Jamie Heaslip, enough said..

He's a good player, not captain.

Not every reasonably good player makes a successful captain. When a player is promoted to the honor of being that of an International team, they shouldn't exactly look from above and dictate. Brian O'Driscoll is a textbook example of an ideal captain. Being an inspiration to every player. His enthusiasm and understanding of the game was second to none, having a positive outlook on everything he was an inspiration to his comrades. Granted Heaslip has a lot to live up to, he doesn't come anywhere close to that of O'Driscoll. Heaslip hasn't the outlook as a player, he is mainly focused on the forwards and his as negligence leaves his backline flustered as when it comes to decisions being made under pressure. O'Driscoll however had a reign widely over his backs and prepared his pack well, and could tackle any situation appropriately. This has however only come with experience. Both as a player and captain. As his duty has been called it has been time for him to step down and leave his dynasty to someone else. We should have prepared for this though, it was going to come sometime and we shouldn't have been somewhat in denial about it. Preferably in the coming year somebody else will take it upon themselves and conduct the roll well, but until then we're going to have to live with what we have sadly.

Ireland vs Wales

6 Nations Ireland vs Wales 1/2/13

Match Timeline

1 min-Kick off to Ireland, caught by Gilroy. Well gained space.

10 mins-Simon Zebo try, offload from O'Driscoll. 5-0 to Ireland.

11 mins-Jonathan Sexton conversion 7-0 to Ireland.

12 mins-Penalty to Ireland, high tackle from Wales on the halfway line.

13 mins-Matthew reese subsituted for Ken Owens, due to injury.
13 mins-Lineout lost against the head with bad dart from Best.

18 mins-Irish 5 meter scrum.

19 mins-Drop goal attempt missed by Sexton, but penalty awarded to Ireland.

20 mins-Penalty scored by Sexton.

21 mins-Knock on by Ireland, Scrum down to Wales.

22 mins-Free kick to Wales, turned over by Conor Murray
23 mins-Charge down by Rory Best and well caught by Zebo from a poor pass.
23 mins-Try scored by Cian Healy 15-0 to Ireland
25 mins-Sexton converts try to have a 17-0 lead.
26 mins-Turn over and box kick from Murray to go into opposite 22 meter touch.
27 mins-Penalty to Ireland, from crossing over by Mike Phillips.
28 mins-Penalty slotted by Sexton to give a 20-0 lead.
29 mins-Ball caught from kick off by Kearney and good yards gained in break.
29 mins-Penalty to Wales because of not ball not being released in the ruck.
31 mins- Ball passed out into touch, and all momentum gained lost. Line out to Ireland.
32 mins-Penalty to Wales, ball not being released from Healy
33 mins-Penalty scored, 3-20 to Ireland.
34 mins-Ball lost in lineout, and Wales gain posession.
36 mins-Great break from Wales George North, to get into Irelands 22
38 mins-Penalty to Ireland on their own 5 meter line.
38 mins-Blood injury Gethin Jenkins goes off.
41 mins-Penalty to Ireland, Sexton scores to have the score 23-3 to Ireland at the end of the first half.
                              Half Time
40 mins-Penalty to Ireland, scrum down.
42 mins-Kearney fails to reach the try line, but scored in the next phase by O'Driscoll. 27-3
43 mins-Conversion scored by Sexton, 6/6 so far. The score 30-3 to Ireland
44 mins-Gordon D'ary subbed for Chris Earls
44 mins-Penalty take quick by Wales, due to holding on in the ruck
46 mins-Penalty to Wales, Sean O'Brien not releasing the tackled player on the ground.
47 mins-Wales lineout on Irelands 5 meter line, Wales then score a try by Alex Cuthebert.
48 mins-Leigh Halfpenny converts the conversion
50 mins-Great break by Wales sub Scott Williams
51 mins-Penalty to Wales, O'Driscoll knocked the ball out of Mike Phillips hands from the ruck
51 mins-Wales substitute, Matthew Rees for Ken Owens,
51 mins-Ireland substitute Chris Henry for Peter O'Mahoney
53 mins-Conor Murray knocks the attempted interception ball on, Scrum to Wales from Irelands 22.
54 mins-Penalty Wales, Irish tackler not rolling away. then punted for touch
55 mins-Lineout to Wales, on Irelands 5 meter line.
56 mins-Welsh penalty taken quickly, on Irelands 5 meter line.
57 mins-Huge tackle from Craig Gilroy leaves Welsh player Leigh Halfpenny winded on the floor
57 mins-Rory Best shown to the sin bin, because of not rolling away in the ruck
58 mins-Leigh Halfpenny scores a try in the corner after many phases on Irelands line.
59 mins-Conversion missed leaving the score 15-30 to Wales.
62 mins-Good overlap play by Alex Cuthbert
62 mins-Penalty to Ireland, punted to touch by Sexton
63 mins-Mike Phillips subbed for Lloyd Williams
63 mins-Knocked on by Scott Williams, and caught by O'Brien
64 mins-Free kick to Ireland due to taking too long in the lineout,
65 mins-Welsh player calls Mark in own 22.
66 mins-Penalty to Wales as player was tackled off the ball
67 mins-Lineout by Wales lost and cleared by Ireland
67 mins-Scrum Wales as ball was knocked on by Kearney in effort to catch a kick
67 mins-Rory Best returns from the sin bin into a scrum.
68 mins-Penalty to Wales, the scrum collapsed. Leigh Halfpenny finds Irish 5 meter touch
68 mins-Mike Ross subbed for Declan Fitzpatrick
69 mins-Yellow card awarded to Conor Murray
70 mins-Welsh scrum on the Irish 5 meter line
71 mins-Another Welsh penalty, but taken quickly on the Irish 5 meter
72 mins-Irish scrum on their own 5 meter line
72 mins-James Hook comes on for Dan Biggar, Craig Mitchell on for Adam Jones
74 mins-Welsh lineout inside the Irish 22
75 mins-Try awarded to Craig Mitchell, the score 20-30
76 mins-Conversion scored by Leigh Halfpenny having Ireland leading by 22-30
78 mins-Possession turned over to Irish play by Zebo catching a way ward ball.
79 mins-Brian O'Driscoll awarded Man Of The Match
79 mins-Scrum down to Wales
80 mins-Forward pass from Wales scrum half, Lloyd Williams.
                       

Full Time Whistle !
Final Score Ireland Wales 22-30 Ireland