Gethin: Irish and Welsh players don’t get on

Mar 2 2008 by Simon Roberts, Wales On Sunday

IT IS one of the enduring images in modern Welsh rugby – but Gethin Jenkins’ Grand Slam try celebration also sums up the relationship between the current generation of Welsh and Irish players.

The prop crossed for Wales’ opening try against Ireland as they clinched the Grand Slam in 2005.

It wasn’t the try, but the celebration which holds the key to the animosity between the sides.

Jenkins threw the ball at a prostrate Ronan O’Gara, the Ireland fly-half whose kick he had charged down for the score. It said everything you needed to know about the relationship between the two sets of players.

Jenkins sidesteps the question of the animosity between the sides with the deftness of a prop who has won 56 caps for his country.

“There are battles every week in the Magners League so we know each other very well,” said Jenkins

“We know their style of game inside out and they know ours. I am sure there will be some banter.”

That is as far as the 27-year-old will go but the glint in the eye assures you this is the game the Welsh boys want more than any other.

The Welsh and the Irish players simply don’t get on. The Welsh think the Irish are arrogant, while the Irish think the Welsh are over-rated.

During Wales’ Grand Slam victory over Ireland, there were a number of flash points. Brian O’Driscoll, the Ireland and Lions captain, clashed with Gavin Henson and Brent Cockbain during Wales’ 32-20 victory .

Jenkins admits he expects some cheap shots to be flying around at Croke Park next weekend.

“You know what you can get away with but if you get caught you are gutted,” said Jenkins. “There is not a lot you can get away with these days because there are so many cameras about.

“If someone gets a cheap shot in a game, you remember it, don’t you?

“You hope to get them back next time but it is part and parcel of the game.

“Stuff like that happens, but we have been warned not to make unforced errors and not to give away easy penalties.”

Wales appeared to be on the brink of a new era back in 2005, but five coaches later and they are still struggling to fulfil their undoubted potential.

“There were a lot of changes after that game,” said Jenkins.

“You have to build on success but we didn’t do that and went downhill.

“That was disappointing but sometimes you cannot control what happens.

“We didn’t have the direction we needed after 2005.”

Jenkins knows that Wales have a chance to put that right at Croke Park, but is under no illusions of the challenge in Dublin.

“This is probably going to be the toughest game we play,” said Jenkins.

“It’s going to be tough out there and we know they are up for it – but so are we.”