It seems Wales may require more than the return of Gats to solve their problems. There were even thoughts – dreams maybe – of the underdogs snarling in their lair and putting one over Ireland, looking all sleek and shiny up there at the top of the world rankings.
The closed roof of the kennel was as full to bursting as ever with the songs of its faithful. But that sheen of the Irish looks to run ever more deeper than the surface.
They were in a different class, and open their campaign with a comfy bonus-point win away from home. If anything, they will wonder why they won by only the 24 points, given they were up by the same amount by half-time.
This may be the era of the comeback, but there was to be no such drama. Wales responded to the flatness of their first half with a bit more bite at the start of the second, Liam Williams, one of their better players, scoring a fine try to pull the score back to 27-10 a few minutes after the break.