Ireland v Wales 24/02/2018 14:15

So, Wales have gone with Dan Biggar, Liam Williams & Leigh Halfpenny for the game against Ireland. George North & Gareth Anscombe drop to the bench, and Rhys Patchell & Josh Adams drop out of the match day squad. Not bad decisions in my opinion, though I think I might have had Patchell on the bench over Anscombe... and possibly switched Halfpenny & Williams- I just think Williams offers more threat from fullback than Halfpenny does.

Wales Team:
Halfpenny (Scarlets); L Williams (Saracens), S Williams (Scarlets), Parkes (Scarlets), S Evans (Scarlets); Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), Owens (Scarlets), Lee (Scarlets), Hill (Dragons), AW Jones (Ospreys capt), Shingler (Scarlets), Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements:
Dee (Dragons), W Jones (Scarlets), Francis (Exeter Chiefs), B Davies (Ospreys), Tipuric (Ospreys), A Davies (Scarlets), Anscombe (Blues), North (Northampton).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43127349

Ireland Team:
Kearney; Earls, Farrell, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best (capt), Porter; James Ryan, Toner; O'Mahony, Leavy, Stander.

Replacements: Cronin, McGrath, John Ryan, Roux, Conan, Marmion, Carbery, McFadden.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43152956

So back to Warrenball?

I think (hope) Wales are trying to move on from the Warrenball game plan... That's not to say they are or should abandon it completely, but rather use it as a foundation to set the platform for more expansive back play.

That is a very solid team and one that is certainly good enough to beat Ireland.

Wales have had the edge over Ireland in recent years with them drawing their last visit to Dublin in 2016.

Ireland will be favourites as they are at home but personally I feel Wales will win this one in a close fought match.

I'm disappointed they've dropped Patchell. And out of the squad altogether? Mixed feelings on Biggar really. He stands too deep for me and this stunts our attack. I prefer a 10 that plays flatter. You could ask Biggar to play flatter I suppose, but this never seems to be done (or he cant do it?). Parkes is a bit more creative than Roberts was so hopefully he can make something happen with the ball he's fed from Biggar. But I just hope they get it at pace, and not get it almost as a surprise when stood still as so often happens.

Happy with the pack. No Faletau though? Thought he'd at least make the bench.

I'm not confident at all. Think this is Ireland's game due to their form and home advantage, but hope it's still close in the last 5 minutes.

The Oracle wrote:I'm disappointed they've dropped Patchell. And out of the squad altogether? Mixed feelings on Biggar really. He stands too deep for me and this stunts our attack. I prefer a 10 that plays flatter. You could ask Biggar to play flatter I suppose, but this never seems to be done (or he cant do it?). Parkes is a bit more creative than Roberts was so hopefully he can make something happen with the ball he's fed from Biggar. But I just hope they get it at pace, and not get it almost as a surprise when stood still as so often happens.

Happy with the pack. No Faletau though? Thought he'd at least make the bench.

Yeah, I agree with the disappointment that they've dropped Patchell altogether- I don't think it's necessarily the wrong decision to start Biggar over him, as I think he will hopefully give us a more controlled/ measured approach to the game to start. I can see Ireland coming flying out of the blocks, so think Biggar might be better equipped to deal with that, but I think bringing Patchell on at around 50/ 60 minutes would have better equipped us to start throwing the ball around a bit more, and hopefully score a few tries.

Faletau has apparently been released back to Bath, so hopefully he'll get some game time for them against Sale.

Noble-Surfer wrote:

The Oracle wrote:I'm disappointed they've dropped Patchell. And out of the squad altogether? Mixed feelings on Biggar really. He stands too deep for me and this stunts our attack. I prefer a 10 that plays flatter. You could ask Biggar to play flatter I suppose, but this never seems to be done (or he cant do it?). Parkes is a bit more creative than Roberts was so hopefully he can make something happen with the ball he's fed from Biggar. But I just hope they get it at pace, and not get it almost as a surprise when stood still as so often happens.

Happy with the pack. No Faletau though? Thought he'd at least make the bench.

Yeah, I agree with the disappointment that they've dropped Patchell altogether- I don't think it's necessarily the wrong decision to start Biggar over him, as I think he will hopefully give us a more controlled/ measured approach to the game to start. I can see Ireland coming flying out of the blocks, so think Biggar might be better equipped to deal with that, but I think bringing Patchell on at around 50/ 60 minutes would have better equipped us to start throwing the ball around a bit more, and hopefully score a few tries.

Faletau has apparently been released back to Bath, so hopefully he'll get some game time for them against Sale.

Just don't get Anscombe over Patchell. He's basically saying Anscombe's good 20 min performance vs England trumps the rest of the good stuff Patchell has done with the Scarlets for the whole season so far. That's about the only decent 20 mins Anscombe has played for Wales!

Have to agree with the dropping of Patchell from the match day squad. He is playing in a team that is soaring in Europe and he has been in good form. I didn't think he was too bad against England at all myself.

Gareth Davies didn't have a great game vs England. And if your 9 is not having a great game then the 10 is going to struggle also. Yet Davies is kept as no1 choice but Patchell is ditched altogether.

My worry here is Gats has reverted to type and gone with his old mantra of 'those who've done 'X' previously' ('x' being 'beaten Ireland', for example). So he's gone for those who have experience of beating Ireland regardless of whether they're in form or not - like his old explanation for picking Cuthbert over others being based on him being more experienced. Was Biggar playing well for Ospreys before injury? From memory he wasn't setting the world on fire. So what justification for recall? A safer pair of hands perhaps.

Gatlandball, umm Mk98???????????????

They’ve released Faletau for game time this weekend by the looks, but I would have started him for Wales.

It was fairly obvious Cement was going to drop Patchell, but I don’t agree with it.

You can see why Gatland as brought Halfpenny back in to the match day squad and dropped Patchel. Patchel missed a few kicks at goal against England.

Still i though he ( Gatland ) would of least kept Patchel on the bench.

Regards to Faletaue not even in the squad at all. I just don't understand that. I thought he like Biggar and Halfpenny would have been straight back in the squad....certainly on the bench any way.


I think if try to play Warrenball Ireland will win comfortably. Wales was trying to play a different type of game against England and was doing very well for a while. Reverting back to the old ways will surely be bad for Wales.

Can't remember the last time Toby played.

majesticimperialman wrote:
I think if try to play Warrenball Ireland will win comfortably.

Ireland have not had too much recent success against these tactics from Gatland...

I was hoping Wales would refuse to play this game...but the basterdes are showing up.  Disappointed.

Anyway, so what's the story on Ireland?  The story is I believe we have a squad that can go all the way.  The players are good enough on paper.  The problem is that during this 6N, they haven't been showing it.  So we're back to wondering WHICH game the Irish will actually show up for - all guns blazing, as it were.  Everyone discounts the Italy game so I discount it too.  Some nice tries, smiling as you're scoring (Murray) suggests the kind of game it was.
France was a very impotent game from Ireland's perspective.  We were held rock solid in the middle of the field and that's where we stayed, even for that winning blast from Sexton.  Not impressive at all, and not a game we controlled like 6N contenders, despite all the possession.

So...the only positive is that we're back to this wondering game.  Which game will Ireland choose to play their 'nobody could beat them the way they played today' game?  Will they hold out for England?  Will it just happen automatically against Scotland?  Or will Wales be the side Ireland give their one-great-performance-a-season to.  

It's unfortunate, because all three games coming are seismic in terms of the embarrassing defeat that might be given to us by any of the three...or all three!  Ireland is still that erratic and Ireland still clings on to a gameplan that relies too heavily on many many minutes of defending slim leads.

I always fear Wales.  Always respect Wales.  They have their foxy old Gatland at the helm still - the amount of experience that man has collected from 6Ns over his years;  it's not even something he has to think too heavily on, just let his instinctive knowledge of the rhythms of the contest inform his choices and game management.

So a tough day ahead for Joe and his team.  We need more from this Ireland side.  They have the ability but we have to break out of this overly predictable gameplay.

Nice attempt. Ireland are top of the 6 Nations table.

Playing the worst rugby......

...what's the old cliché? - If this team 'clicks'.....................................

England are purring in third gear with three higher ones at least. Wales are looking for a fight with someone and I guess poor Ireland are on their radar for getting their ambitions back on track.

Ireland are maybe in the same zone as Scotland..... but with less zoom zoom in the tank.

Wales by 5.

I'll take a win over a 'stylish' loss.

Biggar has the measure of Ireland, bring it on.

And here come the English trolls already.

Anyway, Anscombe played a blinder against England, so he is deservedly in the mix, I am gutted for Josh Adams though, he acquitted himself well over the past two games.

I am not English LD

eirebilly wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:
I think if try to play Warrenball Ireland will win comfortably.

Ireland have not had too much recent success against these tactics from Gatland...

Exactly EB, but if Gatland expects Ireland to struggle as they have in the past that is questionable as Parkes, Williams, Evans, and wee Lee haven't the size of Roberts, JD2, North and Cuthbert. Indeed Ireland have more power than in the past as well with Aki, Farrell and Stockdale likely to start.

If Wales play open and expansive it will be very close with probably no more than a penalty or a drop to either side determining it. OTOH if Wales play War&ball it could be a very comfortable win for Ireland. Biggar sits deep so isn't great for an open game, but is that an indicator WG intends to play War&ball? Patchell has the talent to be a future Lion and he covers more positions than Anscombe - by leaving him out it looks like another indicator Gatland intends there to be a kicking duel followed by an arm wrestle, followed by a kicking duel then an arm wrestle...

eirebilly wrote:I am not English LD

Wasn't aimed at you billy.

It was aimed at the regular English members that are always all over Welsh threads, two have shown up straight away, there will be another two or three shortly.

It's good to be popular.

LordDowlais wrote:

eirebilly wrote:I am not English LD

Wasn't aimed at you billy.

It was aimed at the regular English members that are always all over Welsh threads, two have shown up straight away, there will be another two or three shortly.

You don't need to pass a nationality test to post, get over yourself. It's a 606v2 thread, not a Welsh thread.

Should be a straightforward win for Wales. They always give it 20% extra against Ireland and Ireland give 20% less.  

They’ve no problem beating England, NZ, and Australia but come up short against Wales.   Wales have the opposite problem.   It’s a funny old game.

LordDowlais wrote:Anyway, Anscombe played a blinder against England

That made me smile.

LordDowlais wrote:

eirebilly wrote:I am not English LD

Wasn't aimed at you billy.

It was aimed at the regular English members that are always all over Welsh threads, two have shown up straight away, there will be another two or three shortly.

I know, was just a little bored

The Great Aukster wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:
I think if try to play Warrenball Ireland will win comfortably.

Ireland have not had too much recent success against these tactics from Gatland...

Exactly EB, but if Gatland expects Ireland to struggle as they have in the past that is questionable as Parkes, Williams, Evans, and wee Lee haven't the size of Roberts, JD2, North and Cuthbert. Indeed Ireland have more power than in the past as well with Aki, Farrell and Stockdale likely to start.

If Wales play open and expansive it will be very close with probably no more than a penalty or a drop to either side determining it. OTOH if Wales play War&ball it could be a very comfortable win for Ireland. Biggar sits deep so isn't great for an open game, but is that an indicator WG intends to play War&ball? Patchell has the talent to be a future Lion and he covers more positions than Anscombe - by leaving him out it looks like another indicator Gatland intends there to be a kicking duel followed by an arm wrestle, followed by a kicking duel then an arm wrestle...

I just feel that Gatland is the better tactician of the two. He sets Wales up to counter Ireland no matter which, of the two, tactic(s) Schmidt sends Ireland out to play.

That's a tasty looking Welsh side, this is a really tough one to call.

Noble-Surfer wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Anyway, Anscombe played a blinder against England

That made me smile.

He did when he moved to 10.

LordDowlais wrote:

Noble-Surfer wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Anyway, Anscombe played a blinder against England

That made me smile.

He did when he moved to 10.

Played so well that Wales scored 3 points!

TightHEAD wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

Noble-Surfer wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Anyway, Anscombe played a blinder against England

That made me smile.

He did when he moved to 10.

Played so well that Wales scored 3 points!

So he tripled the scoring rate of Patchell at 10.

It was a beautiful kick to score those 3 points, technique wise it was spot on.

Anscombe did play well when he was shifted to 10 against England, not sure how anyone can deny that.

That said, I feel that Patchell would be the better option on the bench for the game against Ireland.

eirebilly wrote:Anscombe did play well when he was shifted to 10 against England, not sure how anyone can deny that.

That said, I feel that Patchell would be the better option on the bench for the game against Ireland.

Played well, yes, decent enough, but I wouldn't go as far as saying played a blinder... I do think Patchell would offer more as a bench option against Ireland though... I'll be happy to be proved wrong, but that's my opinion.

Eddie was bang on about Patchell.



Oh no, a negative vote   The FACT is Eddie was right.

He knows his rugby does Eddie, Gatland should have benched him though, as he now looks like a chump for selecting him in the first instance.

Has everyone gone to the Scrum V forums?

Might have to join that one too.

TightHEAD wrote:He knows his rugby does Eddie, Gatland should have benched him though, as he now looks like a chump for selecting him in the first instance.

I do agree Gatland should of benched him. What will it do to Patchel's confidence yo be given the 10 shirt one week and then be dropped the following week.

I like Patchell, but he's not in Biggar's class. Bigger is the perfect 10 for a tight game against Ireland.

Gatland is a bad man manager imho, Patchell will bounce back but he wasn't that bad vs England, better than Bigger

Gatland has replaced the backs that could not catch a cold against England bombs. Ireland are even better kicking high balls hence Biggar, 1/2 Penny and Williams (a no brain selection).

Ireland need Furlong and Henderson fit - their fitness could make the difference between defeat and victory

Ireland won't kick no balls now...just straight through the middle Maybe that's Gatland's tactic, to scare Ireland off kicking.
Ireland will kick the bejaysus out of the ball now to double bluff Gats.

Don’t forget Wales have 3 of the Lions ‘Geography 6’ in the squad, 2 starting!

Be afraid. Be very afraid!

The Oracle wrote:Don’t forget Wales have 3 of the Lions ‘Geography 6’ in the squad, 2 starting!

Be afraid. Be very afraid!

I am sure Ireland will be quaking in their boots about that.

majesticimperialman wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Don’t forget Wales have 3 of the Lions ‘Geography 6’ in the squad, 2 starting!

Be afraid. Be very afraid!

I am sure Ireland will be quaking in their boots about that.

I was being sarcastic, obviously. Are you for real Maj?!

Every day I read your posts the more and more I think yours is a parody account. Unbelievable!

The Oracle wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Don’t forget Wales have 3 of the Lions ‘Geography 6’ in the squad, 2 starting!

Be afraid. Be very afraid!

I am sure Ireland will be quaking in their boots about that.

I was being sarcastic, obviously. Are you for real Maj?!

 Should of realised.