No laughing matter for Wales in Dublin after Irish jibes

One thing Welsh rugby does not want is pity or derision.

Times have been tough in recent years and the game in Wales has been in disarray on and off the field.

Despite this, Welsh rugby does not expect to be laughed at as they face Ireland on Friday in another Six Nations date.

That is exactly what happened this week in an Irish podcast involving former international Andrew Trimble and Hollywood actor Jamie Dornan, with the pair deriding Welsh rugby.

Steve Tandy's side will have the chance to make them eat their words under the Friday night lights in Dublin.

Not many will give the visitors a hope against an Irish side who hammered England in a record away victory.

But this is an opportunity for captain Dewi Lake and his players to prove Wales are no laughing matter on the world stage.

The internal damaging divisions in Welsh rugby are evident and the negative external opinions of the game in Wales that have emerged across the rugby world must be addressed.

Pinning up derogatory comments on the dressing room wall as motivation might not inspire rugby sides in the way it used to. Professional sport has become more refined.

But any Welsh player catching a clip of Trimble, Dornan and Irish comedian Vittorio Angelone laughing uncontrollably, taking the mickey out of Wales with cutting comments about the state of Welsh rugby, will surely feel wounded, even it was meant as banter.

Dornan, the star of the Fifty Shades of Grey film, admitted the current plight of Welsh rugby broke his heart.

He told a story of how one of his best friends from Wales was happy with being competitive for 74 minutes in the 26-23 defeat against Scotland.

This display was Wales' most impressive of the Tandy era and has given Welsh supporters some small hope things will improve soon.

Clinging on to some green shoots of recovery is perhaps indication for some of how low Welsh rugby has sunk.

Former Ulster wing Trimble said: "They are so bad we actually feel sorry for them, we don't even slag them. Let's do them a favour and slag them."

Welsh fans will excuse Trimble and co for not doing them that favour. They do not require the pity, if that is what this is.

"There has been a lot of sympathy towards us, which is not nice," former Wales centre Tom Shanklin told BBC Scrum V.

"People feel sorry for us but they must remember Wales have been a massive part of this tournament and helped create it to the level it is now."

The shambolic state of Welsh rugby evokes reactions like those of Trimble and Dornan.

Concerning headlines and poor results allow them to belittle the Welsh game, even in a playful way.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) faces the prospect of an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), with continued criticism from the country's politicians as the governing body carries on with plans to cut a professional side.

The woeful record of the national men's team is also evidence for withering comments and the malaise is well-documented.

Wales have not won a Six Nations match for almost three years, some 1,091 days, since defeating Italy in Rome in March 2023.

Fourteen defeats in the tournament have followed with Wales looking to avoid a wooden spoon for a third successive year.

Wales have lost 24 games in 26 internationals since the end of 2023, with the only two victories coming against Japan.

Those facts and figures are damning, almost unique in top-tier international rugby.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris and coach Andy Farrell have chosen to be more respectful in the build-up, insisting they are wary of any Welsh revival.

"The story has been written many times about their decline and how unfortunate it has been," said Farrell.

"But at the same time, we are playing them in a Test match on Friday and, from what I've seen, they've been getting better each game.

"We have heard confidence in the Welsh camp they are coming to Dublin with a spring in their step and are familiar with how our lads play in the United Rugby Championship.

"That influenced the result last year [Ireland won 27-18], so it's up to us to show we have also moved on."

It used to be Wales' players and coaches winding up the Irish in Dublin.

Trimble himself was left on the floor by Shane Williams in Wales' Triple Crown victory in 2008 as the wonder wing scored the crucial try at Croke Park.

Four years later, Trimble was left flailing at a rampaging Jonathan Davies who sprinted away to cross for two tries in the 2012 victory that set Wales on to a Grand Slam.

Wales and Ireland's relations in the past have been spicy, mainly in Warren Gatland's first stint in charge as head coach.

Gatland, a former Ireland coach, said the Welsh players disliked the Irish players the most in 2009 and you would often see the likes of Mike Phillips, Liam Williams and Gethin Jenkins scrapping with Paul O'Connell, Rob Kearney and Ronan O'Gara.

That edge has disappeared in recent years.

It has not been helped by Ireland's dominance of this contest, with Wales having not won this fixture since 2021 and not tasting victory in the Six Nations in Dublin since 2012.

The rivalry is crying out for some attitude.

Wales captain Lake provided a bit of that by saying he believes his side can beat their opponents on Friday, while attack coach Matt Sherratt has predicted they can give their Irish opponents a scare.

Those are bolder sentiments that some Welsh supporters are crying out for.

Others prefer a more understated approach and head coach Tandy is deliberately more cautious in his messaging.

Understandable, maybe, as he faces his eighth match in charge with six defeats and a one-point win against Japan marking his reign so far.

Asked whether he believes this squad can go to Dublin and win, Tandy replied: "We are at the point where we can go there and be competitive.

"That's where it is. If we are competitive and bring large parts of what we did against Scotland, then I think we'll be in the game to get the result we all want."

Tandy was later again asked whether Wales can believe they can win. His response?

"I absolutely believe in this group," said Tandy. "I believe in what we're building and the players believe too and have grown in confidence.

"We're starting to understand more about what's needed. I believe we will have a competitive performance on Friday night."

Whether a competitive showing is enough to give credence to talk of a mini Welsh revival remains to be seen.

One thing is for certain: Lake, Tandy and the loyal travelling Welsh supporters will hope nobody is laughing at this Wales side after they have performed at the home of Irish rugby on Friday night.