Ireland vs Wales - This weekends BIG GAME...!

First topic message reminder :

Venue: Aviva Stadium Date: Sunday, 5 February Kick-off: 1500 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, BBC One HD & online from 1400 GMT; full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra; text commentary on BBC Sport website & mobiles.

Referee : Wayne Barnes (England)

Touch judges : Dave Pearson & Stuart Terheege (both England)

TV : Geoff Warren (England)

IRELAND : 15 - R Kearney; 14 - T Bowe, 13 - F McFadden, 12 - G D'Arcy, 11 - A Trimble (Ulster); 10 - J Sexton, 9 - C Murray; 1- C Healy, 2 - R Best, 3 - M Ross, 4 - D O'Callaghan, 5 - P O'Connell (C), 6 - S Ferris, 7 - S O'Brien, 8 - J Heaslip.

Replacements: 16 - S Cronin, 17 - T Court, 18 - D Ryan, 19 - P O'Mahony, 20 - E Reddan, 21 - R O'Gara, 22 - D Kearney.

WALES : 15 - L Halfpenny; 14 - A Cuthbert, 13 - J Davies, 12 - J Roberts, 11 - G North; 10 - R Priestland, 9 - M Phillips; 1 - R Gill, 2 - H Bennett, 3 - A Jones, 4 - B Davies, 5 - I Evans, 6 - R Jones, 7- S Warburton (C), 8 - T Faletau.

Replacements:16 - K Owens, 17 - P James, 18 - A Powell, 19 - J Tipuric, 20 - Lloyd Williams, 21 - J Hook, 22 - Scott Williams.

I went for a skate along the wijks this morning, nice round trip of about 5 miles. Its really cold here (-13) but its great if you like ice skating

I wish time would hurry up....

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:
Madrid, where I live, has it all. The sun is out today but there´s a bitingly cold wind.

It is bloody freezing, I am down the road in Tarragona Surprised it isn't snowing in the town, it was up in the mountains.

maestegmafia wrote:

flynnnio wrote:flannery leamy d wallace.cullen bod and earls out injured for ireland just in case the welsh think they are unlucky

may the best backrow win

Bod is the only one of those who is a first choice player mate...!

Flannery, Leamy and Wallace havent been in the Ireland squad for years.

Wallace was 1st choice 7 right up til he got injured in the game befort the WC. Flannery may not have lost his jersey to Best had he not got injured so much. He was well ahead. But Best has been in great form for a good while so debatable.

Leamy would have made the bench ahead of O'Mahoney if he was fit. (Unless Wallace was also fit)

Well that´s a fairly long road mate but yes it´s been snowing in parts of Cataluña and Pais Vasco so if you came to sunny Spain for a top up of Vitamin D, you chose the wrong weekend unfortunately.

Anyways. Off for a nice walk down to Lansdowne rd. Enjoy all!

All the best Ireland. Hope this game is a cracker. Like Cymro I feel that Wales have enough talent to win this one, and I guess I'm semi confident, but we have to play at our best. A below par performance will see us leaving with nothing. Ireland are too good to lose to a poorly performing team. If we all play well then I think there will be a score in it, and I'm hoping that it will be in our favour.

And like Cymro, there'll be no complaints about injuries from me!

Cymru am byth!

P.s. I hate Sunday matches. There's no need IMO. Is it to do with TV? If so, firstly I reckon just as many people would watch it on a Saturday. Why not a super saturday every week! And secondly, it's on the BBC so it's not like they're getting the advertising revenue. A Sunday game must hit bar and accommodation takings as there'll be less travelling fans and less people willing to get blotto on a Sunday. For those reasons, I can't see any point in Sunday 6N fixtures! Wales has 2 in a row. Booooo! Can someone enlighten me on their need/value to either the fan, the BBC or the sponsors.

Enjoy the game.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

flynnnio wrote:flannery leamy d wallace.cullen bod and earls out injured for ireland just in case the welsh think they are unlucky

may the best backrow win

Bod is the only one of those who is a first choice player mate...!

Flannery, Leamy and Wallace havent been in the Ireland squad for years.

Wallace was 1st choice 7 right up til he got injured in the game befort the WC. Flannery may not have lost his jersey to Best had he not got injured so much. He was well ahead. But Best has been in great form for a good while so debatable.

Leamy would have made the bench ahead of O'Mahoney if he was fit. (Unless Wallace was also fit)

Plus Earls was due to start today but had to pull out.

Oh god I hate Ireland games
I have a deep sense of forboding about this one...

Wayne Barnes is the referee too //

AlynDavies wrote:Oh god I hate Ireland games
I have a deep sense of forboding about this one...

Wayne Barnes is the referee too //

Come on Wayne Barnes is Wales' best mate

BELIEVE!

I do believe Gibbo

Warburton's view on his own sending off in the RWC is very commendable

Really like Sam Warburton. Loved what he just said. Real man.

There's MY Jonny. This is your day lad. DO it!

Pints for all the Welsh and Irish lads and lassies.

Here's to a great game all.

'Mon the boys in green!

An feck you Gibbo, I'll get me own then.

I reckon were going to have a bit of a scrap between Ian Evans and PoC early on, to help Wales put him off his game.

PJ darlin.

Mea culpa.

Thank god Adam Jones run out near the front, he got over taken by most of the Welsh team, luckily hes on the pitch before the Irish run out though!

Gibbo

I've got 8 of these boys in my Guiness fantasy team, 4 from each, 'Mon waleland!

Now we are going to see some good rughby

I have 4 Welsh players in it too. Shuuush.

Look, its Bilbo Baggins

eirebilly wrote:Now we are going to see some good rughby

Naughty Billy!

Ah there's de aul Pres. Weird its not a woman after 2 of em.

hopeing for good one. goiod luck all and may the best team win- and if that doesnt happen i promise not to say the best team didnt win

PJHolybloke wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Now we are going to see some good rughby

Naughty Billy!

Sorry PJ

Man it looks cold there, and the commentators reckon conditions are perfect.

Not so cold Biltong.

Its going to get very HOT in a minute.

Its amazing how all the confidence goes out the window when the match starts, lol.

Gibson wrote:Really like Sam Warburton. Loved what he just said. Real man.

He really does come across as a genuinely good person. I have a lot of respect for him.

what is not so cold. Those players out there aren't jumping up and down voluntarely, they are shivering up and down, cause side ways doesn't help.

AlynDavies wrote:Its amazing how all the confidence goes out the window when the match starts, lol.

I still have mine, kind, sorta

That's a horrible feeling - agreeing with Guscott and the Whinging Midget...

eirebilly wrote:

PJHolybloke wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Now we are going to see some good rughby

Naughty Billy!

Sorry PJ

You're right though.



Personally looking for big performances from Chilli, McFadden, Sexytoes, POCman, Felatu, Evans, Warbs and 1/2p - call me selfish, but as long as each of them score at least one try I'll be happy! I love fanatasy leagues.

Am I alone in finding Ireland's two anthems just a little on the long winded and unnecessary side? Perhaps just pick one and let's get the game started?

Kearney bros arm-in-arm. Ma & Da must be so proud right now. All those early Sat mornings watching them in the rain comes to this.

biltongbek wrote:what is not so cold. Those players out there aren't jumping up and down voluntarely, they are shivering up and down, cause side ways doesn't help.

Biltong, it's what's known as "a bit fresh", that's all.

miteyironpaw wrote:Am I alone in finding Ireland's two anthems just a little on the long winded and unnecessary side? Perhaps just pick one and let's get the game started?

Your'e barred.

I am hoping and expecting this to be a good match. the crowd certainly expects it.

miteyironpaw wrote:Am I alone in finding Ireland's two anthems just a little on the long winded and unnecessary side? Perhaps just pick one and let's get the game started?

Possibly you are

How long left to full time?

Gibson wrote:

miteyironpaw wrote:Am I alone in finding Ireland's two anthems just a little on the long winded and unnecessary side? Perhaps just pick one and let's get the game started?

Your'e barred.

At least not another bard. For goodness sake, with Hakas and multiple songs and what not, the way it's going the lads will be lined out on the pitch for an hour before hand while a Welsh choir runs through a repetoir of hits and cultural curiosities.

Want assists/tries/MOTM from Faletau, Warbs, Bowe, Sexton, Halfpenny, O' Connell and Roberts. Good kicking performance from Sexton too please. Halfpenny, feel free to score drop goals

you see this is what is cool about living in Sa when your rugby is on, it is virtually the same time, no need to stay up till the wee hours of the morning like those ppor sods in australasia.

1/2p did really well there

Eh Barnes?
Shouldnt of Phillips of had the penalty for being hit in the air?

thats why you lot should come in to our 6nations- make it the 7 nations!! makes alot more sense

Barnes' mic is a bit sensitive - hope he doesn't get too close to POC.

Why does Ireland start by not taking a kick to posts. This is exactly how they lost to Wales in the QF, by not putting pressure on the score board.

AlynDavies wrote:Eh Barnes?
Shouldnt of Phillips of had the penalty for being hit in the air?

It was close but i have seen them given.