Irish need Welsh win for any title chances

With only a slim chance of holding on to the Six Nations title, Ireland needs to beat Wales in Dublin on Saturday to stand any chance of catching Grand Slam-chasing France.

A 33-10 loss to the French a month ago ended Ireland's winning streak in the title race and the team has to rely on other results to reclaim the championship it won last season for the first time since 1985.

First it has to beat a Welsh team whose results this season don't match its stirring performances.

Although the Welsh have one victory and two losses, the defeats happened after two near comebacks against England and France. They were trailing 20-3 against the English and got that back to 20-17 late in the game before eventually conceding another try.

They were also 20-0 down to the French before losing 26-20.

"Wales have some great players," said Ireland fullback Geordan Murphy, who is back in the starting lineup with Rob Kearney fit again but only on the bench. "People have said they're not playing well but some of their tries are the best you'll see in the Six Nations.

"They're dangerous across the board when they play. Shane Williams can score a try from nothing. He has a fantastic sidestep. Leigh Halfpenny is the same. James Hook, Stephen Jones - they're great players. If you let them play, they're dangerous."

Williams is returning to the form that made him IRB player of the year two years ago and says the Welsh could easily have been chasing the Grand Slam.

"I honestly believe we could have won all of our first three games in the Six Nations this year," said Williams, whose try against France was his 50th for Wales. "And yet here we are with just a solitary win. You can't help the 'What ifs' running through your head, because we are such a better team than our results suggest.

"This is all so horribly frustrating. We keep saying the same thing over and over again, and poor (Wales coach) Warren Gatland must find it very difficult to watch us from the stands."

- AP