Wales vs Ireland - Six Nations

First topic message reminder :

Date - Saturday 2nd February 2013, KO 13:30
Venue - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Wales

Coverage - Watch live on BBC One NI, BBC One HD
Internet - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/
Radio - BBC Radio Ulster
Replay the Game - BBC iPlayer

Wales Team

15 L Halfpenny
14 A Cuthbert
13 J Davies
12 J Roberts
11 G North
10 D Biggar
09 M Phillips
01 G Jenkins
02 M Rees
03 A Jones
04 A Coombs
05 I Evans
06 A Shingler
08 T Faletau
07 S Warburton (capt)

Replacements

16 K Owens
17 C Mitchell
18 P James
19 O Kohn
20 J Tipuric
21 L Williams
22 S Williams
23 J Hook


Ireland Team

01 Cian Healy
02 Rory Best
03 Mike Ross
03 Donnacha Ryan
05 Mike McCarthy
06 Peter O'Mahony
07 Sean O'Brien
08 Jamie Heaslip (c)
09 Conor Murray
10 Jonathan Sexton
11 Simon Zebo
12 Gordon Darcy
13 Brian O'Driscoll
14 Craig Gilroy
15 Rob Kearney

Replacements

16 Sean Cronin
17 Dave Kilcoyne
18 Declan Fitzpatrick
19 Donnacha O'Callaghan
20 Chris Henry
21 Eoin Reddan
22 Ronan O'Gara
23 Keith Earls



TOURNAMENT RECORD

MATCH FACTS

HEAD-TO-HEAD
These two nations have clashed on 118 occasions since 1882. Wales have 65 wins; Ireland 47.

Wales have won their last three Tests against Ireland; two in the Six Nations, one at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Since 1985 Ireland have won 10 and drawn one in Cardiff, with Wales picking up just two wins.

Legendary Irish fly-half Ronan O'Gara has scored 100 points in 14 appearances against Wales. O'Gara and centre Brian
O'Driscoll are the record caps holders for Ireland against Wales.

WALES

Have lost their last seven games, their worst run since 2003 (when they lost 10 on the spin).
Should Ireland win this fixture, Wales would have lost five consecutive home games for the first time in their history (they lost four at home during that 10-defeat run back in 2003).
Have scored just seven tries in their last seven matches.
The Wales pack retained possession at 96% of their own put-ins during last season's Six Nations. However, they did win just 22 scrums across the whole tournament - fewer than any other side.
Alex Cuthbert made seven clean breaks in last season's Six Nations, more than any other player.

IRELAND

Prior to the win over Argentina in their final match of 2012 Ireland had lost five straight Tests, scoring just two tries in the process (this excludes XV versus Fiji). It was their worst run since 1998.
Ireland were top points scorers in last year's Six Nations, racking up 121 in total (an average of over 24 per match). This included 13 tries, the most they had scored in the competition since 2007.


Games played between Ireland and Wales: 118 18.13%
Games won by Wales: 65 55.08%
Games lost by Wales: 47 39.83%
Games drawn: 6 5.08%

Most wins in a row for Wales over Ireland: 5

Most wins in a row for Ireland over Wales: 5

Average Pts Per Game 13

Heaviest Defeat 3rd of Feb 2002 Ireland 54 - 10 Wales

Recent Record between Ireland and Wales

2012 - Ireland 21-23 Wales
2011 - Ireland 10-22 Wales (RWC)
2011 - Wales 19-13 Ireland
2010 - Ireland 27-12 Wales
2009 - Wales 15-17 Ireland
2008 - Ireland 12-16 Wales

Only Welsh person that could make the Lions squad is Rhys Ruddock.

The one with the Irish accent? It's Philip Matthews and Eddie Butler and Martyn Williams chipping in from pitchside.

Sexytoes kicking for goal again.

3-23 at HT. I need a drink...

Massive half from O'Driscill, best and Healy

Worst Welsh performance since 62-5 defeat to England.

I've got a lot of love for Rory Best right now. Or "Rory Breast" as Eddie Butler would say

Cari wrote:The one with the Irish accent? It's Philip Matthews and Eddie Butler and Martyn Williams chipping in from pitchside.

Yeah I mean Matthews, I felt the same last year.

Well so far my espn fantAsy team doing allright with healy, sexton and halfpenny scoring points.

Ireland are in full control of the game, Wales are really strugling to get any ball at the moment.

Ireland 23 points too Wales 3 at half time. Does not look good for Wales right now.

I think best must be a shoe in for the lions. I think Zebo will go aswel'

Notch wrote:I've got a lot of love for Rory Best right now. Or "Rory Breast" as Eddie Butler would say

Besides one lineout f**k up, he has been damn near flawless, nailed on for the Lions at this stage you would think.

Notch wrote:I've got a lot of love for Rory Best right now. Or "Rory Breast" as Eddie Butler would say

So you could say you're a "Breast" man Notch?

Shocking from Wales, the only positive I can see is Mike Phillips is getting the ball fast from the base of the ruck, something we have rarely seen.

But basically were being outclassed man for man all over the field. I was hoping the last few games we have lost were just a bad patch, but today it might be time to admit were a poor team.

whocares wrote:Well so far my espn fantAsy team doing allright with healy, sexton and halfpenny scoring points.

BOD must have a few points for his assists too

Philips carries a lot of the blame I think - just too slow to gt the ball away and made a couple of other errors.

Ireland awesome. Best, Healy, Zebo and Sexton playing magnificently. It was game over after 25 minutes, I'm just wondering if Ireland can rack up 50+!

nathan wrote:

Cari wrote:The one with the Irish accent? It's Philip Matthews and Eddie Butler and Martyn Williams chipping in from pitchside.

Yeah I mean Matthews, I felt the same last year.

Yeah there seem to be a few Irish commentators/pundits who are a little...blinkered towards the men in green. Sky have an even worse one.

The defence is a joke, what is going on, looking on the positive side Howley should go as soon as possible but it won't happen. Wales back row looks very poor and lightweight, Faletau is the best of a bad bunch.

TJ wrote:Philips carries a lot of the blame I think - just too slow to gt the ball away and made a couple of other errors.

Phillips is way too slow. I could get up and make a brew in the time it takes him to get the ball out.

Woody just called Zebo's move "rugby sex"

Shifty wrote:Shocking from Wales, the only positive I can see is Mike Phillips is getting the ball fast from the base of the ruck, something we have rarely seen.

But basically were being outclassed man for man all over the field. I was hoping the last few games we have lost were just a bad patch, but today it might be time to admit were a poor team.

Really? Slow to the ruck, slow to use the ball, poor decisions. Is there a slower SH in 6N rugby?

Today I am!

Shifty, funny enough, for about four minutes there Wales were irresistible. If they had 80 minutes of that they'd hammer us. It just the other 36 minutes have been so utterly appalling from Wales.

Man, talking about Best- his pass on the run to Heaslip after the charge down? Brilliant. Enough said about Zebos flick. Technique.

Wales do look lazy.

Rory Best is a colossus.

Bring on THE KOHN!!

Reputation and favourites costing Wales

Jenkins awful
Warburton even worse
PHILLIPS worse again
Jon Davies playing very poor
Biggar has destroyed himself

Imagine if Wales had started Hook, scott williams, lloyd Williams, kohn and Tipuric? ????

yappysnap wrote:Bring on THE KOHN!!

Please do! I'm curious to asee what he can do.

Just flicked over to bbc, no john inverdale?? Brilliant stuff might stay here

yappysnap wrote:Bring on THE KOHN!!

The Kohn was just spotted driving very fast near Newbury, eastbound!

Why isn't Gatland in charge again?

The Lions tour is in the summer, he should be involved if you ask me, surely he can do both.

Whilst Phillips takes 2 secs to decide were to send the ball, his pass is still quality and imo one of the best in europe.

That's it boys lull them into a false sense of security in the first half and then........concede even more in the second.

Notch wrote:I've got a lot of love for Rory Best right now. Or "Rory Breast" as Eddie Butler would say

I love Rory. Always have. Our most influential and consistent player for years now. Healy and him.

Id have Rory as Captain.

So far for Wales Alex Cuthbert as been totaly dire. George North? Was he even on the field for the first 30/35 minutes?

This could well be 8 Losing games on the trot for Wales.

Golden wrote:Just flicked over to bbc, no john inverdale?? Brilliant stuff might stay here

He was on first thing, and will be after this, trust me. He's in Twickenham of course.

whocares wrote:Whilst Phillips takes 2 secs to decide were to send the ball, his pass is still quality and imo one of the best in europe.

The pass means nothing if the opposition has those 2 seconds to figure out where the ball is going.

OMG...here's a stat....if Wales lose today, this will be their fifth consecutive defeat at home for the first time ever!

Inverdale will be swatting up on his wilko quotes ready for the scots game.

whocares wrote:Whilst Phillips takes 2 secs to decide were to send the ball, his pass is still quality and imo one of the best in europe.

You need a new watch.

Crap start again running in front of the posts and getting turned over again.

Good start for Ireland again.

Barney McGrew did it wrote:

whocares wrote:Whilst Phillips takes 2 secs to decide were to send the ball, his pass is still quality and imo one of the best in europe.

You need a new watch.

I actually dont wear one

Cari wrote:

Golden wrote:Just flicked over to bbc, no john inverdale?? Brilliant stuff might stay here

He was on first thing, and will be after this, trust me. He's in Twickenham of course.

Ah right I'll stick with rte for that then, at least there's a few laughs there

Chilli almost over with another try there...but BOD gets it!

3-28 at 42 minutes.

Brilliant D by Wales!

Wow good man bod

Barney McGrew did it wrote:

whocares wrote:Whilst Phillips takes 2 secs to decide were to send the ball, his pass is still quality and imo one of the best in europe.

You need a new watch.

Yes! BOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spoke to soon! BOD strikes like a thunder bolt and boom try!

BOD over!!

3-28

Ireland!!!

wow