Bring on the Irish (From Western Telegraph)

Bring on the Irish

A three-day training session in the glorious Pembrokeshire sunshine could be the tonic the Welsh rugby team needs to beat the Irish at the Millennium on Saturday.

The national squad arrived in Tenby on Sunday evening to prepare for their clash with Ireland.

A few dozen spectators lined up at the Heywood Lane ground to watch the team in action but the players have escaped the unforgiving glare of the media spotlight.

Tenby RFC secretary Geoff Carew said the team had chosen Tenby to train because of its excellent pitch - and to escape the media. "The press interest hasn't been as intense as it would have been around Cardiff. They can concentrate on their game and not on what the papers are reporting,'' he said.

The squad is staying at the St Brides Hotel, Saundersfoot. Outdoor training is being supplement with fitness sessions at Tenby Leisure Centre and at the Heywood Mount Hotel, Tenby.

Wales are hoping that they can break the cycle of losses that hae dogged their previous games against England, Italy and Scotland.

"My money is on Wales to win this weekend, I really believe they could do it this time,'' said Geoff Carew.

"I heard it once said that Wales must have the most loyal supporters of any team in the world.

In the last 10 years they have only won 25 per cent of their games but the supporters keep turning up.''