Wales Team v Ireland

Now come on lads the welsh team to play Ireland s likely to have a few players installed because of injuries. However apart from Jamie Roberts (if he doesn't make it) I see the welsh team as offering something different as opposed to being weakened to the extent that some are making out (even some Irish fans are feeling more optimistic 'cos of our injuries) - James offers more grunt in the front row than Gethin and Benett was arguably one of our best players in the RWC. The boiler house is physically far stronger with Bradley and Ianto. Yes we lose the dynamism of Geth, AWJ and Charteris but we have a backline to do that work. The defensive qualities of the 2nd rows might be missed but I'm sure Gats has read the riot act to the new second rows. Lydiate out and Ryan or even Shingler in again offers something different with both playing well at the moment. If you listen to Hook he has been brutally honest with himself in his appraisal of his performance in the RWC and he will be up for this game. Beck is as good as both the Irish centres and JD is far better. Byrne, 1/2p and North are all at the top of their games so if we can keep our young heads when the Irish huff and puff in the first 10 as usual then we should be able to produce another class performance. These injuries have given us an opportunity - let's take it lads, let's take it as you all did in the RWC. Good luck to both teams and both sets of fans. I look forward to the main event on sunday after the h'orderves have been served on Saturday

1. Gill
2. Bennett
3. Jones
4. BD
5. IE
6. R.Jones
7. S.Warb
8. T.Faletau
9 - Iron Mike
10 - Priest
11 - North
12 - JD
13 - JR
14 - Cuthbert
15 - 1/2 p

Bring it on lads, bring it on

anyone showing announcement

Probably on the othe thread Flynn the one that sais welsh team announement at 11.50

Blimey, the Welsh cupboard is pretty bare.

I think the Irish will be pretty confident agains that shower.

Wales positives:

Ireland have no BOD
Earls and D'arcy centres

Wales equal or better backrow (look at the last game between them)
Priestland and Roberts fit
Our best fullback starting and kicker
Monster wings

15 Leigh HALFPENNY, 14 Alex CUTHBERT, 13 Jonathan DAVIES,12 Jamie ROBERTS, 11 George NORTH, 10 Rhys PRIESTLAND, 9 Mike PHILLIPS

1 Rhys GILL, 2 Huw BENNETT, 3 Adam JONES, 4 Bradley DAVIES, 5 Ian EVANS, 6 Ryan JONES, 7 Sam WARBURTON ©, 8 Toby FALETAU

Reps: OWENS, JAMES, POWELL, TIPURIC, WILLIAMS, HOOK, WILLIAMS

Great team - October all over again

James Hook and Scott Williams deserve to be ahead of Beck and Henson

This is Dublin after all.

Anyone remember 2006? Henson early replacement as 10. Oh dear!

Strong team, Wales by 3

Powell and Tipuric, excellent bench to bring on!

Well.............. dear be the gorrath in jaysus!
Tis to be sure that the Irish fell for that one! Be the holy, Gatland did us again!

decent team, should be a close good game

Who thinks the Roberts and Priestland injuries were exaggerated as part of a silent mind games effort from Gats?

Very clever if you ask me.

Darcy/Earls will need to bring their shoulderpads, massive backline

Power and pace to burn. We'll miss Lydiate as he was a major player in stopping their back row in NZ. If we can keep their back row quiet again then I have no doubt we'll win. That's a lot easier said than done though. Can't wait for Sunday.

Pretty one dimensional looking side. Ireland by 12.

roddersm wrote:Pretty one dimensional looking side. Ireland by 12.

I agree. Although I'd say 9 not 12.

Locks will struggle with pace, intensity and set piece. Ireland will be too much infornt of a baying Mick crowd.

Not sure how you can say one dimensional as Priestland and JD2 are very skillful, you've got JD2, Roberts, Phillips and North who can punch holes through the middle, Good kicking by Halfpenny and good counter attacking and then you have threats all over the park in Cuthbert, North, Priestland, Warbs and Toby.

I disagree that we'll struggle with the pace - we'll prob be fit as anything from Poland and could control the pace if we get on top in the backrow. IMO it's going to be very close and a single score either way

Also suprised he's gone for an out of form Scott W on the bench instead of Beck and gone for Cuthbert instead of Byrne.

But still looks like a pretty good side (though Powells still on the bench! come home soon Delve please)

There's too many threads on these team announcements. whats it now? 3?

I'm happy with that team and I hope the Irish think it's going to be one dimensional. Would have liked Shingler at 6 but you can't argue with Jones experience. Was quite worried about this game but now I am really looking forward to it.

Still a bit surprised to see Cuthbert starting but otherwise pretty much what I expected givien injuries.

We will miss Lydiate and maybe now people will see how much, that said Jones has played well off the bench if last couple of outings so lets hope he can start well to.

So thats it the teams are announced enough of the bickering get behind the boys

C'MON CYMRU

I'd say the bickering is only going to intensify until the 2nd game is upon us Bedford!

Priest,

Not from me, may not quite agree with his selection but thats wh yhe's coach and I am not lol

As said the teams announced and they will have my 110% support.

Powell and Tipuric are both poor players IMO and not strong replacements - Powell is a well Known liability and Tipuric for all the welsh eulogising is just too lightweight at this level and will get demolished if he comes on. Hopefully we're 20 points ahead by then

RubyGuby wrote: Tipuric for all the welsh eulogising is just too lightweight at this level and will get demolished

What an ignorant post. How many times have you seen Tipuric play at this level then?

Ruby,

For me Powell is best of the bench and I have always said that.

Never thought he had the brain to go all 80 minutes certainly not as an 8 but of the bench in the last 15-20 minutes running at tired defenders then I think thats when he s at his best.

I'm not so sure Bedford - yes he'll be solid, but he doesn't bring much more than that and doesn't usually make many yards - just a shame we didn't have more options, like Delve, Morgan or McCusker (though I think he's a better 6).

Chunky Norwich wrote:

RubyGuby wrote: Tipuric for all the welsh eulogising is just too lightweight at this level and will get demolished

What an ignorant post. How many times have you seen Tipuric play at this level then?

Chunky as a Neath lad (and you watched me in the 80's) I am well aware of what Tipuric brings to the arena and I remain unconvinced sorry - I know I'm in the minority on this one but he does absolutely nothing for me - a few cameos in support etc and his face fits very nicely - He has captained the Opsreys on occasion and he remains a verbal mute when the going gets tough and doesn't talk to refs etc. Like I said, he will get demolished and Shingler would have been a far beter option. I would honestly loved to be proved wrong for once but I don't see it happening - Let's not fall out over a difference of opinion - he's lightweight and I do not see him having any positive influence on proceedings. Have you watched the O's this year by the way in the games that matter - Tipuric has been out of his depth in the HC where it really matters. Come on Waless

I thought Tupiric was the only Osprey that played well.

what about Beck and Webb and Adam?

Beck and Webb definitely. Adam J not so much, he hasn't been on form for the O's this year.

gowales wrote:Beck and Webb definitely. Adam J not so much, he hasn't been on form for the O's this year.

I dont think thats true, He is in a team that is clearly way off form but the scrum is one area which has been very good this year; that fundementally is Adams job both for the Os and Wales. Now if only we could sort out our lineout, defence, attacking play, outside halfs passing skills, and coaching team we would be doing a lot better.

I'm very happy with this team.
Wales have a very, very nasty front 5.

Ian Evans and Bradley Davies are 2 enforcers in the locks. I won't forget Ian Evans bítch slapping POC at the Liberty a few months back for Ospreys to beat Munster with 19 players away on international duty... and neither will POC.
I think Ianto is there to get stuck into him and take his mind of being the captain.

Gill's form, and ferocious scrumaging has been one of the reasons why Saracens have been so successful this year, and he did a good job on Adam Jones home and away in Europe this season so we have no weaknesses there.

A big nasty Welsh side, I'd be amazed if Ireland managed to bully Wales out of this game.

Very good side, the wings can be targeted I think at lets run at Priestland early on and hopefully hamper him.

Thomand, I think targeting Cuthbert would be a good tactic for Ireland. Although a big lump he's very inexperienced at this level. It's a hell of a place to make your 6N debut. I would have brought him in against Italy maybe, with all due respect to them, but we are a bit thin in the ground for quality wings so Gatland's hand was forced slightly (could have put 1/2p on wing and Byrne at FB).

I hope the nerves and occasion don't get to him.

Targeting the wing would work if the ball was going direct to them but Roberts and JD are there to punch holes in the Irish defence.

I was thinking more when Ireland were attacking Cymro, I.e. up 'n unders to his wing, cross field kicks, getting in his face, etc. Harsh, but you've got to target the new boy (although I hope they don't!)

Our outside half is having a but of a nightmare really apart from the drop goal.

oops wrong thread