'the Wales Win Is Coming, I Can Feel It' - Lake

ByGareth Griffiths

BBC Sport Wales

Wales skipper Dewi Lake says a triumph is conscionable astir nan area aft an encouraging show successful nan 27-17 Six Nations conclusion by Ireland successful Dublin.

Wales' losing Six Nations streak has now stretched to 15 matches pinch nan erstwhile triumph successful nan tourney coming against Italy successful March 2023.

But this Dublin conclusion was nan finest capacity successful nan Steve Tandy era truthful acold arsenic Wales fell conscionable short again.

Ireland caput coach Andy Farrell said Wales were "tremendous and Ireland had been progressive successful a proper, dogged Test match".

This capacity follows nan constrictive 26-23 location nonaccomplishment to Scotland 2 weeks agone pinch Wales facing Italy connected nan last play successful Cardiff adjacent Saturday.

Wales will bid to debar nan woody spoon for nan 3rd successive Six Nations and effort to declare a tourney triumph for nan first clip successful almost 1,100 days.

"The triumph is coming, I tin consciousness it, it is conscionable astir nan corner," said Lake.

Lake says he was disappointed to suffer different game, but praised nan turnaround successful performances.

"The improvement of nan squad successful nan past 4 weeks has been monumental," said Lake.

"We're ever disappointed to lose, but nan positives and nan measurement we played is ever thing to beryllium proud of."

Lake says Wales will beryllium near to rue immoderate missed opportunities against Ireland.

"In nan end, we couldn't transverse nan line," said Lake.

"We had nan opportunities successful nan first half, possibly we didn't return them arsenic overmuch successful nan 2nd half.

"I cognize I talk astir nan negatives, but we request to study from them and going into adjacent week, we request to activity connected taking those chances."

Tandy says it was harsh to time off Ireland pinch thing pinch a precocious Jack Crowley punishment denying Wales moreover a losing prize point.

"I person monolithic pridefulness successful nan boys and nan displacement they put in," said Tandy.

"I americium disappointed we didn't get thing from nan crippled for nan group because I felt we deserved something.

"They showed a batch of conflict and location was a batch of awesome accomplishment retired location arsenic well."

Tandy agreed it could beryllium considered nan champion capacity of his era truthful far, contempt it being a seventh conclusion successful 8 matches.

"I deliberation truthful astir apt for different reasons," said Tandy.

"This group is unbelievable to activity with. I cognize it's reliable for people, everyone wants america to win, but nan measurement nan group are processing and this performance, tells you truthful overmuch astir these players."

Wales' move defence made 240 tackles and kept nan Ireland onslaught astatine bay for agelong periods pinch immoderate thunderous hits.

Flanker Alex Mann led nan measurement pinch much than 30 tackles, while fastener Dafydd Jenkins and James Botham were not acold down arsenic they deed 20-plus respectively, while Lake besides made much than 20 tackles successful little than an hr earlier being replaced.

The efforts came pinch Tandy and Dan Lydiate attempting to instrumentality a caller protect system.

"The physicality they near retired successful nan section was outstanding," said Tandy. "Dan [Lydiate] has done a awesome occupation astir nan interaction area.

"When we came successful in nan autumn, location were tons of caller systems coming in, tons of different connection and nan measurement they've adapted and developed has been great.

"The mindset of nan group has been excellent, but arsenic overmuch arsenic you'll spot a batch of toughness, location was a batch of accomplishment astir nan defence arsenic well."

Prop Rhys Carre's superb solo effort against Ireland successful nan first half was arguably nan item of nan game.

Carre became nan first Wales prop and only nan 5th starting prop successful world rugby history to people 3 successive tries successful 3 internationals.

It completes a singular return to world rugby for a subordinate who was deemed not fresh capable by erstwhile Wales coaches Wayne Pivac and Warren Gatland.

The Saracens prop has been brought backmost into nan fold by Tandy and nan coach is being rewarded.

"He's been a monolithic in installments and each nan plaudits should spell to Rhys," said Tandy.

"The measurement he has travel backmost into nan situation and nan measurement he trains arsenic good has been impressive.

"You spot nan output of Rhys has successful scoring successful tries, but location is besides nan effort he puts successful training.

"I deliberation there's a bigger ceiling successful Rhys. He is playing good astatine nan minute, but I judge there's overmuch much to come, which is exciting."

Saturday, 14 March

Principality Stadium