"From my point of view, it was exactly the performance I needed," he said. "I didn't think I'd lose my job if we lost, but there would have been pressure on me to make a decision. "It's obviously good to demonstrate that one can work with the players and that the players can produce the performance on the pitch. "I'm very pleased to say our players were very determined to prove we can work together."
But captain Ieuan Evans, who capped the three-try demolition with a brilliant score in injury time, warned the Welsh public against over-reacting to the victory. "It was important to prove at home that we have the ability to play against better nations. I think we showed the Welsh public that we have the determination to play well and a brand of rugby they can be proud of," he said. "We'll now try to keep our feet on the ground. The problem last year was that the whole of Wales erupted into euphoria after we beat England and it was hard to keep in check. "We've learned a lot from that and we're going to keep our enthusiasm in check, because our next game in Ireland is going to be difficult."
It is going to be even harder for Scotland, who entertain England at Murrayfield on the same day, February 5, although skipper Gavin Hastings denied this. He commented: "It's all part of life's rich tapestry. I've been around a long time and I've suffered defeats before. Wales took their chances and capitalised on every opportunity. "We need to pick ourselves up, and I'd be very surprised if we can't do that with England as our next opponents."
Scotland's misery was completed by the news that flanker Iain Morrison had suffered a double break of his left leg. The luckless London Scottish player, who returned to action recently after a nine-month absence with knee problems, fractured both his tibia and fibula after finishing at the bottom of a pile-up in the first half. The Scots also suffered two other injuries, with stand-off Craig Chalmers damaging his cheekbone and scrum-half Andy Nicol his chest.
Chalmers, who was cleared to play by an internal inquiry following allegations that he was given banned pain-killing injections before the defeat by New Zealand, has now failed to finish his last three internationals. The Welsh did not escape injury-free either, with wing Nigel Walker forced to leave the pitch with concussion after 10 minutes when he received an accidental knee to the head. He now faces an automatic three-week rest under International Board rules, which rules him out of the Ireland match.
His replacement, utility back Mike Rayer, made the best of his opportunity, scoring twice on the left wing in the 52nd and 79 minutes. The second was converted from the touchline by fly-half Neil Jenkins, who had kick-started Wales' recovery by landing four successive first-half penalties attempts to pass 150 points in international rugby. For Welsh rugby, it was a scoreline to savour, equalling their biggest winning margin ever over Scotland. For Scotland, crushed 51-15 by New Zealand at Murrayfield last November, it was another sad day, with Hastings succeeding with only two penalties from six attempts.
Fly-half Neil Jenkins laid the foundation for a deserved Welsh success with four first-half penalties from four attempts. These were supplemented by three excellent second-half tries, two from replacement wing Mike Rayer, the second of which was converted by Jenkins, and one from skipper Ieuan Evans. Scotland's solitary response was two penalties -- one in each half -- from captain Gavin Hastings. The prolific fly-half succeeded with all four of his penalty attempts on the greasy surface, while Scotland skipper Gavin Hastings managed just one success from three penalties.
Tension between two sides desperate for a win was evident as a third-minute line-out on the Scottish line erupted in a massive brawl between both packs. They settled down and Wales gained early control through their line-out ascendancy, taking the lead in the sixth minute when Jenkins landed a close-range penalty after the Scots had failed to release the ball.
But the Welsh suffered a setback in the 11th minute when flying winger Nigel Walker was led off with concussion and replaced by Mike Rayer, normally a full-back. Welsh woe increased when Hastings atoned for missed penalty from wide on the right by hammering a straight one between the posts in the 13th minute. Five minutes later, though, the Scots had to make a substitution when flanker Ian Morrison was helped off with an injury and replaced by Doddie Weir That gave the Scots an added option in the line-out, but it was Wales who were dominating that aspect of play.
It was therefore no surprise when they regained the lead with Jenkins' second penalty, after scrum-half Rupert Moon had been tackled without the ball in the 27th minute. Four minutes later the Wales fly-half made it 9-3 with his third consecutive penalty success after Scottish flanker Derek Turnbull had been caught offside.
The Scots made a similar blunder in the fifth minute of injury time and were again punished by Jenkins. There was little let-up for the Scots on the restart as the Welsh encamped in their territory. They held out until the 53rd minute, when Rayer slid over in the corner after a superb move down the threequarter line.
Jenkins missed the conversion from close to the touchline, but it mattered little as the Scots continued to struggle. They were not helped when fly-half Craig Chalmers had to be replaced by Doug Wyllie in the 54th minute and referee Patrick Robin ruled out a drop-goal from centre Gregor Townsend which appeared to clear the bar a minute later.
Robin blew up for offside against Wales, but Hastings fluffed the simple penalty and then wasted another opportunity in the 59th minute, although from much further away. The Scotland skipper finally found his range from the right-hand side in the 65th minute to kick his second penalty of the game.
However, in the final few minutes the Welsh pressure on the Scottish scrum took its toll as their backs ran in two superb tries. Rayer rounded off another fine move in the corner for a 79th minute try, which was superbly converted by Jenkins, and then Evans outpaced Hastings for Nigel Davies' perfect diagonal kick to hack on and touch down near the flag in injury time.
Score summary Wales - 29 (12) Tries: Rayer (53, 79), Evans (80). Conversion: N. Jenkins (79). Penalties: N. Jenkins (6, 27, 31, 40) Scotland - 6 (3) Penalties: Hastings (13, 65). Wales Tony Clement (Swansea); Ieuan Evans (Llanelli, captain), Mike Hall (Cardiff), Nigel Davies (Llanelli), Nigel Walker (Cardiff); Neil Jenkins (Pontypridd), Rupert Moon (Llanelli); Ricky Evans (Llanelli), Garin Jenkins (Swansea), John Davies (Neath), Phil Davies (Llanelli), Gareth Llewellyn (Neath), Emyr Lewis (Llanelli), Scott Quinnell (Llanelli), Mark Perego (Llanelli). Scotland Gavin Hastings (Watsonians, captain); Tony Stanger (Hawick), Gregor Townsend (Gala), Ian Jardine (Stirling), Kenny Logan (Stirling); Craig Chalmers (Melrose), Andy Nicol (Dundee High School Former Pupils); Peter Wright (Boroughmuir), Kenny Milne (Heriot's FP), Paul Burnell (London Scottish), Neil Edwards (Northampton), Shade Munro (Glasgow High/Kelvinside), Derek Turnbull (Hawick), Rob Wainright (Edinburgh Academicals), Ian Morrison (London Scottish). Referee: Patrick Robin (France).Vasanthan.Dasan@Central.Sun.COM
And Irish coach Gerry Murphy pulled short of declaring that the French would have it all their own way against England on March 5. "It will be a very interesting match when the English come here. I'd love a ticket," Murphy said. "But the French showed quickness, closed us down well, and played well as a unit." Many had predicted France would surpass their record 44-12 beating of Ireland at the Parc des Princes two years ago. Had it not been for two late tries though, France's winning margin would have been a lot shorter. And the lineout play of Neil Francis and Patrick Johns, particularly in the first half, was world class.
French skipper Olivier Roumat admitted: "Francis and Johns are well known for their lineout play. We had a tough match in this area." And hero Lacroix said: "I was happy to have got so many points but the score possibly flattered us a little." France travel to Cardiff on February 19, before a crunch match against England here on March 5. They then fly to Edinburgh to face the Scots on March 19.
Fly half Eric Elwood hit five out of seven penalties for all Ireland's points. He has now scored 58 points in his four matches. It was also Elwood's first taste of defeat. The 24-year said: "I got 15 points which is not too bad but we played a world class team and I think we can hold our heads high."
Gerry Murphy had hoped for a good performance, even though a loss was likely. Though disappointed Ireland did not score a try -- something they have not done in France since Freddie McLennan touched down 14 years ago -- he believed Ireland achieved their aim. "To come here and win is always an incredible achievement and we were beaten by a better team. But I thought we defended well, and our lineouts, particularly in the first half, were excellent. "But we lost because we were not able to get key balls into key positions on the pitch."
And Lacroix's try, three penalties and three conversions were also instrumental in extending France's unbeaten home record against Ireland to 22 years. Ireland bravely kept in touch for most of the game, but the floodgates opened in the final 10 minutes when France scored two tries and could have had others. They went behind after just six minutes when Lacroix kicked his first penalty from 30 metres.
Lacroix and Elwood kept the scoreboard ticking over at regular intervals. Elwood's kicks included a monster effort from inside his own half. But a Philippe Benetton try made the difference in the first half. Benetton picked up a Marc Cecillon tip on off a loose ball at the back of an Irish lineout to power over just before the break. The 25-year-old flanker had earlier been left on the ground after lock Francis was caught stamping on his back.
Elwood's third and fourth penalties made the half time score 16-12. But France stepped up a gear in the second half. Fabien Galtier put Lacroix through from a scrum five metres from the Irish touch. Lacroix also converted to make the score 23-12. Elwood got his fifth success in the 63rd minute when the French were caught offside. But everything then went the way of the home side.
Lacroix was inevitably at the start of the move that put winger Philippe Saint-Andre through for the third try -- a 20 metre run into the left hand corner. In the 80th minute, Alain Penaud and Saint-Andre forged forward again. A few feet from the line, Olivier Merle grabbed the ball and charged for the touchdown. Lacroix missed the conversion for his only disappointment of the match.
France Jean-Luc Sadourny (Colomiers), Philippe Bernat-Salles (Pau), Philippe Sella (Agen), Thierry Lacroix (Dax), Philippe Saint-Andre (Montferrand), Alain Penaud (Brives), Fabien Galthie (Colomiers), Abdel Benazzi (Agen), Philippe Benetton (Agen), Marc Cecillon (Bourgoin), Olivier Roumat (Dax, capt), Olivier Merle (Grenoble), Louis Armary (Lourdes), Philippe Gallart (Beziers), Jean-Michel Gonzalez (Bayonne) Replacements: Aubin Hueber (Toulon), Pierre Montlaur (Agen), Emile N'Tamack (Toulouse), Olivier Brouzet (Grenoble), Fabrice Landreau (Grenoble), Stephane Graou (Auch) Ireland Conor O'Shea (Lansdowne), Richard Wallace (Garyowen), Vincent Cunningham (St Mary's), Philip Danaher (Garyowen), Simon Geoghegan (London Irish), Eric Elwood (Lansdowne), Michael Bradley (Cork Const., capt), Ken O'Connell (Sunday's Well), Michael Galwey (Shannon), Brian Robinson (Ballymena), Neil Francis (Old Belvedere), Patrick Johns (Dungannon), Peter Clohessy (Young Munster), Nick Popplewell (Greystones), Terence Kingston (Dolphin) Replacements: Mark McCall (Bangor), Alan McGowan (Blackrock), Rob Saunders (London Irish), David Tweed (Ballymena), Garret Halpin (London Irish), Keith Wood (Garyowen)Vasanthan.Dasan@Central.Sun.COM