Wales vs Ireland - Six Nations

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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

Was that a try? I thought so in real time.

Feck, another yellow card. Ireland have lost their heads and I can see them losing this game.

Look what happens when you get quick ball, Phillips going off was the best decision.

I don't think it can be a try, he crashed into the post.

Why's Murray in the bin?!

Cari wrote:No try, that hit the base of the post!

If you hit the post its a try.

He's short good decision

Immense D there.

Didn't touch the post.

I just wish we had Tom Court to come on to shore up these scrums on our loosehead side...

nathan wrote:Look what happens when you get quick ball, Phillips going off was the best decision.

+1 He shouldn't start next week, and Tipuric MUST start.

Surely even Ireland couldn't lose this.

Ireland seemed to get too far in front here, not sure how to deal with it.

yappysnap wrote:Immense D there.

Would of been better if they hadn't got someone binned.

This is rediculous. Ireland are all over the place

ooh! Almost intercepted, good take by North, but still the Irish defence holds firm...

Oh dear Wales

Ireland are just showing off now - winning it with 14 men

Game over now surely?

Once again, Wales can't score. Faletau in the way and knocked on by Wales.

What a tackle by heaslip and gilroy

How did Ireland manage to hold them out??!
Awesome effort

What's wrong with jon davies

Faletau! He wasn't even ready for it! Blown a try for sure there.

Magnificent scramble defense from Ireland. they look fantastic to be fair.

Incredible defence by Ireland.

nathan wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Immense D there.

Would of been better if they hadn't got someone binned.

True true, but doesn't seem to matter too much at the moment...

How did Wales not score there?

yappysnap wrote:Ireland seemed to get too far in front here, not sure how to deal with it.

Which is really damning when you think about it.

Gibson wrote:Incredible defence by Ireland.

Big defence!

Who didn't pass then?!

20 tackles by sob
18 by McCarthy

KKOOOOHHNNNN

Wales have certainly looked better. Let's see what Kohn can do.

Amazing how few knock-ons or mistakes in this game. Very good rugby from both teams.

Drico scrum half?

BOD at scrumhalf. Man.

Notch wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Ireland seemed to get too far in front here, not sure how to deal with it.

Which is really damning when you think about it.

Definitely, but then it's better this way then the scores being reversed no?

Why is BOD at scrumhalf?

He has skills but is he actually the best player for that position?

Try

Golden wrote:Try

Or maybe not

Beautiful slow-mo rucking by Kohn there perfect teckers -

TRY!

20-30 at 75 minutes!!!

22-30. can we get a converted try and a penalty in four minutes?

yappysnap wrote:Why is BOD at scrumhalf?

He has skills but is he actually the best player for that position?

No, he should never have kicked that ball.

Surely not enough time on the clock

Wales have shown a lot of character 2nd half,maybe time some of their fans got behind them!

Golden wrote:Surely not enough time on the clock

I know...I was wishing out loud...

well played both teamsz..

good game-- this one is all but over..

time for englnd v scotland and a beer!!

MOTM is BOD!!!

How long left?

Knock on? BOD good value for his MOTM