Interim Wales coach Matt Sherratt expressed pride in his team’s performance despite their 27-18 defeat to Ireland at the Principality Stadium. The newly appointed coach, who took charge just a week prior, praised his players for demonstrating both passion and ambition on the pitch.
Wales, under Sherratt’s guidance, displayed a marked improvement in attacking fluency compared to recent outings. Having endured a scoreless loss to France and a disappointing defeat in Italy, the team responded with a spirited display that saw them leading 18-10 in the second half. However, a try from Jamie Osborne and three penalties from Sam Prendergast secured victory for Ireland.
Reflecting on the performance, Sherratt highlighted the players’ ability to translate training-ground work into their match execution. With only a few days of preparation, he was pleased with how well they adapted. “We asked for two things: show the crowd some emotion and ambition,” he said. “And I think within the structure, which was important, we did that.”
Wales began strongly, with Jac Morgan and Tom Rogers crossing for tries that kept the contest highly competitive. The intensity and creativity in attack stood in contrast to the more conservative approach seen in previous matches.
A pivotal moment came late in the game when Ellis Mee, the 21-year-old Scarlets wing making his debut, appeared to have scored a crucial try, only for it to be ruled out by the television match official for a knock-on. Sherratt acknowledged the significance of the decision. “That was a big moment,” he admitted. “A very tough call. You could tell that from the length of time it took.”
Despite the loss, the interim coach was encouraged by the response from the squad, particularly given the limited time he had to work with them. He reiterated that his current focus remains on returning to his permanent role at Cardiff, suggesting he is not considering taking the Wales job on a full-time basis.
On the opposing side, interim Ireland head coach Simon Easterby acknowledged the challenge his team faced and credited Wales for their resilience. He also commented on Garry Ringrose’s 20-minute red card for a tackle on Ben Thomas, noting that under previous rules, it might have been an immediate dismissal.
Easterby dismissed negative pre-match speculation about Wales, stating that his team had always expected a difficult encounter. “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.”
Ireland’s victory maintained their perfect record in the tournament, with a crucial home clash against France on the horizon. Easterby acknowledged his team’s strong position but emphasized their drive for continued improvement. “I think we’d have taken this a few weeks back,” he said. “But the mark of this group is always wanting to get better.”
