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The scathing criticism of Wales’ performance on Saturday has continued with TV analyst and former England hooker Brian Moore branding their thinking and approach against the Wallabies coming from ‘professional rugby’s Middle Ages’.

Hours after Robert Howley’s Welsh side were beaten in embarrassing fashion 32-8 across the Atlantic in Soldier Field, Ireland were making rugby history in toppling back-to-back world champions New Zealand for the first time in 111 years of clashes between the two nations.

And for 64-times capped Red Rose hooker Moore the gulf in performances from Joe Schmidt’s side to Wales was as big as the 3,330 miles between Cardiff and Chicago.

“Two very different scenarios played out on Saturday in the opening games of the autumn international season. A historic first win for Ireland over the world No 1 All Blacks and a resounding loss by Wales to Australia,” five-times capped British Lion Moore wrote in his Daily Telegraph column .

“Wales were confident of reversing their appalling run of near-miss losses against an Australia side who were said to be floundering after an indifferent Rugby Championship.

“As the Welsh trooped disconsolately into the dressing room at half-time, they had suffered one of the most one-sided halves of rugby witnessed in modern Test rugby.

“That they were only 20-3 down was astonishing given the almost total dominance of Australia in every phase of the game.

"In truth, Australia could, probably should, have put 50-plus points on the board. Only some heroic scrambling defence by Wales and inaccuracy from the unusually lethal Australian finishers kept the result within the bounds of decency.

“Was it just a case of a poor start by Wales, a revivalist display by Australia or the natural reflection of superiority of the southern over the northern hemisphere? It was probably a little of each but within that there were game-specific and general philosophical reasons for the outcome.

“Take the technical differences first. Australia’s ball carriers continually made yards even when they were initially met by tacklers on the gain line. When each of your carries takes you over the gain line, the distance players must go to the breakdown shortens for attackers and lengthens for defenders.

"It makes quick ball production easier and, by extension, it is easier for players to run onto the ball with good and varied angles.

“With quick ball, the Australia backs shredded the Welsh defence but they also used fixing decoy runners and a variety of running-lines that made defending even more problematic.

"In contrast, the little ball Wales did move was punched one-out and simply passed along a back line that offered no deception at all until halfway through the second half.

“In the lineout, the Welsh tactic of not competing for the ball was inexplicable given that they did not get the early shove on Australia’s subsequent driving maul, which is the only reason not to compete.

“Of all the moments in the game, one stood out as illustrating the different mindset of the two Six Nations teams in action on Saturday. When Wales threatened a comeback in the second half they had a scrum near the Australian line. They needed tries, not penalties.

"Although they got a slow shove on the Australians, they went for a pushover try/penalty try when to their right they had a three-man overlap.

"This was thinking from professional rugby’s Middle Ages and the more worrying thing for the Welsh is not that they again started a series badly, but that their tactical approach looked dated.

Ireland had a similar situation in the All Blacks game, but the ball was hooked quickly which set up an assault on the Kiwi line that eventually led to a try which put the win beyond doubt.

"Ireland could have decided to try to force a penalty and run down the clock with a series of scrums, which would, at that stage of the game, have been legitimate.

"They chose the more positive option and this reflected the fact that their entire tactical approach had been more positive than of the Welsh.

“While the Welsh management referred to the difficulty of being at full pace in an opening game, the Irish showed this was no more than an excuse as they tore into the Kiwis and matched them in every area - intensity, pace, commitment but crucially in their intent to play total rugby.

"The last point being the distinction that matters most.

“In the aftermath of the games there was, understandably, euphoria and despondency; both were probably a little exaggerated. Wales will get better and one win, however meritorious for Ireland does not prove they will ineluctably halt their dismal Rugby World Cup record in 2019.

"What it does show is that only one of the two have, at present, embraced the positivity and tactical variety which now runs through the top echelon of international rugby.”