In seeking to inject some energy into this fixture, we have looked at Welsh pantomime villains and mischievously pondered whether Ireland and Wales now dislike each other more than either of them do England. Today, we focus more on Ireland. Namely, some of our greatest days against the Welsh.
5. 1993
Nick Poppelwell wept tears of joy after Ireland's victory in Cardiff in 1993. Ireland hadn't won a match since beating Japan in a World Cup match in October 1991. Eleven losses in a row.
Fortunately, Cardiff loomed large on the horizon. No matter Ireland's struggles in the lead up to the fixture, they managed to shake them off when they landed in the Welsh capital.
During the 1990s, some of the worst Ireland teams in history went to Cardiff and won.
This curious record was the source of much bemused investigation in the period with many of the theorisers overlooking the rather staid explanation that Wales weren't exactly shit hot in this era either.
Their backs still reddened from a belt of the wooden spoon the year before, Ireland scrapped their way to a five point win in Cardiff in '93.
The recalled Mick Galwey was awarded Man of the Match. This, combined with his famous try against England in Lansdowne Road, won him inclusion on the 1993 Lions squad. He was one of only two Irish players picked.
Ulster's Brian Robinson scored the only try of the game and high of the unfamiliar drug of victory, Ireland powered on to beat England in the last game of the Five Nations. It was the only year in the 90s in which Ireland won more than one match.
4. 2006
It was a real sickener when, after a host of second and third place finishes, Ireland had to watch Wales, who had been prime candidates for the wooden spoon in previous years, celebrate a Grand Slam victory in 2005.
Like the Irish teams of the '80s, the Welsh noughties side demonstrated an uncanny knack of following a good year with a bad one.
Thus, they succumbed in a one-sided encounter in Lansdowne Road. Ireland won 31-5 on a day when the crowd decided that Gavin Henson was a suitable target for jeers.
3. 2014
The Welsh were coming off the back of two Six Nations titles, one of them a Grand Slam. They has also one a Lions tour the previous tour while a fair portion of the Irish and English squads were made watch from the subs bench.
In that light, the 26-3 demolition was particularly satisfying. It might have been more but for Rory Best's cavalier back-door pass with time-up.
2. 1985
A game which ended one era and kick-started another. Between 1969 and 1983, Ireland lost every game in Cardiff. Between 1985 and 2003, Ireland won every game in Cardiff (with the exception of a draw in 1991).
Ireland's sexy team of 1985 slinked and swaggered their way to a 21-9, teeing up the Triple Crown game against England at Lansdowne Road.
Keith Crossan's second half try arrived after an especially tasty backline move. If you turn on TG4 around midnight on a weekday, there's a fair chance this game is being repeated - with commentary from Nigel Starmer Smith and not Fred Cogley, for some reason.7
1. 2009
Not Ireland's greatest performance in Cardiff but the most montage friendly, and the thus most memorable. How could it be otherwise when it is the scene of Ireland's first Grand Slam in 61 years, a stat for which the Welsh can justifiably slag us. There's been plenty said about this game.
Oddly, despite Ireland's victory, Paddy Wallace remains a scapegoat because of what almost happened. People haven't forgotten him conceding a penalty in the final minute even though the penalty was missed.
Usually, a happy result draws a line under such recriminations. Not in poor Paddy's case.
