Wales vs Ireland - Round 5

First topic message reminder :


Teams TBA Thursday the 14th March

Referee Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant 1 Ben O'Keeffe (New Zelaand)
Assistant 2 Karl Dickson (England)
TMO Marius Jonker (South Africa)


Wales:

L Williams (Saracens); North (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), Parkes (Scarlets), Adams (Worcester); Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), Owens (Scarlets), Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Beard (Ospreys), AW Jones (Ospreys, capt), Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Tipuric (Ospreys), Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: Dee (Dragons), Smith (Ospreys), D Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Ball (Scarlets), Wainwright (Dragons), A Davies (Ospreys), Biggar (Northampton), Watkin (Ospreys).



Ireland:


Kearney; Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best (capt), Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O'Mahony, O'Brien, Stander.

Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter, Roux, Conan, Marmion, Carty, Larmour.

Ken?

Id consider Guiardo but no one else in 6 nations. Best all day. Irelands greatest ever captain.

James Ryan was a better player at the age of 20 than AWJ has ever been in his life

BamBam wrote:James Ryan was a better player at the age of 20 than AWJ has ever been in his life

Hmm. I love Ryan and he is unreal but AWJ has been good for a very long time.

Collapse2005 wrote:Maybe if Wales were more direct they might have won?

Glen Jackson's strange interpretation of the breakdown gave Ireland more possession, territory and points. Up there with Wales vs Ben O'Keefe as the worst refereeing I've seen. All from the SH too.

Collapse2005 wrote:Ken?

Id consider Guiardo but no one else in 6 nations. Best all day. Irelands greatest ever captain.

He's 36 years old and bottles key lineouts. Ken is better.

BamBam wrote:James Ryan was a better player at the age of 20 than AWJ has ever been in his life

Did you see 'Lunchbury' against Italy? Garbage and slow. The only lock that England have that compete with AWJ is Itoje, who is likely to become a special player and this is mainly due to the fact that he was apprentice to Super-AWJ on the Lions tour. The rest of the England locks you overrate massively, and even more one-eyed when you stack them up against everyone else, there isn't a team without good lock forwards these days.

Anyway if any of you English are sticking around, I suggest that you don't. If Wales beat Ireland the bitterness will go into overdrive and ya'll be here ruining another thread with your ref-blaming.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Maybe if Wales were more direct they might have won?

Glen Jackson's strange interpretation of the breakdown gave Ireland more possession, territory and points. Up there with Wales vs Ben O'Keefe as the worst refereeing I've seen. All from the SH too.

No mention of Wayne Barnes in a "worst reffing eva" rant? Cant imagine why

miaow wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Ken?

Id consider Guiardo but no one else in 6 nations. Best all day. Irelands greatest ever captain.

He's 36 years old and bottles key lineouts. Ken is better.

That really only happens in your head Miaow.

Gooseberry wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Maybe if Wales were more direct they might have won?

Glen Jackson's strange interpretation of the breakdown gave Ireland more possession, territory and points. Up there with Wales vs Ben O'Keefe as the worst refereeing I've seen. All from the SH too.

No mention of Wayne Barnes in a "worst reffing eva" rant? Cant imagine why

Why? It's only the Irish who are obsessed with him. I rate most ref's from the NH. Strange comment. I believe O'Shea and Stephen Jones (journo) had a few words about Jackson and Ireland too.

Collapse2005 wrote:

miaow wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Ken?

Id consider Guiardo but no one else in 6 nations. Best all day. Irelands greatest ever captain.

He's 36 years old and bottles key lineouts. Ken is better.

That really only happens in your head Miaow.

Not my head that's the issue. It's Rory Best's. Anyway, don't see that being the determining factor in this game. Welsh lineout has problems of its own.

miaow wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Ken?

Id consider Guiardo but no one else in 6 nations. Best all day. Irelands greatest ever captain.

He's 36 years old and bottles key lineouts. Ken is better.

Is bottling key lineouts worse than bottling 30% of them?

Also, Guirado isn't even the best hooker in France anymore.

miaow wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

miaow wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Ken?

Id consider Guiardo but no one else in 6 nations. Best all day. Irelands greatest ever captain.

He's 36 years old and bottles key lineouts. Ken is better.

That really only happens in your head Miaow.

Not my head that's the issue. It's Rory Best's. Anyway, don't see that being the determining factor in this game. Welsh lineout has problems of its own.

Compare the Ireland lineout stats to Wales'. Who comes out on top? Owens isnt as good as Best Miaow, you're dreaming.

Our lineout is abysmal right now, and it doesn't help when you're missing key lineout players like Shingler and Hill. Ken's darts haven't been great either... I think Wales will keep kicking the ball infield to avoid lineouts and look to compete in the air, something Schmidt has likely anticipated but can Ireland stop it? Wales will only contest the lineout in Ireland's 22; in our own 22 it is likely we'll look to stop the driving maul - both teams have been good in this area.

As mentioned elsewhere on these boards, bottling is a specific thing - Wales' lineout % isn't a case of Ken Owens' bottle. This is a man who hit something like 48/48 consecutive lineouts for the Scarlets around 2011. Not a bad thrower at all - the issue is a coaching/structural one and not necesarily related to the merits of the thrower.

Best, on the other hand, is wobbly on big throws. Most recent evidence: the lineout(s) (had to be retaken after an attempted quick, over the 15 throw) that led to Vunipolas disallowed try, and 3 points scored by Farrell in the England game. Big lineout: bottled.

Not that contentious. It's why Gatland never favoured him for the Lions, and unfortunately for him he did 'prove' some of those worries in 2017 when called up late. No doubt having Toner in the Irish team - and Henderson and Ryan and POM etc - helps Best, and Cronin is poor so makes him look even better. But it's not contentious to say Best has had historic problems with his throwing that continue right until this season...when he's 36 and past his best in the loose. But there we go.

Best's a great player, no doubt. And a bit like AWJ, what he brings to his specific team is invaluable, beyond just his playing ability.

Ha in 2011. 8 years ago.

Good stats from 2011 show Owens is a good thrower, but bad ones from 2019 are irrelevant. Nice.

No stat is irrelevant - Ken's always been a really solid lineout thrower, likewise in the scrum. There are no issues with Ken as there have been for most recent Welsh hookers - Huw Bennett, Hibbard, Baldwin were all very poor lineout throwers. Ken isn't. It's also not Ken's strong point though: that's his all round play. I make him the best in the NH at that - it's only when you look at the dynamism of the likes of Dane Coles and Codie Taylor and Malcolm Marx that you see he's not quite 'best in the world' tier, but he's right at the top in the NH.

As mentioned, lots of other factors in terms of Wales' 2019 lineout % - not least it's never been that good. Not a traditional strength of Welsh rugby, unlike in Ireland, and McBryde's coaching is arguable, although seems to have improved from the early years. Also, as mikey points out, the personnel - losing Shingler has been a big loss, likewise Hill will be missed tomorrow.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/47571169 Super-AWJ getting praise from one of the top coaches in world rugby. #triggered #FakeNews

Also, which French hooker is better than Guirado? Who's performed better than him for France?

miaow wrote:Also, which French hooker is better than Guirado? Who's performed better than him for France?

Marchand, Chat. How can you if you don't get picked?

He's been anonymous for a while and is not dynamic enough compared to the best in the world. He's supposed to be a leader and there's not been much evidence.

"If the Welsh prefer to play and spectate indoor sports, may I suggest badminton?"

Scott, just wondering if this poster is a cretin as you so aptly put it?

This thread was going so well

Guys, we have an amber weather warning tomorrow, yet the IRFU want the roof open ?

Surely common sense will prevail ?

Scottrf wrote:

miaow wrote:Also, which French hooker is better than Guirado? Who's performed better than him for France?

Marchand, Chat. How can you if you don't get picked?

He's been anonymous for a while and is not dynamic enough compared to the best in the world. He's supposed to be a leader and there's not been much evidence.

No chance. Chat has done very little and he's been in and out for the last 2 years. Point is, Guirado is one of the few players who performs in a dog awful team. Good luck putting any 'leader' in there any expecting anything consistently better.

Lineout failures are usually about more than just the throwing. However Guirardo, good as he is elsewhere is a blooming awful thrower.

miaow wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

miaow wrote:Also, which French hooker is better than Guirado? Who's performed better than him for France?

Marchand, Chat. How can you if you don't get picked?

He's been anonymous for a while and is not dynamic enough compared to the best in the world. He's supposed to be a leader and there's not been much evidence.

No chance. Chat has done very little and he's been in and out for the last 2 years. Point is, Guirado is one of the few players who performs in a dog awful team. Good luck putting any 'leader' in there any expecting anything consistently better.

He hadn't performed for ages. What's his highlight reel past tackling for the past few years?

Of course the others haven't had a chance because the management sticks with underperforming experienced players. Its was only when a bunch of them were dropped this tournament that France looked like an international team, albeit a bad one.

I don't think the players care if the roof is open or closed. Rules state that the opposition get to make the call and if they've made it then cool.

"At the end of the day, the pitch and conditions are the same for both teams." Super-AWJ:- Wales captain, superhero and philanthropist.

With the likes Kerney, Best, AWJ (Possibly) Sob, Healey, Possibly others  playing their last 6ns game.Just wandering at what age does a player stop playing International rugby?

Listening to Danny Care talking on the rugby podcast , he was saying that hi is 32 so maybe it is time to stop playing international rugby.

The Oracle wrote:This thread was going so well

Just wait till an Irish player gets a yellow card

mikey_dragon wrote:I don't think the players care if the roof is open or closed. Rules state that the opposition get to make the call and if they've made it then cool.

"At the end of the day, the pitch and conditions are the same for both teams." Super-AWJ:- Wales captain, superhero and philanthropist.

Quite, but this does highlight why they shouldve have kept Wales England as the traditional decider fixture so we could do away with level of animosity and controversy over minor issues

Wait till an Irish player Doesn't get a yellow card.

Scandalous. SOB deserves 10 minutes on the sidelines per match as a squeak-tax.

What are we thinking, gents? I can't call this one. L Williams being fit is a big boost for Wales.

I’ve going to verbally red bar your comment, Fly, without actually pressing the red bar button.

Consider yourself verbally red-barred!

EnglishReign wrote:What are we thinking, gents? I can't call this one. L Williams being fit is a big boost for Wales.

I’m not confident at all (from a welsh point of view). Never am. A classic pessimist.

I just think Wales have stuttered too much and are not playing well, and this might be one step too far unless we play a blinder (I suppose we are due one good performance though so fingers crossed this is it).

What if we let you win the U20 Grand Slam and you let us win tomorrows....

No9 wrote:What if we let you win the U20 Grand Slam and you let us win tomorrows....

No deal

And Ireland win the Grand Slam against Wales. Excellent result for the lads.

I hope the Welsh aren't annoyed that we played the game early when they weren't there. Don't blame the ref, he wasn't invited either.

LondonTiger wrote:Lineout failures are usually about more than just the throwing. However Guirardo, good as he is elsewhere is a blooming awful thrower.

... And he can't hook - how many scrums have France lost over a static ball?

SecretFly wrote:I hope the Welsh aren't annoyed that we played the game early when they weren't there.  Don't blame the ref, he wasn't invited either.

Ah well, sure someone has to lose.

Ireland - Grand Slam Champions 2019. Has a nice ring to it.

Well, that’s the rugby over for another year anyway. Have a great Paddy’s weekend everyone - back to the real club stuff next week.

Well done Ireland U20's on their SLAM. If the kids can do it...

This game is HUGE. " Huger"  than 2009 even.  

And both squads are light years better than they were back then.

Its Kiwi v Kiwi, And English v English.  With a few Taffs and Paddies thrown in.

Cant call it. Cant wait.

Sexton to make the difference.

Enjoy the spectacle rugby fans.

This is a cool mature thread btw. Minimal gobshoites. What happened?

Jeez its been a while since you were on here.

Korfball gets boring after some time. Don’t worry Gibson, Guns is still an expert gobshoite

Bloody weather! Hardly slept a wink all night with the storm rattling  the bins outside and blowing stuff down the street. Trees blown down up the road. My son’s rugby has been cancelled this morning as a result. Hope planes flying to Cardiff from Ireland are not cancelled

The Oracle wrote:Bloody weather! Hardly slept a wink all night with the storm rattling  the bins outside and blowing stuff down the street. Trees blown down up the road. My son’s rugby has been cancelled this morning as a result. Hope planes flying to Cardiff from Ireland are not cancelled

Seems like ideal weather for a Grand Slam game being played in Cardiff. Right.

What’s the Six Nations policy about the Millennium roof?

Is it the default is that the roof is open unless both teams request that it be closed?

Or

The away team can decide that the roof be closed even if the home team wants it to remain open?

War don't happen under a roof.
Time for people complaining about the weather getting in to disturb their day out to be men (yes, even the women) - be men, grow a set of balls - under no circumstances cut them off after a game! - and realise the Epic proportions and memories held of a Grand Slam won in a storm over those crop of spud fellas from across the Irish Sea.
The memories - epic, legendary: " Son, the time we beat them basterdes whilst storm winds kept blowing less heavy fans onto the field and torrential rain diluted the beer to cat p-is"

Yes indeed, a great day to be a Irish.....

Pot Hale wrote:What’s the Six Nations policy about the Millennium roof?

Is it the default is that the roof is open unless both teams request that it be closed?

Or

The away team can decide that the roof be closed even if the home team wants it to remain open?

I think default is open, any team can request it to be closed but both have to agree.

I do believe that both teams have to agree the roof be open or closed and not Wales alone.

Ireland said that they would prefair the roof open because rugby is a winter sport  and should be played in the open air and not under a roof indoors.