Wales v Ireland Match Thread (thanks for nothing awec)

Venjur

Kick off 3:00PM | Millennium Stadium Cardiff | TV3





Intro

One of the best opening weekends of the six nations in recent memory comes to a conclusion this afternoon as the 2018 Grand Slam winners face the 2019 Grand slam winners.

It goes without saying that this is a must win for both teams but it's also a must win for both coaches. Wayne Pivac is under intense pressure having secured just 3 wins out of 10 matches for the Welsh national team.

Farrell - whilst not under the same degree of scrutiny will be mindful of how Ireland teams tend to perform after a shaky start and will look to build momentum from the outset.

Key differentiators

The biggest disparity I can see between the teams is with the 16 - 23 Jerseys. Ireland have a particularly strong forwards bench to throw at Wales including the fit again Tadgh Furlong.

The form of the regions as against the form of the provinces also can't be ignored in the build up to the game, nor can the lack of a usually raucous Welsh crowd in the Millennium stadium.

Who to watch

For Ireland it's the return to both form and fitness of some key players that paints the picture of our expectations. The return of Lowe and Furlong, the impressive form of O'Mahony, Beirne, Ryan and Henshaw along with Conor Murray seemingly firing on all cylinders is a source of confidence.

For Wales it's the opposite. The lack of minutes for stalwarts like Alun Wyn Jones and Ken Owens, the reliance on an aging backrow who Stephen Ferris feels are beyond their best and the absence of Liam Williams, Jonathon Davies and serial gender revealer Josh Adams have forced Pivac to play wing George North in mid field whilst relying on Hallem Amos at 11.

Conclusion

You can never under any circumstances dismiss Wales. They are always capable of turning a corner and much of this team have achieved at recent world cups and in the 2019 championship.

At home they are always a determined, intense and agressive force to be reckoned with.

But the collapse of form since Gatland's departure and the absence of key players also can't be ignored. I expect a tight first half but Ireland to drift out of reach of the Welsh as the benches impact the sway of the game in the second half.

Wales 11 Ireland 27

The Inbetween is mine

I do expect is to win, but I wouldn't be surprised if things went horribly wrong inside the first 20 minutes and we get a hosing....this fence is lovely and warm...

swiwi_

Hmmm. Venjur calling it Wales 11-27 Ireland

*slips a tenner on Wales. Nothing like a sure bet.

Hello 2D Person Below

Just keep the ball in hand and establish a run game, that's all I'm asking.

Larbre34

Hello 2D Person Below wrote: »

Just keep the ball in hand and establish a run game, that's all I'm asking.

They'll play whats in front of them. If we're in traffic and we have to turn them around, clip their wings, then kicking is what we'll do. Some of the kicking out of hand in yesterday's two games was absolutely glorious.

swiwi_

So what are we drinking? Yesterday was beer but today the fire is lit and the bottle of Writers Tears is open.

Venjur

swiwi_ wrote: »

So what are we drinking? Yesterday was beer but today the fire is lit and the bottle of Writers Tears is open.

Debating whether to bother but I admire you're bravery tucking into the Whiskey at 3 in the afternoon.

topdecko

I think Ireland by 11 or thereabouts. Think we are stronger than the Welsh in several positions and Scotland's super result yesterday will fire up the team. All to play for.
I will be sticking to tea though, strong tea ....will let it brew for a while till it gets that oily stuff on top. Get a right bang of that cuppa.

Paul Smeenus

Good match thread, Awec.

Venjur

Paul Smeenus wrote: »

Good match thread, Awec.

swiwi_

Venjur wrote: »

Debating whether to bother but I admire you're bravery tucking into the Whiskey at 3 in the afternoon.

TBH, thinking of switching back to health doses of tannin.

The Inbetween is mine

swiwi_ wrote: »

So what are we drinking? Yesterday was beer but today the fire is lit and the bottle of Writers Tears is open.

I have redbreast 12yo cask strength... think I need it tbh

Piehead

A catastrophic campaign is probably what’s needed to remove Farrell and the remnants of the Schmidt era. And also move the geriatrics out of the team. We still have 2 years + to properly build to the 2023 World Cup

degsie

After yesterdays thrillers, I'm predicting borefest

Scratchly

Piehead wrote: »

A catastrophic campaign is probably what’s needed to remove Farrell and the remnants of the Schmidt era. And also move the geriatrics out of the team. We still have 2 years + to properly build to the 2023 World Cup

Hoping the team doesn't win all the games in the hope a different coach could win all the games. Fantastic logic.

Scratchly

Love Shane Jennings. Very insightful and plain talking and doesn't rely on all the clichés and bull**** that other pundits rely on to pad out their opinion.

mfceiling

Who the fcuk came up with that opening montage on Virgin?

Makes you hark back to the good old days of RTE.

Larbre34

mfceiling wrote: »

Who the fcuk came up with that opening montage on Virgin?

Makes you hark back to the good old days of RTE.

Oh I dunno, we forget very quickly the absolute dose montages RTÉ were responsible for in their day.

PP are offering 8/1 for Ireland by 16-20 pts at the moment. Great value.

cantwbr1

I just saw Ross Byrne in a VM pre-match clip. Has he been added to the match day panel?

Lost Ormond

cantwbr1 wrote: »

I just saw Ross Byrne in a VM pre-match clip. Has he been added to the match day panel?

No he isnt in match day 23.

.ak

Another match day opener, another great match thread from awec.

Thanks awec !

StevenToast

The only good thing ill say about Tv3 rugby is that they dont employ Liam Toland....

Bazzo

.ak wrote: »

Another match day opener, another great match thread from awec.

Thanks awec !

No table. 1/10

aloooof

Scratchly wrote: »

Love Shane Jennings. Very insightful and plain talking and doesn't rely on all the clichés and bull**** that other pundits rely on to pad out their opinion.

Personally, I’m really not a fan of Jennings at all. Very much like Horgan tho, find him quite insightful.

Joe Molloy an excellent anchor as well.

aloooof

Gimme Ireland by 9. Wales missing Jon Davies, Josh Adams and Liam Williams are massively losses for them which I think will be telling.

Mainly hoping we’ll see a bit more variety and looking to get it thru the hands tho.

The Inbetween is mine

We gave Wales early leads in 1917 & 1915 ....ok then

PTH2009

Come on Ireland

Scratchly

Is this a minute silence or has my TV just frozen?

Sanjuro

Frozen for anyone else?

jamesbondings

Feed is gone feck sake

walshb

Sanjuro wrote: »

Frozen for anyone else?

Yes!