Matt Sherratt praised his Wales side for their “emotion and ambition” despite a 27-18 defeat to Ireland at the Principality Stadium. The interim head coach, appointed only last week, was encouraged by his team’s performance as they pushed the visitors all the way in Cardiff.
Wales held an 18-10 lead in the second half before a Jamie Osborne try and three Sam Prendergast penalties sealed victory for Ireland. However, the improvements in Wales’ attacking play, particularly compared to their previous performances in the tournament, were evident from the outset.
“We asked for two things: show the crowd some emotion and ambition,” Sherratt said after the match. “And I think within [the playing] structure, which was important, we did that.”
It was a remarkable turnaround in such a short space of time. Sherratt had only four training sessions with his squad before this fixture, following heavy defeats to France, where Wales failed to score a point, and Italy, where they managed just 15.
From the opening whistle, there was a noticeable change in Wales’ attacking intent. Jac Morgan and Tom Rogers both crossed for tries, and the team looked far more fluid in possession than in recent matches.
“I think we got a little bit more of the training week on to the field than I’d imagined,” Sherratt admitted. “Credit to the players. We’ve really had three days training, so to replicate what we did Tuesday‑Thursday, I was pretty pleased. It shows it’s a good group.”
A pivotal moment in the match came when Ellis Mee, making his international debut, appeared to have scored a crucial late try, only for the officials to rule it out for a knock-on. The decision proved decisive, and Sherratt acknowledged its significance.
“That was a big moment,” he said. “A very tough call [for the officials]. You could tell that from the length of time it took.”
Despite the disappointment of defeat, there were clear positives for Wales. The team played with greater attacking fluency, demonstrating a willingness to take risks and play with width. It was a stark contrast to their struggles earlier in the tournament, and the performance suggested that Wales have more potential than their results have indicated so far.
When asked whether he would consider taking the Wales job full-time, Sherratt made it clear that his future remains with Cardiff, where he holds a permanent position as head coach.
On the other side, Simon Easterby, Ireland’s interim head coach, reflected on his team’s hard-fought victory. He acknowledged that Garry Ringrose’s 20-minute red card for a high tackle on Ben Thomas could have been a straight red under previous rules but was satisfied with how his team managed the situation.
Easterby also praised the way Wales approached the game, pushing Ireland harder than many had expected.
“There’s been some really poor media talk around Wales and the state of the game,” he said. “We knew they’d be tough opposition. We knew they would play with passion. They have the ability to play well with ball in hand, they made us work really hard, so Matt’s done a brilliant job.”
With three wins from three, Ireland’s campaign remains on track, and they will now turn their focus to a crucial home match against France. Easterby emphasized that, despite their perfect record, there is still room for improvement.
“I think we’d have taken this a few weeks back,” he admitted. “But I think the mark of this group is always wanting to get better.”
For Wales, this performance provided some much-needed encouragement. Although results have been difficult, the signs of progress under Sherratt were clear, and they will hope to build on this display in the remainder of the tournament.
