Ireland vs Wales - WELSH TEAM ANNOUNCED AT 11:50 THIS MORNING...!

[maestegmafia]

First topic message reminder :

Ireland Six Nations 2012 Squad

15 -Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Captain
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 -Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)



WALES SQUAD

BACKS

Scrumhalf
Mike PHILLIPS (BAYONNE)
Lloyd WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES)
Rhys WEBB (OSPREYS)

Flyhalf
Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS)
James HOOK (PERPIGNAN)

Centre 3/4s
Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES)
Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS)
Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS)
Gavin HENSON (CARDIFF BLUES)
Ashley BECK (OSPREYS – Uncapped)

Wing 3/4s
George NORTH (SCARLETS)
Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES)
Alex CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES)
Harry ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES)

Fullbacks
Liam WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Uncapped)
Lee BYRNE (ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE)

FORWARDS

Tightheads
Craig MITCHELL (EXETER CHIEFS)
Adam JONES (OSPREYS)

Looseheads
Ryan BEVINGTON (OSPREYS)
Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES)
Rhys GILL (SARACENS)

Adaptable to both sides of the Scrum
Paul JAMES (OSPREYS)
Rhodri JONES (SCARLETS – Uncapped)

Hookers
Matthew REES (SCARLETS)
Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS)
Ken OWENS (SCARLETS)

Locks
Bradley DAVIES (BLUES)
Ian EVANS (OSPREYS)
Lou REED (SCARLETS – Uncapped)

Back Five Option
Ryan JONES (OSPREYS)

Blindside Flank Forward
Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)

Openside Flank Forward
Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN)
Justin TIPURIC (OSPREYS)

Number 8s
Toby FALETAU (Dragons)
Andy POWELL (Sale)


Its a month away, just 31 days to the opening game for Wales and Ireland. The excitement of the start of the tournament is as thrilling as it has ever been. I think we are hoping that both sides will show some of the new talent on display in the HEC given their chances at International level. A mix of experience blended in well to temper the exuberance of youth when it is needed.


How do the teams match up historically?

First ever Ireland vs Wales was at Lansdowne Road, Dublin on the 28th of January 1882.

Ireland nil – 2G, 4T Wales
Try: Evans
Bridie
Clapp
Baker Jones

Con: Lewis (2)


The winning result for Wales was their first ever victory in International Rugby. Since then the two Nations have played for the following results.

117 Played 117
47 Wins 64
64 Losses 47
6 Draws 6
164 Tries 201
85 Conversions 98
131 Penalties 126
21 Drop Goals 33
1227 Points 1353
39.66% Success Rate 54.31%

Last meeting was in the Quarter Finals of the RWC 2011. Wales were victorious in a classic encounter. Both nations fielded exceptionally good teams that had done well in their previous pool matches.

The game previous was in the 2011 Six Nations with another win for Wales, controversial due to the try that should not have been allowed scored by Mike Phillips.

[Guest]

I guess the way us welsh look at it is that we've had 2 grand slams and 1 worldcup cup semi final in the last 6 years with zero Heineken cup success. I think that's why us Welsh sometimes say that, for us, there's little correlation.

[bedfordwelsh]

Griff,

As Dragons fans we know HC success going to be thin on the ground so as long as National side succeding

[Guest]

Yep Bedford, my one glimmer of hope in a not-so-fun life of sports support (I'm an Aston Villa fan too! Villa and Gwent Dragons = not much glamour!)

[TycroesOsprey]

I dunno one grand slam in 62 years and what how many HEC since 96?

Club form in the HEC wont matter in teh six nations but other than the ospreys, the welsh regions have done pretty well in the HEC so far this year. Since the welsh squad is likely to have more blues and scarlets than Ospreys even if club form did matter I wouldnt be worried.

Its a really tight game to call and three wins in a row is not to be sniffed at. If Wales do win then we will have beaten the irish at home, away and neutral venues in teh space of a year. Not bad eh?

[SecretFly]

I don't think it's wise to compare Region/Club/Province with Nation too clinically... but I still think you can make more general assumptions based on the comparisons.

You can't be too stringent in looking for connections because the leagues the sides come from are so different to each other. France has 14 sides, England has 12, Wales and Ireland have four each.
When France draw up a National side they can call from 14 clubs, when Ireland do the same they call from only 4 max. So it's easier to acknowledge that if French clubs are doing well, it transmits to them having a good National side. Plus, they don't really need club HC success to be a challenge in International (wider pool of players to form effective sides)

Irish provinces doing well in HC still have a tougher time selecting an International contingent from 4 provinces. So I think it's natural that Irish or indeed Welsh National sides should fall back a little in expectancy when facing France and England.

Keeping that in mind, I then think the Irish sides have done as well as could be expected overall in the Six Nations in the last 12 years. I think their record of seven occasions in the top two positions is testament to the relative strengths of Irish players during the period. And when you concentrate those players into Provinces, you can then see how that International consistency might reflect in actual HC success.

Wales too can compare the two (Region and Nation) but their stuctures and issues are again so different to Ireland that the comparisons will tell a different tale of what is prioritised. For example, because of a lack of faith shown in Regions you could argue that it would be natural for them to be more focused on National sides (ie, two GSs)

[Shifty]

My gut instinct tells me Ireland will gradually build up a lead of about 15 points in the first 60 minutes, then Wales will come firing back before running out of time with Ireland winning by about 4 points.

It's a 50/50 game and Ireland are due a win now, also Wales have just had a good period, so if it's business as usual Wales will probably implode and only beat Scotland and Italy at home.

[Gatts]

My gut instinct tells me Ireland will gradually build up a lead of about 15 points in the first 60 minutes, then Wales will come firing back before running out of time with Ireland winning by about 4 points.

It's a 50/50 game and Ireland are due a win now, also Wales have just had a good period, so if it's business as usual Wales will probably implode and only beat Scotland and Italy at home.

Tell your gut to stop grumbling...it's ours for the taking

[maestegmafia]

Ill reassess my opinion after I have watched Munster and Leinster. Ulster were magnificent tonight.

[SecretFly]

Ill reassess my opinion after I have watched Munster and Leinster. Ulster were magnificent tonight.

You can reassess as much as you like maest.... Munster and Leinster can have stormer games and it's still all down to Kidney and his coaches to make it all gell into a National side that operates consistently. As I'm sure you are hearing in the Irish threads (and seeing for yourselves over recent years) THAT is the frustrating bit; we know we have the raw materials but the mixing bowl isn't exactly Michelin Star quality of late

[maestegmafia]

vice versa for us

[mankiaow]

There's no question about what Wales will be latching on to over the next while, regardless of their more recent performances.

[maestegmafia]

Wales announce their Six Nations squad on 22 January

[bedfordwelsh]

That seems rather later Maes, suppose it gives certain players (Henson especially) another week to stake claim.

Still think most of squad pretty settled with a 2nd row, centres and wing berth the main areas for players to push for.

[Cymroglan]

When are they flying out to Poland?

And Clermont were equally agreeable in releasing Byrne.
"The decision is quite straightforward. We will release Lee if he is selected for the training camp in Poland on the 23, 24 and 25 of January," said spokesman Neil McIlroy.

I would have thought the squad would have been announced well before the 22nd Jan

[maestegmafia]

That seems rather later Maes, suppose it gives certain players (Henson especially) another week to stake claim.

Still think most of squad pretty settled with a 2nd row, centres and wing berth the main areas for players to push for.

I think it is good that no squad is announced until after the HEC and I am actually surprised some are announcing theres so early. There should be room for players to stake a claim in a tough competition, the next two weeks ofHEC are effectively knock out stages.

[maestegmafia]

Jesus Donnacha Ryan looks very good...! Wrong side of 25 but great player. Think we should see him partnering O'Connell. Likewise Wales would be wise to pick Adam Jones of Dragons at lock, even though he's 31

[maestegmafia]

BBC Report says that Gatland will now announce the Welsh Squad on the 18th of January.

Live squad announcement at 11:50

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/01/17/wales-six-nations-squad-live-announcement-11-50am-wednesday-91466-30138961/

[maestegmafia]

Emyr Lewis expects Gatland to call up a number of new faces, including Ospreys' Matthew Morgan, as Wales prepare for the Six Nations opener in Dublin.

"It's difficult to know the way Warren Gatland is thinking," added Lewis.

"Is he looking at the four-year plan? If he is then it wouldn't surprise me if the likes of Matthew Morgan would be included just to develop him as a player.

"If he comes in I don't think that Stephen Jones would be included because obviously he will not be available during the next World Cup."

[munkian]

I'd be hugley suprised if Wellies isn't picked. Priestland will do great I;m sure but having no expericenced fly half cover would be a mistake until they develop more talent - possibly in the Summer Tour - Six Nations is too important to take a risk IMHO

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I agree with you in part, Munkian. As much as we want to start building towards the next World Cup, the focus should be on trying to win the Six Nations first and foremost. It matters a hell of a lot.

[TycroesOsprey]

Emyr Lewis, great blindside, clearly knows squat about back play. Matthew Morgan whilst he has some sparkling skills will never play for Wales unless he drastically improves his defence. Its not just that he is small. look at Shane or Will Harris who are both prepared to put themselves on the line defensively. MM does not he is a defensive liability that would be exposed at international level.

I do honestly think Wellies is a backward step. Tovey and HOok as backup would be my choice but I think Gatland will go for Biggar and Hook.

[TycroesOsprey]

Somthing that has really pleased me though has been the form of Bradley and Ian Evans coming into the six nations. Losing Charteris and AWJ would normally be a big blow but actually I think Evans more than makes up for the loss of Luke in the lineout and defensively and he and Bradley are both big ball carriers. Whlist Ireland should have an edge in teh second row I think out two locks may give them a bit of a shock.

[Guest]

Wellies has arguably been playing better then Rhys P this season, and I would say definitely a hell of a lot more consistantly then Biggar or Tovey. I think for this 6N's he is crucial, for his experience alone we'll need him. Will be gutted and very worried if he's not included.

[munkian]

Backs: Mike PHILLIPS, Lloyd WILLIAMS, Rhys WEBB, Rhys PRIESTLAND, James HOOK, Jamie ROBERTS, Jonathan DAVIES, Scott WILLIAMS, Gavin HENSON, Ashley BECK, George NORTH, Leigh HALFPENNY, Alex CUTHBERT, Harry ROBINSON, Liam WILLIAMS, Lee BYRNE

Forwards: Craig MITCHELL, Adam JONES, Ryan BEVINGTON, Gethin JENKINS, Paul JAMES, Rhys GILL, Rhodri JONES, Matthew REES, Huw BENNETT, Ken OWENS, Bradley DAVIES, Ian EVANS, Lou REED, Ryan JONES, Dan LYDIATE, Sam WARBURTON ©, Justin TIPURIC, Toby FALETAU, Andy POWELL

[TycroesOsprey]

Happy with that squad, suprised he only has two outside halfs but if there are injuries he can always bring someone in. Harry Robinson was one I wasnt expecting. Gill and Rhodri JOnes deserve a shot with the way they have been playing. Gill to put a lot of pressure on Bevvington and James Ithink.

[maestegmafia]

Interesting Squad eh... Harry Robinson in...! Lou Reed ahead of Adam Jones.... Rhys Webb selected as we all wanted

NO STEPHEN JONES

[maestegmafia]

No Bigger or Tovey... Bit of a surprise


Warburton captain sounds like a great decision

[maestegmafia]

“We have had to strike a balance with this squad, the majority are those players who excelled for Wales during the Rugby World Cup, but are also taking the opportunity to look at one or two youngsters before probably cutting our numbers even further before the start of the RBS 6 Nations,” said Gatland.

“We have kept a couple of older heads and we have injuries, with Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Turnbull, Rob McCusker and Luke Charteris all unavailable to us, but the emphasis on development and planning for the future is there for everyone to see.

“These are exciting times for Welsh rugby, we showed a huge amount of potential at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and we will be working as hard as humanly possible to ensure that we reach our potential in this year’s 6 Nations championship.”

[Guest]

Tovey hasn't been playing well, very hot and cold. More cold than hot to be honest, and that's coming from a Dragons fan! No complaints from me on that one.

Similarly, Brew had a good game against Perpignan but has been injured and struggling for a bit of form, move around the backline (not his fault) so Cuthbert was the better option if picking on form.

[wales606]

Harry Robinson is the only surprise - He is one for the future though.

Disappointed that Andrews has been dropped, he at least deserved a squad place and has been playing well recently.

Im not surprised there is only 2 FHs selected - Biggar and Tovey havent been in great form.

[dogtooth]

a new look squad. no shane henson in, i am very supprised by that. cant see him making a start. it must be a rehabilitation exercise.

who is harry robinson? sounds english.

[J_D]

Interesting to see 7 props selected, seems Gatland wants to introduce these youngsters early ready to replace Geth and Adam

[munkian]

I guess he hasn't gone with Adam Jones as the Dragon's are down to just two locks because of injuries.

Massively suprised no Wellies, glad Biggar isnt in, I watch as much regional rugby as possible but can't place having seen Harry Robinson ?

[dogtooth]

im a blues fan and never miss a match. i cant place harry either. maybe ive had too much liquorice by the time he comes off the bench. has he ever started for the blues?

[wales606]

a new look squad. no shane henson in, i am very supprised by that. cant see him making a start. it must be a rehabilitation exercise.

who is harry robinson? sounds english.

He isnt English - He was in my school.

He played for the Blues vs Leinster for the last 20mins

He is one for the future, but like Prydie and Phillips being selected a few years ago.

[wales606]

im a blues fan and never miss a match. i cant place harry either. maybe ive had too much liquorice by the time he comes off the bench. has he ever started for the blues?

He has started LV games

[J_D]

Might just be me but i find that Dom Day always seems to be the stand out player between him and Lou Reed yet Reed gets selected

[maestegmafia]

He played for Blues the other day against Leinster, BBC typo on the match report calls him Matt Robinson I think....!

Mainly been with the Sevens squad, under 20s last year, try scorer, good lad too.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

I'm surprised by the low interest in this thread. Welsh and Irish posters love to post pages on just their own teams. This is exponentially more post-worthy because there is national pride at stake. I would've thought we'd be at 3000 posts by now. Shame on you!

[dogtooth]

thats why 'arry isnt listed ubove as uncapped, played for the u20s.

my pride has taken a bit of a knock that i didnt spot this kid myself and suggest him for the squad ages ago. you take your eye off the ball for a second...

[munkian]

I'm gutted Martyn Thomas and Matthew Morgan didn't even make the training squad

[TycroesOsprey]

munk morgan cant tackle.

[Glas a du]

Mark!

[maestegmafia]

Martyn Thomas was awful for dragons in Perpignan, bad enough to warrant his non inclusion.

Matthew Morgan still has a lot to do

[maestegmafia]

munk morgan cant tackle.

Thats not true at all. Morgans defence is actually not bad at all. He is working very hard on defence.

[TycroesOsprey]

maes there we have to disagree. Ive watched him all season down at the liberty and he doesnt tackle. he is moved away from the midfield in teh defensive line. His positioning is poor and more than once this season he has created a dogleg that the opposition have exploited. His technique when he does tackle is incorrect and if he actually threw himself into a tackle he would get hurt by constantly leaving his head in front of the player. Fortunatly for him he doesnt tackle with any ferociity so hasnt injured hjimself yet.

[BlueNote]

Disappointed not to see Hibbard. Otherwise it looks like a pretty good selection. Not a huge surprise to see Gav.

On Matthew Morgan's defence, it looks to me as though he is working on it and coming to terms with tackling all these guys who are much bigger than him, but it's still inconsistent, you still see him tugging at people's sleeves sometimes. He did make an excellent tackle on Aled Brew in the Dragons - Ospreys game, which must have taken some guts, Brew is big and was travelling some.

[munkian]

Martyn Thomas was awful for dragons in Perpignan, bad enough to warrant his non inclusion.

Matthew Morgan still has a lot to do

One bad game though ? Hmmmm, a little harsh I think.

[BlueNote]

The other guy I think I'd maybe have liked to have seen in that squad is Aaron Shingler.

[munkian]

Is Hewitt injured ?

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