Rugby Union: IT'S TIME TO START BELIEVING

THE Irish enjoyed a good week at Cheltenham - now it is time we ruined things for them in Cardiff.

Saturday's clash with Wales is being viewed by most people as a warm-up for Ireland's Grand Slam decider against England the following week.

Not only do most Irish fans think that way, but it seems as if most of Wales agree with them.

The depression which has settled over Welsh rugby is so deep it seems as if many people are already resigned to a whitewash and a wooden spoon this season.

I think it's time we snapped out of such negative thinking and started believing we can beat Ireland in our own backyard.

Of course, they will be firm favourites and rightly so. Their form over the past few months has been absolutely superb and I have nothing but the highest admiration for what they have achieved.

If they do beat Wales then it would take a brave man to bet against them picking up a first Grand Slam since 1948 by stopping Clive Woodward and his men in Dublin.

But the Irish should not look too far ahead and neither should we. This is a Celtic scrap and if Wales give it their all, play some sensible rugby and refuse to panic, there is no reason why we cannot gain a first victory of the tournament. The problem for Steve Hansen is that his troops are desperately low on confidence after three defeats. I feel he has to make several changes for us to have a chance of ending the dismal home record against Ireland.

Firstly, he needs to bring back Colin Charvis at No 8 in place of Gavin Thomas. We desperately need a bigger ball-carrying presence in the back row and the bottom line is that Thomas is not a natural No 8.

Secondly, Hansen should turn to the Llanelli pair Martin Madden and Chris Wyatt to bolster the pack. Madden would give more of a physical presence in the loose and provide a powerful impact with ball in hand. Wyatt (below) would give Wales the aggressive edge we so badly lack around the field.

He may not be Hansen's idea of a model professional but at least Chris gets stuck in and his ability to rough up the opposition, with knees and elbows, is exactly what we lack.

I can remember when Tony Copsey smacked Neil Francis in a match in Dublin back in 1992. Nowadays, Copsey would have been sent off and I'm not suggesting we try to punch Irish lights out. But it was a question of attitude for Copsey. He was not going to be intimidated and he laid down the law.

That is the attitude Wales must show if we are to quell the Irish fires this time.

The other change I would make is to forget about deciding between Stephen Jones and Iestyn Harris.

Hansen must play them both. I would put Iestyn at No 10 and give Stephen a go at inside centre.

We need the steadying influence Stephen provides but for Wales to beat Ireland we also require the unpredictability of Iestyn.

Whenever he comes on as a replacement our attacking options always look far more promising.

But it is not simply players who will win us the game against a fired-up Irish outfit.

Every Welsh player needs to show far more aggression, belief and conviction than we saw at Murrayfield.

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