David Corkery on Wales demise: Ireland win in Cardiff is a foregone conclusion

Boardroom pandemonium, a doping ban, player revolts, no money, a talent vacuum, and 14 losses in a row, and believe it or not Welsh rugby still has a bit to go before they hit rock bottom.

Two weeks ago as Ireland were helping themselves to a bonus-point win over a very disappointing Scottish outfit, Warren Gatland and his Welsh players were licking their already very deep wounds as they were given yet another lesson in modesty by the never-say-die Italians.

Heading into that game I firmly believed that Gatland and his coaching ticket were fully cognisant that they had arrived at the last-chance saloon and anything other than a victory would lead to them handing back the keys to the changing rooms of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Having presided over statistically the worst Wales side in their 143-year international rugby history, Gatland who has quite an amount of rugby coaching miles built up, took what was the only option open to him and resigned soon after the final whistle in Rome.

Considering all that Gatland had achieved in his previous stint with Wales, it was a very sad way to say goodbye, but someone had to take the fall and you can be sure that those who allowed Welsh rugby to putrefy were not going to step forward and take the blame.

Replacing Gatland for their remaining three games is Matt Sherratt, a man who has practically zero experience as a head coach.

Born in Gloucester, Sherratt will become the first ever English coach of Wales when he takes on what can only now be described as a poisoned chalice, and unless Welsh rugby finds some kind of magical concoction that they can intravenously infuse their players with, it is very difficult to see how anyone can stop Welsh rugby reaching the incredibly sad figure of 14 losses on the bounce.

With Ireland, Scotland, and England still to play, only a very brave or very stupid person would bet on Sherratt being able to slow down this nation’s decay.

To make matters worse their next four games after the Six Nations are against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa.

I think if I were calling the shots in Welsh rugby I’d be looking to organise a game against someone like Eswatini who are ranked 98th on World Rugby’s table of merit.

No disrespect to Eswatini, but the longer it takes for Welsh rugby to stop the rot and rekindle their pride, the deeper they will fall into the pit of obscurity and the longer it will take for them to clamber out.

I guess no one can be exempt from falling from grace, but I for one would really like to see Welsh rugby back mixing it with the elite.

Just imagine scrolling through a list of the best players in the world and not seeing names like JPR Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Phil Bennett, Shane Williams, Gareth Edwards, Dan Biggar, Robert Jones, Scott Gibbs, and the world’s most-capped player Alun Wyn Jones, who has amassed an astonishing 158 caps.

Wales owes very little to rugby, but rugby owes Wales a lifetime of historical value that no money could buy. I truly wish them well.

The news from the Irish camp this week was that captain Caelan Doris, hooker Ronán Kelleher, and Tadhg Furlong have been ruled out of this match was not good to hear, but with so many great players in the wings just waiting for their opportunity to impress, their loss will be somebody else’s gain.

FOREGONE CONCLUSION

I also believe that if Ireland were facing France both Doris and Furlong would be playing, but because this game is truly a foregone conclusion before it begins, the Irish management are not prepared to risk two of their most influential players when there is no need to do so.

What makes sport so great is the underdog victories, but on this occasion, Ireland should really be targeting a bonus-point victory with 20-plus minutes remaining on the clock.

I would be incredibly disappointed if Wales didn’t take to the hallowed surface of the Principality Stadium with fire and blood oozing from their nostrils, however, when you glance through the names of the substitutes on the Irish team and recognise that all those players would easily make the Welsh starting 15, it paints a realistic picture of the gulf that exists between these two nations.

If by some strange set of circumstances Ireland were to find themselves struggling, you can be guaranteed that the unleashing of their bench would quench any hopes of Wales performing a rugby miracle.

What I’d like to see in this game is Ireland scoring every time they entered their opponents’ 22 and remaining true to their values of mixing their wide game with their ability to slow everything down and grind out scores if that’s what is required.

I don’t believe in God, but I do think extraordinary things can happen, but the laws of physics are all weighing heavily in Ireland’s favour.

Ireland to win by lots.