Ireland V Wales predictions?

stpaddy99

This will probably be the game of the tournament, probably will decide who wins the title.

The 2 best teams in europe
The 2 most successful 6 nations teams in the past 5 years
The 2 teams who supplied the bulk of the Lions winning squad down under
re-run of the 2011 world cup quarter final
The BOD non selection
The Gatland factors
The schimdt factor

The rivalry is enormous. Every player on the field offers intriguing match ups

Adam V Healy
Ross V Gethin jenkins
Hibbard V Best
Alun wyn jones V POC
Henry V warburton
Heaslip V Faletau
Phillips V Connor murray
Sexton V Priestland
Kearney V halfpenny
North V Fitzy (If fit)
BOD V scott williams/jon davies
roberts v darcy

mouth watering stuff

they all know each other oh so well now, it may all come down to the mind games

were trying the leinster way, theyre sticking to warrenball, so its a clash of styles too.

One area we can target them is sexton cross kicking to north, who seems to have doodgy hands .....we also need to get outside and around their rush defence. theyre strong at breakdown so it may help to move them around the field. also their jumbo backline is not so quick on the turn as the italians showed yesterday. turn those lumbering giants with a smart counter attacking kicking game

Neil3030

Talk to me 2 hours from now...

phog

Timing lad, timing.

jacothelad

I think I'll wait until after today's game.

Molester Stallone

Wales by 7

thomond2006

Last minute winning try from Gatland after he sidesteps BOD.

WorldRugby99

not sure i would agree with the game of tournament/who wins the title hyperbole from the orginal poster but certainly its the match of round 2With France surely likely to beat italy,this game is about who joins france at top of table and can still dream of grandslam.
I still fancy wales to win-i see few areas where ireland are better-thats not to say ireland,at their best, cant win but on paper wales have the better players in most positions.
Certainly there will be an immense amount of hype about the game all week!

stpaddy99

we were far more impressive than the welsh. plus we had a stormer against the all blacks and we have the provinces on fire. so Id expect us to have the edge.

Ardillaun

The main challenge lies in the backs. Can we hold them? I thought they would roll over Italy but they seemed to run out of ideas when the Italian tackling turned out to be robust, with lots of straight running from Roberts. The Italians certainly matched them for pace as well.

WorldRugby99

stpaddy99 wrote: »

we were far more impressive than the welsh. plus we had a stormer against the all blacks and we have the provinces on fire. so Id expect us to have the edge.

scotland are a poor side-they dont win away and they dont score tries.Wales werent too impressive yesterday but next week is a different game.

history shows provincial form has zero impact on international results and i wouldnt read too much into the allblack game.NZ were off form in the autumn-england and france ran them close too-aus and SAF actually caused teams more trouble in autumn,so NZ were clearly below par(but still did enough to win all their games) in comparison with their summer form.

It will surely be a close game next week,but trying to big up ireland into favourites doesnt do anyone any favours.

stpaddy99

WorldRugby99 wrote: »

scotland are a poor side-they dont win away and they dont score tries.Wales werent too impressive yesterday but next week is a different game.

history shows provincial form has zero impact on international results and i wouldnt read too much into the allblack game.NZ were off form in the autumn-england and france ran them close too-aus and SAF actually caused teams more trouble in autumn,so NZ were clearly below par(but still did enough to win all their games) in comparison with their summer form.

It will surely be a close game next week,but trying to big up ireland into favourites doesnt do anyone any favours.

Ok the taffs will smash us.....happy? lol

WorldRugby99

stpaddy99 wrote: »

Ok the taffs will smash us.....happy? lol

nothing wrong with wanting and hoping your team to win-but given actual results its just stupid to try to overhype when its unjustified.
It will be a good game,probably very close.But wales are as likely to win as ireland,probably more likely given wales'six nations record in recent years.

stpaddy99

WorldRugby99 wrote: »

nothing wrong with wanting and hoping your team to win-but given actual results its just stupid to try to overhype when its unjustified.
It will be a good game,probably very close.But wales are as likely to win as ireland,probably more likely given wales'six nations record in recent years.

ok thanks for that. now who do you think will win?

ScissorPaperRock

stpaddy99 wrote: »

ok thanks for that. now who do you think will win?

WorldRugby99 wrote: »

I still fancy wales to win

.

Rightwing

Irl to win, will be more of a spectacle than today.

.ak

stpaddy99 wrote: »

ok thanks for that. now who do you think will win?

Drop the attitude. The poster's already answered you. You've already been warned before - any more sniping and you'll be taking a break from the forum - until sometime after the Wales game.

stpaddy99

im salivating at the thought of this game

Swiwi.

Home advantage, Ireland should win. If they can produce consistency. Which has been the bugbear ever since I moved here. But I have faith in Schmidt and the lads for the moment. And I like short snappy sentences.

Rightwing

stpaddy99 wrote: »

im salivating at the thought of this game

If Wales perform to their optimum, they will win. but I think there is too much turmoil in the game over there though for that to happen, they'll have a mixed championship. We need to win our home games.

duckysauce

Wales didn't look that fit yesterday either

stpaddy99

my guess is gatland absolutely flogged them in training , which he always does....this week he will slog them again but give them a few days off too, to reserve energy for what I think is the title decider

Buer

No team is given "a few days off" the week before a massive test match.

stpaddy99

Buer wrote: »

No team is given "a few days off" the week before a massive test match.

i didnt mean it totally literally....but he may ease off for a few days there at some stage

sydthebeat

stpaddy99 wrote: »

i didnt mean it totally literally....but he may ease off for a few days there at some stage

You didn't mean something you wrote "literally"....

I'm confused.

stpaddy99

sydthebeat wrote: »

You didn't mean something you wrote "literally"....

I'm confused.

no youre not.

thebaz

I'd expect Ireland to win , play well and it should be quite comfortable - I'd also expect D'Arcy to be re-selected , if fit , tough on Marshall, but his time will come , just not right now

stpaddy99

thebaz wrote: »

I'd expect Ireland to win , play well and it should be quite comfortable - I'd also expect D'Arcy to be re-selected , if fit , tough on Marshall, but his time will come , just not right now

Id keep marshall.....the backs went well

fitz

I expect Wales to be direct, bashing it through the middle with Roberts, with the wings coming inside running lines off him looking for gaps, again and again until the defence is stretched, then going wide quickly.
If we can cut them off at the breakdown, play an effective blitz defence and deny them opportunities to run at us, I don't think it'll matter a jot what size their backs are. Their big guys are most effective at pace, using their momentum to break tackles and get over the gain line.
If we don't give them a chance to build up a head of steam they'll be far less threatening.
I expect us to be right up in their faces.
In attack, I expect the usual Joe style that we saw start to emerge as the game against Scotland went on...holding onto the ball, building continuity in phases until we're in a position to flood the line with runners and create gaps.

Both teams will be better than this week.
Should be a cracker, but I reckon Joe will have them figured out and if the players can bring the accuracy and intensity to Joe's gameplan, we'll have more than enough to beat them.

dyeti

I think it will be close and really really (obviously) hope Ireland can do it. There's something about the Welsh team that I hate. I can't STAND losing to Wales. I'll be upset if we lose the championship, and if we lose to England I'll be upset too but I'd get over it. However, I would be full of loathing and misery for days after if we lose to Wales. Anyone else get me? I can't put my finger on what it is but god do I hate the Welsh team.

Ireland will really have to give it their all to win this one I think. Wales know it too. I really hope POC and Bowe will be back by then!

xfireblade

what is our record against them in recent years? I know we won last year

walshb

I would make Wales slight favorites. The home advantage should help us, and if we click and aren't silly with penalties we could snatch a close win.

BoarHunter

stpaddy99 wrote: »

This will probably be the game of the tournament, probably will decide who wins the title.
The 2 best teams in europe
The 2 most successful 6 nations teams in the past 5 years
The 2 teams who supplied the bulk of the Lions winning squad down under
re-run of the 2011 world cup quarter final
The BOD non selection
The Gatland factors
The schimdt factor

The rivalry is enormous. Every player on the field offers intriguing match ups

Who are you talking about ?????

thomond2006

Is this the buildup thread?

Other than POC and Fitzgerald to come in if fit I don't think you could make any changes really.

tbm

I think Wales will edge it in another heartbreaker. We are lacking penetration in the backs and unless Fitz is fit next week I can't see that changing. I dunno whether it was a tactic for the Scotish game, but we were fairly passive in defense in the first half yesterday and the Scotish backrow probably had the edge for most of that first 40. If we stand off in the same way against Wales they'll eat up the yards and score tries. Also Mike Phillips is fit. That guy can be playing like a drain, but put a green shirt in front of him and he comes alive.

RobbieRuns

tbm wrote: »

I think Wales will edge it in another heartbreaker. We are lacking penetration in the backs and unless Fitz is fit next week I can't see that changing. I dunno whether it was a tactic for the Scotish game, but we were fairly passive in defense in the first half yesterday and the Scotish backrow probably had the edge for most of that first 40. If we stand off in the same way against Wales they'll eat up the yards and score tries. Also Mike Phillips is fit. That guy can be playing like a drain, but put a green shirt in front of him and he comes alive.

I would put Murray ahead of him now, he has grown into an outstanding scrum half. One of Philips faults is his temper, I do not see it as a positive. He might try to cheat again mind from a quick throw in with the wrong ball. I really hope that Murray smashes him. People go on about Drico and Davies, for me Murray will show who the best 9 in the Northern Hemisphere is in a much better grudge match. We are going to "come alive" in this game and unlike last year, I hope that we finish it off in proper fashion this time, smash them for the full 80.

caew

I don't why Fitzgerald should be playing on Saturday. 2 tries in 27 games is not impressive. He is a great Rabo and HEC player but doesn't cut it at International level.

Keep Trimble and think about brining in Zebo or Gilroy if they are fit.

Pudsy33

Fitzgerald is a better attacker than Trimble and a better defender then DK. If fit he has to play.

.ak

caew wrote: »

I don't why Fitzgerald should be playing on Saturday. 2 tries in 27 games is not impressive. He is a great Rabo and HEC player but doesn't cut it at International level.

Keep Trimble and think about brining in Zebo or Gilroy if they are fit.

Other than Fitzgerald being the best wing in the country right now? Yeah. I don't see it either.

I honestly couldn't care if a winger scores NO tries in his entire career if he's as good as Fitz. What he brings to the team is worth much more than a try ratio.

stephen_n

Was going to bite, have to remember to rise above though.


I think as always it won't be the backs who decide the winner. The key battles are going to be in the tight and probably more importantly in the loose on the deck. The Scots did what they did best and frustrated us on the deck yesterday, constantly slowing down the ball at the ruck, the backlines lack of penetration is a direct result of this. If we can secure clean ball at the breakdown we can produce the intensity that will force tries. As with last year, Wales defence creaks with high intensity phases and opportunities will come. Both sides will be looking to step up their performances from this weekend but I reckon Ireland's will be the easier step up, although we didn't set the world on fire yesterday, it was a solid performance to build on.

dtpc191991

.ak wrote: »

Other than Fitzgerald being the best wing in the country right now? Yeah. I don't see it either.

I honestly couldn't care if a winger scores NO tries in his entire career if he's as good as Fitz. What he brings to the team is worth much more than a try ratio.

Exactly, who dots the ball down is irrelavent as long as someone is doing it.

.ak

dtpc191991 wrote: »

Exactly, who dots the ball down is irrelavent as long as someone is doing it.

Good example is BOD's try against Cardiff in 2012. BOD had little to do after Fitzgerald and Sexton and Heaslip did most of the work.

Quint2010

I think Fitzgerald for Kearney, D'Arcy for Marshall and POC for Tuohy are the changes we will see for next week.

.ak

IF Fitzgerald is fit, which apparently he won't be. If he isn't I'd like to see Ferg come in for DK. His kick chase game is great.

awec

Trimble and McFadden next week for me.

molloyjh

Changes for next week:

1. POC for Tuohy
2. Darce for Marshall
3. Fitz for D Kearney (if fit)
4. McFadden for Trimble (possible McFadden for D Kearney if Fitz isn't fit).

Ferg offers a far better kick chase and a good deal more aggression that the other 2 I think. He has more pace too and if he is back to the level he was at against Oz then I think he has to start. Darce for Marshall is a defensive call as much as a familiarity (with Sexton and Drico) call. Wales had some success sending Roberts down the middle and we need to cover that channel as best we can.

Anyone know if Paul James will still be in at LH or will Jenkins be back? If James starts we need to be targeting their scrum. If we can get dominance there we should win the battle of the set piece. I can't see them disrupting our line out with POC, Toner, Heaslip and POM there. The only areas we need to look at then are the breakdown and our back line. I thought we were defensively solid enough against Scotland and our discipline was good. So if we can hit the rucks with more intensity and more effectively (which I expect with POC back) and get something going through our back line I think we'll win it. No matter what though it will be a very tight affair. If we get Fitzy and POC back I'd fancy our bench to make more of an impact than theirs as well.

awec

Fitzgerald won't be back by all accounts, but even if he was then I'd personally opt for Fitzgerald and Trimble with McFadden on the bench.

molloyjh

awec wrote: »

Fitzgerald won't be back by all accounts, but even if he was then I'd personally opt for Fitzgerald and Trimble with McFadden on the bench.

Yeah I think a lot of us are more clinging to hope rather than basing this on expectation. Fitz/Trimble/McFadden means that only Fitz can cover FB though. While I'm not as down on that idea as some it's still not ideal. Hence I'd go with Fitz/McFadden/D Kearney.

That said it will almost certainly be McFadden/Trimble/D Kearney.

ScissorPaperRock

If Fitzgerald isn't going to be doing full training this week I'd imagine they'll need to call another winger in for cover.

Zzippy

stpaddy99 wrote: »

my guess is gatland absolutely flogged them in training , which he always does....this week he will slog them again but give them a few days off too, to reserve energy for what I think is the title decider

Seriously, you think Gatland will slog/flog his players in the week between two test matches in the 6N??? Have you any idea of the conditioning work these players have already done, their baseline fitness levels, and how much recovery is needed between test matches? The only work those players will be doing this week is pool work for recovery, some light training to maintain fitness with much more concentration on drills for attack/defence, and setpiece moves. The vast majority of the work will be mental preparation and video work, with lots of rest to recover in time for Saturday. Gatland certainly won't be flogging anyone except maybe his video analyst...

Quint2010

Rumours are that Jonathan Davies could be back for Sat...

tbm

Quint2010 wrote: »

Rumours are that Jonathan Davies could be back for Sat...

Yeah, just read that. A big boost for them if he is.