SAM WARBURTON admitted he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry after Wales’ superb comeback at the Aviva Stadium finished in a 16- 16 draw against Ireland.
The flanker played 75 minutes in Dublin as the hosts raced into a 13-0 lead thanks to a Conor Murray try and two penalties from Jonathan Sexton.
But Wales came roaring back, despite losing Dan Biggar to an ankle injury early on, as Taulupe Faletau’s try and the boot of Rhys Priestland turned the game on its head.
But no sooner had they taken a 16- 13 lead with less than ten minutes to go, than they were pegged back a late Sexton penalty that ensured it finished honours even.
And Warburton revealed after the game to ITV that he and his teammates were experiencing mixed emotions.
“A draw in the RBS 6 Nations is not really a good result for anyone,” he said.
“It takes away a potential Grand Slam, a potential Triple Crown and it means we will need another big scalp down the line to try and win the Championship.
“The positive is we managed to pull it back, even with losing Dan (Biggar), I thought Rhys came on and played his part, he got plenty of points for us.
“The good thing is this was one of our away games, of our next four games three of them are at home.
“That’s why we were so desperate to win here because it sets you up for the tournament.”
Slow starters Wales paid the price for a slow start, much like in both the 2014 and 2012 RBS 6 Nations clashes in Dublin where they let the men in green get on top of them early.
And Warburton could not believe he and his teammates had made the same mistake again.
“We are disappointed with the first 20, before the game all the talk was about how we have to start well,” he added.
“The last two times we have come out here, two years and four years ago they always come flying out of the blocks against us.
“I am pleased with the way we weathered that storm, 13 points behind to pull back. Two years ago we didn’t do that and it was one of the worst international games I have been involved in.”
Add Comment