Ireland vs Wales, Six Nations 2016, Sunday 7th Feb, 2016. KO 3PMGMT

bilston · 07-02-2016 1:51pm

aimee1 wrote: »

bit of gamesmanship from gatland maybe? name anscombe with no intention of starting him

I wouldn't be surprised. No idea why Wales would name their side 48 hours before Ireland anyway. How can that not be an advantage to Ireland.

former total · 07-02-2016 1:52pm

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-rocked-late-injury-gareth-10853303

Any of Williams, Morgan or Priestland could fit in and not weaken them

phog · 07-02-2016 1:52pm

From Twitter

Simon Thomas (@simonrug) tweeted at 0:43 PM on Sun, Feb 07, 2016:
Have spoken to WRU and they say the team will be confirmed on arrival at the ground. Liam Williams was here already as a travelling reserve.

bilston · 07-02-2016 1:58pm

Positive hat on now. If you think about it we have 60% of our tight 5 available (on form McGrath would surely be starting anyway), McCarthy is playing good rugby, White is a bit of an unknown I'll grant you, but if he holds his end up in the scrum before Furlong comes on to do similar and carry a bit then it's job done.

The back row is grand. I have no doubt CJ will take to test rugby like a duck to water, albeit the first 20 minutes will be a challenge to him as it is for any new cap. TOD is quick and is good at finding gaps and then of course we have the ever present Heaslip at No.8

The half backs are first choice and if they play well we will play well. As for the outside backs I think it's a really good backline. Yeah I'd have started Payne at FB but actually that back three is an exciting selection. Trimble brings pace and power and will chase kicks all day, Earls has pace and footwork and can pick good lines popping up in midfield and Zebo, while not in great form, is more than capable of bringing an attacking threat that Wales may not have been expecting earlier in the week. The centres are rock solid defensively, I genuinely can't remember ever missing a tackle last year, and they are much more of an attacking threat that they are given credit for. Payne has hit the ground running on his return from injury and Henshaw has shown what a talent he is. I think he will have a massive game today.

The bench maybe isn't as strong as you'd like but is it any wonder when you are missing so many players. Cronin, Furlong, Ryan, Ruddock and Madigan are capable of bringing something different from the bench.

I am confident we'll play well today, whether we win or not remains to be seen, but in hindsight it isn't a bad selection at all.

ionadnapokot · 07-02-2016 2:04pm

aimee1 wrote: »

bit of gamesmanship from gatland maybe? name anscombe with no intention of starting him

If he plays. Yes. Far superior fb. Match fitness?
Kiwi Cuboid strikes again

Fireball07 · 07-02-2016 2:06pm

I wouldn't be too worried about White at all tbh, I'll be satisfied with a TH who locks out the scrum and White will do that.

McCarthy's playing decently enough and will do okay, although 2nd row will still be our weakest line on the pitch, you'd imagine.

TOD isn't SOB and won't be SOB, but TOD complements POM & Stander nicely for Munster (although if all 3 of those aren't there, our back row struggles) and I think Stander's physicality and prowess on the deck will at least negate the absence of SOB a little bit. TOD will do what is, work himself in the ground. Against Tipuric & Warburton, we are at a disadvantage at the breakdown, we need Heaslip to step up bigtime too.

Sadly, there is cause to be worried about what are probably our two best players- Murray & Sexton. If they both find their top form, we will win, I think. But both have struggled to find their form. The outside backs will work hard and generally be solid... I don't see our gameplan today being very expansive, weather doesn't suit that kind of rugby either.

We can win, I don't know if we will though. I'm not as negative as some but we are missing a lot of players. But, being positive, I'll say we'll win by 5.

pc7 · 07-02-2016 2:19pm

Can a poll be added to see the breakdown of win/lose?

A-Train · 07-02-2016 2:39pm

Reading previous posts I agree that this years 6 nations is very downbeat altogether, the buzz just isn't there at the moment.

On to today's game, I think Ireland will struggle and Wales might that extra bit to get them over the line.

Injuries are a big factor, I think with SOB out we might struggle at the breakdown which is normally a mess when Garces refs and the Welsh will target this with bodies on the deck, slow to roll away. Hipefully I'm wrong and the back row have a good game.

I will be also interested to see how the backs get on, it mightn't be the day for them with the weather that is predicted but even show some moves would be good!

All that said Come on Ireland!

ionadnapokot · 07-02-2016 2:39pm

Here comes the rain.
Box.Kick.Chase.Catch.Ruck.Pass.Garryowen.Catch.Ruck.Pass.Try.
Simple
But effective?

phog · 07-02-2016 2:51pm

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Here comes the rain.
Box.Kick.Chase.Catch.Ruck.Pass.Garryowen.Catch.Ruck.Pass.Try.
Simple
But effective?

Effective if we win. I think we'll earn it today, not confident of a win at all.

Wales have shown that even with their opponents going ahead early they seldom panic, they stick to their game plan.

molloyjh · 07-02-2016 2:55pm

LorMal wrote: »

Ah Jaysus Molloy, you're back to ill using 'reactionary' again! After me teaching you and everything.
Sigh.

You didn't read my reply to that post then no? :pac:

Pink Fairy · 07-02-2016 2:57pm

As I'm a mongrel i don't know will I be cheering both sides or beating myself up when one side pulls ahead of the other today....but, expecting a massive game from CJ today. The guy is an exceptional player, a leader and shows by example.... I expect him to score.... And clatter North if at all possible

PeterTheEighth · 07-02-2016 3:03pm

Again with the flash, expensive, time wasting promos. Absolute nonsense.

Are the RTE sports department obliged to create work for the RTE graphic design department to keep them in a job? I wonder how much that cost to put together?