The Fort Worth Press - Underdogs Wales could hurt Irish after Scotland display: Popham

The Welsh face an Irish side who rediscovered their vim with a 42-21 thumping of England at Twickenham in the previous round of matches.

Not many people will back the Welsh to end their 14-match Six Nations losing run.

Their last win in Dublin in a Six Nations match dates back to 2012 and they have lost their last four games against Ireland.

Nevertheless, Popham found reasons for optimism in their 26–23 loss to Scotland, a match the Scots edged with a try six minutes from time.

It was a markedly improved display compared with Wales' opening two outings - a 48–7 thrashing by England at Twickenham followed by a 54–12 humbling at the hands of France in Cardiff.

"It provides hope," Popham told AFP by phone on Wednesday.

"That is what we always want from Wales, to compete at that level against a very good Scotland side who stuffed England the week before.

"It was really encouraging but doing it back to back is a different kettle of fish.

"So long as they roll their sleeves up and play for the jersey, that is all one can ask."

Popham, a dashing flanker in his prime who won 33 caps from 2003-08, said the players would have been feeling the pressure of the dire results in a country that is passionate about the sport.

"If you are not doing a good job it would weigh heavily on your shoulders because you want to perform, be it your job, your marriage, your kids, and you get down if you are unable to," said Popham.

"We are a proud nation and the support is fantastic and the boys would want to do well for the supporters and their families.

"They definitely feel the weight on their shoulders if they are not performing to the highest level."

- 'Pay the consequences' -

Ireland coach Andy Farrell expects Wales to arrive "with a spring in their step" and is mindful of the tight result last year -- the Irish won 27-18 in Cardiff.

"It's been written many a time about the decline and how unfortunate it's been," said Farrell at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

"From what I've seen from game one, like ourselves, they've got better every week."

The 50-year-old Englishman was one of the greatest ever rugby league players, key to Wigan dominating the code, but even they had bad runs and he knows how the Welsh players will be feeling.

"Do you know what? You worry about it for a time, why is this happening to me?" he said.

"Playing the victim and all that.

"Then, you get to a point where you say 'sod it' and you've nothing to lose.

"Those lads want to right a few wrongs and be part of the squad that turns Welsh rugby around. That makes them dangerous."

However, even if they manage to secure a win -- whether against Ireland or in the final game against a much-improved Italy -- Popham worries about the long-term future.

Beyond his view that the Welsh Rugby Union is "not in a good place", Popham is concerned that the talent pool of young players is drying up.

"We had a great decade of players," said the 46-year-old.

"We had a run of Grand Slams and championships, and we had loads of players on Lions tours.

"Those guys had to retire and the number of players coming through are not in sufficient numbers.

"My understanding is the regions have stopped investing in academies and nurturing players from 14 to 15.

"So that creates a big gap and as a result the senior ranks are and will continue to pay the consequences."

M.T.Smith--TFWP