Big opener ? Who will win? Gatland’ sold fogies or no one team in world?
I'm attacking the post here, and not @Lil Fred but that has to be the most uninspiring match thread intro I've possibly ever read. Just the three typos (maybe 4?) as well (including the thread title).
Welsh rugby has some hard days ahead of it (and remember georgia its already started)
The age of many key figures on that welsh team doesnt bode well for the 6 nations.
Im aure they are capable of getting a result on their day, but a team like that is likely to be humbled in the last 20 minutes against an organised fast side.
Ireland by 9.
We're going into this game a massive favourites and unless we completely fold or lose players to cards early on then there's no excuse to be beaten by Wales. We're looking at a Grand Slam this year and Wales is not a team we should be losing to, the one team I fear is France other than that we're GS Winners.
Not as bad as "There's a match going on" from afew years ago!
Also what's the betting that Halfpenny has a "pull up" in the warm up and Liam Williams magically comes into the starting XV.
The way Gatland has picked this team I wouldn't be surprised if JPR Williams magically came in.
We're going into this game a massive favourites
no, we're not....
I wouldnt even put it past Gatland picking Louis Rees-Zammit...
Bookies at -6 looks generuos for a punt on irland
Unless Ireland have issues with injuries I would expect the line to move out to -8 to -10 for kicking off, where im at the game has already moved out to -7
probably will, but in no world are we "massive favourites" right now
6 point handicap is not small favourites either though.
To be fair I dont think many teams are going to Cardiff, even France last year were only -9 going to Cardiff & NZL in the autumn were -12.
id certainly describe anything with a one score game is a small favourite.
do you thinks it deserves a "massive favourites" tag?
england are -10 against scotland.. i wouldn't even descrobethat as massive favourites either
which result do you think is the more likely.. us beating wales by more than 10 or scotland getting within 6 of england?
pretty much proves my point
If it was in the aviva you would be expecting a 12 point win.
In reality wales are going to get a bounce from gatlands return, and as old as some of their players are their milage this season so far is pretty low so they will be freshest on saturday.
Its their visit to france in the last round that could be brutal especially if points are needed to win a championship.
Fair enough. I think international rugby handicaps are always on the low side, and I'd consider anything above a penalty (3 points) to be pretty sizeable favourites myself.
I'd consider us beating Wales by more than 10 more likely.
My concerns would be as follows:
Garland factor. He always seems to get the most out of players that don't excel at club level.
Wales at home in front of a passionate crowd overperform.
Ireland scrum struggling and giving away penalties.
Furlong, Aki and Lowe haven't played much.
Sexton also hasn't played much and is slowing down. Not sure about his goal kicking now.
Ireland's performances in the Autumn internationals were underwhelming.
Please allay my fears.
Wales team
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 97 caps); Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, 43 caps), George North (Ospreys, 109), Joe Hawkins (Ospreys, 1), Rio Dyer (Dragons, 3); Dan Biggar (Toulon, 103), Tomos Williams (Cardiff, 40); Gareth Thomas (Ospreys, 17), Ken Owens (Scarlets, 86) captain, Tomas Francis (Ospreys, 67), Adam Beard (Ospreys, 41), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, 155), Jac Morgan (Ospreys, 6), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys, 89), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff, 95).
Replacements
Scott Baldwin (Ospreys, 34), Rhys Carre (Cardiff, 17), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff, 45), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs, 1), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers, 4), Rhys Webb (Ospreys, 36), Owen Williams (Ospreys, 3), Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys, 55).
No Ireland are screwed
Expecting a close enough first half, Ireland leading by a few points at half time but to pull away in the final 1/4
What are the ages of these geriatrics ?
why isnt Rees-Zammit on the welsh team?
Injured
Has a draw written all over it I think
With Wales only fielding 5 players (v) I'd expect even my club's Alickadoo squad to edge it and I'll be fooked if you are ruining our day of glory ☺️😂
Joe Hawkins (Ospreys, 1), Rio Dyer (Dragons, 3)
You are these guys? Am I right in assuming they are first centre and a winger?
They must be young?
A poor winter? Ireland beat South Africa, Fiji and Australia, coming off a winning tour in New Zealand. Sexton kicked 10/12 in the summer and 3/5 against South Africa, his sole winter test. That's 13/17, a 70% return. It's not too bad for a near 38 year old fly half.
I can't see Wales performing well for 80 minutes, especially with the team selected. Gatland will gee them up but Dr Nicholson up in the Beacon is an Orthopaedic Consultant and he can't cure Arthritis and if he can't then Warren G certainty can't!
Hawkins is 20, Dyer is 23. jac Morgan in the forwards is also 23.
3 very good young players, but we also have very good young players
Dan Sheehan is 24, Caelan Doris is 24, Mack Hansen is 24, Ryan Baird is 23, Joe McCarty is 21, Cian Prendergast is 22, Craig Casey is 23 and Jamie Osborne is 21
When is Ireland team being named?
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