Sky Sports.com

Ireland: in the hunt

We were unlucky, but you create your own luck. We had luck at the start of the game and we had opportunities to score tries and kick goals. I don't think we can consistently say every week that we were unlucky.

Kenny Logan
Quotes of the week

The contrasting fortunes of Wales, Ireland and Scotland fell under the Rugby Club spotlight after another intriguing weekend of Six Nations action.

Scott Quinnell, Paul Wallace and Kenny Logan shared their thoughts with us after the games - and don't forget to click on the video to the right to see the views of Rugby Club regulars Dewi Morris, Stuart Barnes and Will Greenwood as well.

WALES - Scott Quinnell (1993-2002)

Warren Gatland said he wanted to build this side game on game and he's been doing that. But there's some harder tests to come - Ireland and France over the next couple of weeks.

I think the game against Italy was a game of two halves, but I think the first was as important as the second. The forwards broke that Italian defence down, they actually tired them and in the second half Wales came to life.

Shane Williams scored two magnificent tries and Lee Byrne had his best game in a Wales shirt by far. That all came from a good, solid team performance.

They can do the Grand Slam again. They've gone out and played well and the performances have got better game on game.

Ireland away will be a very difficult game, but then France at home who knows? What I would like is some consistency in Welsh rugby because we haven't had that over the last 20 years.

Would I rather have consistency or the Grand Slam? I'd rather have both!

IRELAND - Paul Wallace (1995-2002)

It didn't look like we'd arrived in the first half against Scotland, who played with a lot of ambition. The Irish lineout malfunctioned and we got a couple of lucky breaks, especially with David Wallace's try.

But in the second half after Marcus Horan's try, things really started opening up for Ireland. The confidence, the execution and the ball skills were there. Tommy Bowe's first try was probably the best try I've seen for Ireland for some time.

The Irish scrum was strong throughout, especially Marcus Horan. When Scotland had a five-yard opportunity, he got the shunt on, the ball popped out and the opportunity was snuffed out.

If they want to win the Triple Crown they've got to win the ball first and foremost. The lineout needs to improve by improving the pace when they get there.

Rory Best is maybe coming in as hooker and they can also attack the Welsh lineout which hasn't been that strong either.

I think defensively they need better communication and line speed and not leave soft tries like Simon Webster's.

And also at ruck time they need to get in there - either legally or illegally at times - and slow down that ball and don't give the Welsh attack that much space and time.

SCOTLAND - Kenny Logan (1992-2003)

The Irish defeat was so disappointing because we started off so well. We didn't kick our first goal, we ran it, Nathan Hines gave a silly penalty away, we had a two-on-one and should have scored. We should have been at least 10 points up and we got nothing from great possession.

We were unlucky, but you create your own luck. We had luck at the start of the game and we had opportunities to score tries and kick goals. I don't think we can consistently say every week that we were unlucky.

We've got to start producing the goods and start giving the forwards really good targets. Alasdair Strokosch came on and he gave us targets and we need more people to do that.

Murrayfield is a fortress and when we play England there we always lift our game. Sadly we shouldn't have to lift our game against the English; we should do it in every game.

We're going to have to have a good defence. Our chase has to be good and we've got to be together because we've been playing as individuals.

We need to get in front of the forwards, give them some targets, get on the front foot and give the backs an opportunity.

If we get that right we've got an opportunity because Chris Paterson has got the goal-kicking. And let's score some tries too.