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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! ☘️

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Comments

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120192686#Comment_120192686

In general I think Farrell has been very progressive but there have been a few selections that really smack of "this guy has done it before so I'll totally ignore the current situation". Murray actually managed to get himself dropped from the Munster 23 for a European game for example. Herring seems to have been overtaken by Stewart this season, and Aki on the bench here who has been having a truly miserable season. Now Farrell obviously deserves the benefit of the doubt at the moment but I hope all these pay off. I don't like this bench at all, we've no cover outside of 12 basically.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120192686#Comment_120192686

Aki having credit in bank isnt at all a problem. the bench is fine and Farrell has liked having a centre option on bench and done it before.

OldRio

Excellent team. Great chance for a number of players to lay down a marker for inclusion in the WC squad.

If we can't beat that Welsh team we really have problems and it's best Farrell finds out now rather than later.

TRC10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120191913#Comment_120191913

2021 Wales won the 6N. North played 13 that year and was the best 13 in the Championship. Was most people's favorite to start at 13 for the Lions before he got injured.

Madeoface

That's a pretty old Wales team. Once we don't lose someone to a silly red we should pull away in the last 20.

Some debate about Crowley elsewhere but RB off bench for Jonny is sensible. Coombes combativeness might have been good for this one but we just have a lot of talent from 6 to 8 and I'm sure he'll get his outing.

Pudsy33

Roman Salanoa called up as cover according to Jackman.

OldRio

Very smart by Farrell. Cute hoare.

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1621131152353263617?s=20&t=Ty6FVgOtGz0e_VwIuQF1tA

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120192896#Comment_120192896

2021 is the jammiest 6 Nations win I can remember tbh; they hugely overachieved imo, after getting some moment from a early red card against us (they had 3 reds against them in the whole tournament).

Their results since then have shown their regression to the mean. They've won 6, drawn 1 and lost 12. Including loses to Italy and Georgia.

Our record in that time is won 14, lost 2 (to France in Paris and NZ in Eden Park).

Yes, Gatland might get a reaction out of these players, but our record shows we shouldn't have anything to fear from this team.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120193222#Comment_120193222

I absolutely love this.

Shehal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120193222#Comment_120193222

I remember in 2019 Joe Schmidt getting absolute school in the pre match build up, part of which included the discussion of the roof, you could tell we were going to lose just based off that before we even got t the rugby...

Thankfully it looks like this wont be the case with Farrell.

leakyboots

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120192742#Comment_120192742

People are reading far too much into Murray not being picked for that home game. We've two young inexperienced scrum halves, if coaches wanted to see how they go at European level a home game against Northampton was the one to do it. Thought it was good management myself if that was their reasoning. I don't think he was dropped because of poor form if that is what is being insinuated here.

He was back in the squad for the away game to Toulouse. And I'd wager will be in every squad/starting in that comp if fit for the rest of the season however far Munster progress

Clegg

Salanoa has been called up according to Bernard Jackman.

https://twitter.com/bernardjackman/status/1621197955733590020?t=V2QILslE4pV4u0eHDmpSew&s=09

Cosmo Kramer

The WalesOnline pre-match player head to heads never fail to entertain.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-v-ireland-head-head-26141127

phily2002

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120193551#Comment_120193551

Even that's pretty tame from their usual stuff!

ersatz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120192742#Comment_120192742

Including Aki on the bench probably to do with getting him some game time before France and the rest of the tournament. Farrell won't take anything for granted but he will be going to Wales confident of a win, as he should. Ringrose can cover the wing if needed, Hansen to FB if necessary. I would guess that Farrell won't mind too much having to mix things up with these players and play them as the circumstances demand. Same goes for the front row, this is what squad rotation looks like. Winning this game with ToT, Aki, Murray and RB on the field will be a positive.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120192200#Comment_120192200

That was probably too much of a red tinted comment even for TRK.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120193924#Comment_120193924

He seems to living rent free in a few posters minds.

stephen_n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120194260#Comment_120194260

Yours? Since you keep bringing it up?

crossman47

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120192787#Comment_120192787

That smacks of an attitude that its all about the WC and the championship is secondary. We haven't won enough Slams or championships to be so blase. Lets go all out for those and deal with the WC when it comes. Many people seem to be looking at getting to the semis as an achievement. If we get there but don't win out, then its no better then going out in the quarters.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120194320#Comment_120194320

He's so much in your mind that you don't even realise you're posting about him 😂😂

It was you who mentioned him

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120194327#Comment_120194327

Actually getting to a semi final is better than going out in the quarters. it would be some form of progress. every single time in a world cup we've had a knockout match where its win or go home we've went home. that needs to change and if that means treating the 6Ns as secondary then so be it.

TRC10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120194502#Comment_120194502

if that means treating the 6Ns as secondary then so be it.

It doesn't. Ireland need to win this years 6N. If we can't beat France at home, we've no chance in France in October.

aloooof

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120194327#Comment_120194327

If we get there but don't win out, then its no better then going out in the quarters.

I see the point, but I'd have a small disagreement with this. The QF ceiling seems to be a huge psychological barrier for Irish teams, for whatever reason. I'd argue that getting to a SF, even if we lost it, would at least get that monkey off our back.

I think it's similar to where we were vs NZ prior to Solider Field.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120194505#Comment_120194505

You can treat the 6 Nations as secondary and still play France etc full team. Experiment in other games more....

TRC10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120194543#Comment_120194543

Farrell did his experimenting over the last 3 years. Wales away on opening day of the 6N isn't a game to experiment if you want to win a GS. Saturday is an enormous game. If we lose, the Championship is almost certainly gone.

Akrasia

I feel the team selected is woefully underpowered and while we may sneak through against this welsh team, we will be absolutely hammered by France

As the number 1 team in the world, with ambitions to win the RWC, we should be in a position this weekend to beat this welsh team by 30 points. Any narrow victory is a massive warning sign imo, and if we lose, we might as well throw out the whole squad and start again from scratch.

Akrasia

I know '6 nations games tend to be close' but the All Blacks that won the RWC would hammer this welsh team. The current French setup would easily beat this Welsh team while rotating and playing new combinations

Akrasia

If we hammer this welsh team by 20+ points on Saturday, I'll happily admit that i've misjudged the situation

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120194566#Comment_120194566

Farrell won't change many of this team for the rest of the 6 nations unless there are injuries.

I get it, he wants to stress test the team, but you can't play your 1st preference players in every round of the RWC if you have any ambition to play more than the pool stages.

Every game introduces the risk of injury or suspension.

RWC winners play with the biggest squads. They rotate heavily in the pool stages, so that there is depth, and to reduce the risk of too many key players being injured for the knockout stages.

phog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120194502#Comment_120194502

I agree we need to show progress when it comes to the RWC but the here and now is the 6Ns and that's very much our bread and butter too so no way should we be treating it as anything other than a competition we should be trying to win.

A Grandslam would be terrific as would a championship win, other than that we need to come 2nd and win the triple crown.