Ireland's championship hopes have perished on an appalling night in Cardiff: Ireland had the territory, particularly in the second half: 63% of the territory; 62% of the possession. Yet Wales outscored us in the second half: they ran in two tries; we scored a single penalty.
The final nail was furnished by human hammer Jamie Roberts, who capitalised on a Sexton error to touchdown, turning the enclosed Principality pressure-cooker into a tomb, in which lay Ireland's Championship hopes.
It's fair to say that Irish rugby league hero Wales' defence coach Shaun Edwards enjoyed the Roberts try, as he celebrated in absurdly aggressive fashion, thrusting his middle finger and 'roaring FUCK OFF' to nobody in particular.
Watch it below:
Shaun Edwards celebration
Shaun Edwards ???? pic.twitter.com/46FjrSi7Pl
— George Wilkes (@George_Wilkes7) March 10, 2017
Reaction was divided, with some going down the "disrespectful" route:
@WelshRugbyUnion and @WorldRugby need to take a serious look at Shaun Edwards behaviour tonight...not what rugby is about!! #respect pic.twitter.com/QJ8Ql79YQD
— Andrew Marsden (@acmarsden1) March 10, 2017
Looks like Shaun Edwards thought he was watching that match in the pub at the end. #WALvIRE
— 🥄 (@racingspoon) March 10, 2017
You can take the lad out of Wigan... 😂 #ShaunEdwards #WALvIRE
— Ravishing Rachel (@whiteroserachel) March 10, 2017
Ireland may have lost the match but at least we have some dignity. Not Shaun Edwards.#sixnations#IRFU #WALvIRE pic.twitter.com/F88gHfGnMU
— david atkinson (@ablackeyedpeace) March 10, 2017
Pretty disgraceful behaviour from Shaun Edwards #WALvIRE
— Sandra Hayes Buckley (@SandraMHayes) March 10, 2017
Massive fan of Shaun Edwards going full Stone Cold there #WALvIRE
— Sam Faulkner (@SamFaulkner87) March 10, 2017
In fairness to Edwards, it had been a tough week for him, as he and the rest of the Welsh coaching team faced strong criticism after Wales' defeat to Scotland, denying that it had gone stale:
We had the best defence the last World Cup. So is that stale?.......You think having the best defence at the last two World Cups, you think that’s stale do you?
Rob’s in charge now, I’m pretty sure Rob speaks to Warren….I don’t know if he discusses selection etc but Rob’s in charge, decides what training we do, where we train, what time we train.
It’s not a lot different to what we do under Warren Gatland.
We think that Edwards has given the literal middle finger to his critics. And whether you agree with the Shaun Edwards celebration, there is no doubt that his defence was outstanding tonight: Wales made 170 tackles, and most importantly of all, didn't concede a try.
