanklin continued that he is hugely impressed with how the Irish are coached and also their anthem singer.

“I am a little bit worried because they’re just so good. They’re so well drilled, and they’ve got a little kid who sings the anthem, who is better than anything I’ve ever seen,” he joked, referencing the eight-year-old Stevie Mulrooney’s stunning rendition of Ireland’s Call moments before the match against the Azzurri.

Shanklin’s concerns come in the same week that Wales great Shane Williams expressed his own fears for Warren Gatland’s men at the hands of the 2023 champions.

“I’m fearful of this game, I really am. I’m hugely impressed by how Ireland are playing the game. Even on Sunday, although Italy didn’t score a point, they didn’t play poorly,” he told the Evening Standard Rugby Podcast.

Similar treatment?

“I thought they had a real go, I thought they kept the ball really well, they were just massively frustrated by a well-organised defence.

“Even in attack, Ireland had to work really hard for their tries; it wasn’t as if they were scoring 70 or 80-yarders untouched.

“They’re going to play through 20 phases plus, that’s how they do it. They grind you down, get lineouts five metres from the line.

“They made Italy look quite poor, but I was quite impressed by Italy, so it may be the same thing for Wales up there.”

News Related

OTHER NEWS

FA confident that Man Utd starlet will pick England over Ghana

Kobbie Mainoo made his first start for Man Utd at Everton (Photo: Getty) The Football Association are reportedly confident that Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo will choose to represent England ... Read more »

World Darts Championship draw throws up tricky tests for big names

Michael Smith will begin the defence of his world title on the opening night (Picture: Getty Images) The 2024 World Darts Championship is less than three weeks away and the ... Read more »

Pioneering flight to use repurposed cooking oil to cross Atlantic

For the first time a long haul commercial aircraft is flying across the Atlantic using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A long haul commercial flight is flying to the US ... Read more »

King meets world business and finance figures at Buckingham Palace

The King has met business and finance leaders from across the world at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the conclusion of the UK’s Global Investment Summit. Charles was introduced ... Read more »

What Lou Holtz thinks of Ohio State's loss to Michigan: 'They aren't real happy'

After Ohio State’s 30-24 loss to Michigan Saturday, many college football fans were wondering where Lou Holtz was. In his postgame interview after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 17-14 in ... Read more »

Darius Slay wouldn't have minded being penalized on controversial no-call

Darius Slay wouldn’t have minded being penalized on controversial no-call No matter which team you were rooting for on Sunday, we can all agree that the officiating job performed by ... Read more »

Mac Jones discusses Patriots future after latest benching

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) Quarterback Mac Jones remains committed to finding success with the New England Patriots even though his future is up in the air following ... Read more »
Top List in the World