Six Nations 2023 - Wales v Ireland, Sat 4th Feb, KO 2:15PM - TV: VM1, BBC1, S4C

Jump_In_Jack

Broadcasting: TV: Virgin Media One, BBC One, S4C, Online: VM Player, BBC iPlayer, Radio: RTÉ Radio 1, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster.

Location: Principality Stadium, Cardiff (Roof will be closed.)

Match Officials:

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)

ARs: Angus Gardner (RA) & Luke Pearce (RFU)

TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)

Teams:

Wales 6 Nations squad:

Forwards (20): Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Ken Owens (capt), Bradley Roberts, Leon Brown, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Rhys Davies, Dafydd Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones, Teddy Williams, Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Justin Tipuric, Christ Tshiunza, Aaron Wainwright.

Backs (17): Kieran Hardy, Rhys Webb, Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Patchell, Owen Williams, Mason Grady, Joe Hawkins, George North, Nick Tompkins, Keiran Williams, Josh Adams, Alex Cuthbert, Rio Dyer, Leigh Halfpenny, Louis Rees-Zammit, Liam Williams.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/64464017

(After the initial team announcement Liam Williams replaces Leigh Halfpenny due to injury (hip knock in training, followed by a back spasm))

Wales: (15-9, 1-8) L Williams (Cardiff); J Adams (Cardiff), G North (Ospreys), J Hawkins (Ospreys), R Dyer (Dragons); D Biggar (Toulon), T Williams (Cardiff); G Thomas (Ospreys), K Owens (Scarlets, capt), T Francis (Ospreys); A Beard (Ospreys), A W Jones (Ospreys); J Morgan (Ospreys), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Cardiff).

Replacements: S Baldwin (Ospreys), R Carre (Cardiff), D Lewis (Cardiff), D Jenkins (Exeter), T Reffell (Leicester), R Webb (Ospreys), O Williams (Ospreys), A Cuthbert (Ospreys).

Rugby Analyst WALES SELECTION REACTION | Wales v Ireland | 6 Nations 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOcevs6Zw-8

Eggchasers Rugby WALES v Ireland 2023 - WALES SELECTION REACTION

https://youtu.be/YsR958AFm_8

The Rugby Pod Previews Wales V Ireland - Six Nations 2023

https://youtu.be/p6MdAJqkUts

Ireland’s team for the match will be revealed on Thursday. The squad is as follows:

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2023/01/19/ireland-squad-named-for-2023-guinness-six-nations-championship/

(After the initial squad announcement uncapped Ulster player Tom Stewart was called up due to injury to Rónan Kelleher (hamstring during training))

(Tadhg Furlong didn't recover in time to play a part in this fixture, due to calf and ankle injuries, hopeful to be fit for next week)

Backs (17):

Bundee Aki (Connacht), Ross Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster), Keith Earls (Munster), Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Jordan Larmour (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Johnny Sexton (Leinster, capt), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)

Forwards (21):

Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Gavin Coombes (Munster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Rob Herring (Ulster), Rónan Kelleher (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Team Named:

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2023/02/02/ireland-team-named-to-face-wales-in-guinness-six-nations-opener/

RTÉ Rugby podcast: Six Nations preview with Neil Treacy, Bernard Jackman and Ian Keatley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YEM1EdUP50

Interview with Hugo Keenan and Tadhg Beirne | Wales preview, Ireland's bad Cardiff record and being world number 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7I6uepmofM

Come on Ireland! ☘️

Dave_The_Sheep

A (grammatically fare more solid) challenger appears!

Dubinusa

Kudos

sydthebeat

so the other thread is the build up, and this is the match thread??

happy days !!!

Losty Dublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120188130#Comment_120188130

I'll class this as both, pardon me 😁

lawrencesummers

Karl dickinson is the ref who had no issue with joey being halved in front of him recently in Toulouse or Marler calling the bristol players sick mother a Whore within earshot recently either.

To say he lets things go might be an understatement.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120188662#Comment_120188662

The Carbery tackle was grand, no matter what your Twitter feed says, and Dickson said he didn't hear what was said by Marler.

We're in for a long seven weeks if the abuse of the refs is starting before a ball is kicked.

sydthebeat

His names not even Dickinson

Hes a grand ref and wont be the difference between the teams.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120188806#Comment_120188806

Refs rarely if ever are the difference

We're going in as strong favourites and unless we lose players early on or something unlikely happens i think we should be disappointed without coming back with a win. I just hope to catch some of the game while at work Saturday afternoon....

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120188662#Comment_120188662

Owen Doyle writing in the IT this week pretty much said the exact opposite - that he thinks Dickson is sometimes almost too quick to penalise, especially at the breakdown - something he thought would favour Ireland given Wales' intentions to disrupt Ireland's attack.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120188723#Comment_120188723

We are in for a much longer 7 weeks if you start referring to a point of view as being abuse. Come off the stage a bit there ya drama queen.

He had no problem with the tackle, and neither did the citing officer so its hard to argue with that.

Now others around the game felt it warranted additional investigation but hey everyone has an opinion it is what it is.

Tbh i dont think he is one of the top 5 refs in the world, he certainly isnt the worst but his calls and what he missed in the TL v Munster game were just poor on both sides. its clear to see going by some of the officiating appointments in the 6 nations that they are using it to develop, give experience and opportunity to refs ahead of the RWC.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120188912#Comment_120188912

Doyle said he is quick to whistle at the breakdown, both those incidents i mentioned were not at the breakdown, maybe he is strict at ruck time and loose in the loose.

The interesting thing from that article is the removal of the pre game coaches & ref meeting.

I wonder how that will play out as it was often an opportunity to get approval for some slight of hand that teams had concocted, or get refs to concentrate on areas of the opposition which are boarder line or just illegal.

Its an interesting 6 nations as players, coaches and officials try to earn their place on the plane to France.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120189090#Comment_120189090

Yeah, I remember a lot of commentators and journalists praising the meeting between coaches and refs pre-game when it was first introduced, but it's easy enough to believe Doyle's view that refs perceive it as just something coaches do to try and pile additional pressure on referees.

lawrencesummers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120189106#Comment_120189106

It could lead to frustration if teams are allowed to get away with something obvious that wasnt allowed to be highlighted.

One to watch for sure

bilston

Opening game, Cardiff, Gatland is back and so are a lot of his old playing crew.

Be afraid...Be very afraid

Thornley saying McCloskey to start at 12.

maebee

Is anybody doing the Guinness Six Nations Fantasy game?

Does anybody know if you HAVE to have 3 subs? Is it possible to have only two? I'm out of budget at two. I looked up the rules and can't find an answer to this.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120189384#Comment_120189384

But Aki on the bench so looks like whatever issues there are at Connacht haven't followed him into Ireland camp.

Ross Byrne also tipped to bench which is quite a comeback.

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120189460#Comment_120189460

I believe you don't even need a full xv.

Akrasia

be afraid, be very afraid

AbusesToilets

Not a fan of Aki on the bench, pretty limited option to bring on versus alternatives like JOB, Osbourne or Larmour.

Cosmo Kramer

Yes, I think you either start Aki or you leave him out of the 23. I'd have Larmour on the bench personally.

Agree with the above, he's really not a good choice for the bench. What do we do if one of the back 3 get injured? It just doesn't make sense vs JOB or Larmour imo.

aloooof

Farrell has been pretty happy selecting a centre in the 23 jersey tho, and I can’t remember too many times we’ve had to play someone out of position. (I think all of Aki, Henshaw, Ringrose, McCloskey and Farrell have been named in the 23 jersey at one point or another).

I will say tho, I think there’s more of a case to have someone more versatile if Ross Byrne is the sub 10.

Former Former Former

If Keenan goes down early, I think Hansen is the only one ever to have played FB, and even that is limited to one or two games?

AdamD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120189319#Comment_120189319

If we're afraid of these we have big problems, that is not a good Welsh team.

pickarooney

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191055#Comment_120191055

JOB and Osbourne have played there but I don't think either will make the 23. Larmour, Earls and Stockdale have also, but let's not mention that...

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120190943#Comment_120190943

All it means is that Aki would come in at centre and Ringrose would move to wing and one of the wings would move to fullback.

The question is, would that shuffle around result in a better backline than an alternative situation where a centre got injured and had to bring in one of those 3 mentioned above into the centre.

Could just put Earls or JOB in the 23 jersey to cover 11-15 and always the added possibility of moving Ringrose to 12 and bringing the sub on at 13.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191102#Comment_120191102

Yeah, to me that's way more disruptive. Hansen hasn't played a lot at FB for Connacht, and Lowe absolutely isn't a FB. I know Farrell has favoured this approach of a centre in the 23 shirt, but Aki to me lacks versatility - he's just a 12 at this point, and given the other fitness issues or lack of game time, I wouldn't have him in the 23 shirt.

You've already got guys in your backline like Sexton, McCloskey and Ross Byrne who equally have limited versatility, so you're really not protecting yourself by picking Aki at 23 imo. To me, it's a choice between JOB's form or Earls' experience for the shirt. I'd go for JOB.

aloooof

I don't think it'll happen, but another option is Crowley in the 22 shirt. That'd allow you have Aki at 23 and cover a lot of options.

Personally think it could be 22. RB 23. JOB tho.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191151#Comment_120191151

Yeah, but then you're taking a big (and not insignificant risk) of Sexton going down early, and relying on Crowley to win the game at 10. I don't know if he's there yet.

Crowley does give great versatility from the bench, but to me the RB & JOB option looks the most logical.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191167#Comment_120191167

Just saying it's an option if you need some versatility in one or other of the 22 or 23 jerseys (particularly if he favours a centre in the 23). I don't think it'll happen but I didn't think Carbery would be dropped either.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191151#Comment_120191151

I don't really know why you'd do that just to get Aki into the 23.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191200#Comment_120191200

He obviously values a centre in the 23 shirt, and Aki is a quality option - of the backs being mentioned, I think he's the best tbh (different positions etc). And Crowley wouldn't be in the squad if they didn't think he had something to offer.

Shehal

I get why Aki is in the 23 shirt if that team is correct ( I personally picked him in the 23 shirt in my 23 man squad for this game). I honestly would start him against France next week but I think for that to happen he need game time this weekend, ideally he'd get +20 minutes here that would give him enough minutes in the legs for the France game. If McCloskey goes very well you can start him but if not you can always go back to Aki next week.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191055#Comment_120191055

James Lowe has one pro start at 15, and would have covered there a few times for the chiefs.

TRC10

Whenever Farrell has selected a centre in the 23 jersey perviously, Henshaw has been in the matchday 23 covering 13. Henshaw is injured now so we'd be relying on Aki covering 13. I'm not sure if he still has the pace to defend at 13. He got badly done on the outside by Josh Ioane on the NZ tour last summer.

It will most likely be JOB in the 23 shirt IMO

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191232#Comment_120191232

Is it that he values a centre for the 23 jersey or that the next best back available happened to be a centre and he wasn’t averse to picking them ahead of a more versatile option?

JOB had the 23 jersey for SA and although he came on in the centre, he most certainly couldn’t be classed as a centre based on professional rugby.

sydthebeat

without putting the mockers on it, but keenan just doesnt ever really go down.

Over the last 2 seasons hes played every minute of the 33 games he started, apart from 7 minutes at the end of the game last year against scotland.

hes incredibly durable

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191494#Comment_120191494

Certainly more the latter than the former, to be fair. And I think that applies this time too with Aki.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191541#Comment_120191541

We'll find out shortly I guess.

I think it made sense when you had the versatility of guys like Joey Carbery, Robbie Henshaw or Keith Earls elsewhere in your 23. It doesn't make sense to me with this purported 23.

Sangre

Given Welsh midfield pairing, Farrell may see centres as one of the areas we have an obvious advantage over Wales and use that as his main strike point. Therefore, his main goal will be keeping his best centres rather than back 3

Pudsy33

What about Osbourne at 23? Gives us the extra centre option and some versatility.

aloooof

Had a quick look at the stats, and previously when Farrell's selected RB as sub 10, he's named a centre 5 times and a wing/fb/more-versatile-option 5 times also, so he's not opposed to the idea.

The most recent game we have to go on is vs Aus, and he selected 12. McCloskey, 13. Ringrose, 22. RB, 23. Aki. (None of Joey, Henshaw or Earls featured).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191646#Comment_120191646

He looks the obvious long term prospect for that shirt (one which I do think is still up for grabs) given his athleticism, size, kicking ability and versatility.

He's played well for Leinster this season at 11,12 & 13, and has played a decent amount of rugby at 15 too.

They might think it a punt to throw him in for his potential debut here though, but if he gets the call I'd be delighted to see it.

Pudsy33

Halfpenney out, Williams in for Wales. Makes them stronger imo.

theVersatile

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 25 caps

14. Mack Hansen (Connacht) 8 caps

13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 47 caps

12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 9 caps

11. James Lowe (Leinster) 15 caps

10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 109 caps (c)

9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 23 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 48 caps

2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 13 caps

3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 27 caps

4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 36 caps

5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 48 caps

6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 89 caps

7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps

8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 23 caps

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 31 caps

17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 121 caps

18. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 4 caps

19. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 68 caps

20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 33 caps

21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 100 caps

22. Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps

23. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 41 caps

Cosmo Kramer

Big test/opportunity for Bealham on Saturday. This is the kind of thing you want to see in a World Cup year in some ways though.

Clegg

Bealham starts and Tom O'Toole benches.

https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1621128967557087235?t=TddQlXFwOXQV5r-ASS9iLQ&s=09

Shehal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191688#Comment_120191688

Oh, what a surprise....

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191688#Comment_120191688

yeah id agree, makes them stronger, though hes coming in pretty cold, hes only played 80 mins once this season and only out of 4 games