This is the true test of Wales' unchanged defence

Wales ripped up their attack, not their defence, after Gatland left

In the days prior to Wales’ Six Nations clash with Ireland in Cardiff, all of the focus was on what Matt Sherratt could do with the side’s floundering attack.

In the first press conference of the week, defence coach Mike Forshaw admitted he had not been asked to change his system as emphasis was put on bringing clarity to a team lacking detail and confidence.

That was a smart move by the Cardiff coach. That week was spent learning a lot of new language around the attack.

Pulling apart the defence as well would have been too much to achieve in the space of a few days.

And so, Wales went into the clash with Ireland backing the same system that had seen them concede an average of 3.5 tries in the 26 Tests previously under Forshaw.

By and large, it worked. Wales conceded two tries from Irish pressure, but kept Simon Easterby’s side at bay on the whole.

And, the time spent on the attack meant that Wales looked far more comfortable with ball in hand. They could trouble Ireland over multiple phases, allowing them to have much more of a say with territory.

It wasn’t until the final quarter that Ireland pulled away, getting the better of the kicking battle.

In fairness though, the lack of change in Wales’ defence probably suited facing Ireland.

Sherratt said in the week prior that you know what’s coming with an Ireland team. Put them in different colour jersey and get them to play outside your window - soon enough, you’d be able to piece together it was them just by their shapes and patterns.

Stopping them, of course, is another matter. Most teams struggle to do so.

But with how Forshaw’s defence works, with an emphasis placed on slowing ball down through double tackles, Wales were able to get purchase out of Ireland in the middle of the field.

With dual opensides Tommy Reffell and Jac Morgan in the back-row, as well as another jackal threat in Nicky Smith in the pack, Wales were able to flood the middle of the field with bodies.

Given the amount of threats to the breakdown, the likes of WillGriff John had some joy with counter-rucks…

And most of Ireland’s intricate moves centrally were contained by the sheer number of bodies Wales had in those central channels…