Wales and Ireland Two warm up test series Match Thread

[maestegmafia]

First topic message reminder :

7th SEPTEMBER 2019
KO: 14:00
IRELAND VS WALES
Aviva Stadium

Ireland

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 91 caps
14. Jordan Larmour (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 15 caps
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster) 37 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 19 caps
11. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 77 caps
10. Jonathan Sexton (St Marys College/Leinster) 83 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 73 caps

1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 90 caps
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 119 caps CAPTAIN
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 35 caps
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 18 caps
5. Jean Kleyn (Munster) 2 caps
6. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 32 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster) 18 caps
8. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 15 caps

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 69 caps
17. Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster) 30 caps
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 17 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Queens University/Ulster) 47 caps
20. Rhys Ruddock (St Mary’s College/Leinster) 22
21. Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) 13 caps
22. Jack Carty (Buccaneers/Connacht) 6 caps
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 23 caps


Wales

Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); George North (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors); Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues); Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (capt, Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Owen Watkin (Ospreys)

[Collapse2005]

Yeah Healy has been very good

[mikey_dragon]

The best of Healy is gone with age, I can't see why anyone would think he's back to his best? I'm not saying he's an awful player. His best game was absolutely world class. He was up in the top 3 or top 5 LHs at least. In the last 2 years I don't think he's been great and believe Jack McGrath is better. Admittedly McGrath does appear to be a little quieter since that Lions tour.

I don't get it with POM unless it's a Munster fan rating him. Lineout and rucking is pretty basic for a flanker albeit it's something he can do fairly well. I've said before but for me he just goes missing in big games or when the chips are down. So much so that he makes like 1 tackle and 2 metres in a bad game, that's beyond awful. I've seen him go missing too often to rate him as Ireland's best 6. I agree with you on Beirne and think he could slot into blindside quite comfortably

[theslosty]

True around 5 years ago I had Healy down as the best LH in the game before he got a couple of horrible injuries. I think he's done pretty well to recover but he's probably a bit behind the likes of Mako or Joe Moody these days.
Can't really agree POM goes missing in big games - yes he has quiet days but MOTM awards against New Zealand and Australia last year, England the year before put pay to that idea. Like I said I think the tackle count thing is a bit of a red herring as it clearly isn't his job otherwise Schmidt wouldn't tolerate such a low workrate. If you delve into Ireland's ruck stats he's usually at the top which tells you what his role is.

Looking forward to tomorrow Ireland have a lot to prove and I like the look of the Welsh backrow - will be keeping an eye on Shingler as he was in terrific form before he was sidelined.

[RiscaGame]

I am not too familiar with that players that Wales are putting out this week against Ireland.
 
 Is this a second/third string side that Wales are putting  out, if so could this be a touch of complacency on Wales? We are the number 1 team in the world rankings, and it is only Ireland for ffff....sake?

I get it it is only a warm up after all.

Or could it be that just as before Uncle Eddie named his squad (many moons ago), he gave his fringe players a chance to play their way into the 31?

If you don’t know many of the Welsh players, then you clearly don’t watch Wales play much obviously. It’s not as if there are loads of new caps. 15, 13, 12, 11, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 have featured frequently for Wales. James Davies played for GB in the Olympics, so I would be surprised if you didn’t know him too. Even on the bench, Tomos Williams has scored a crucial try for Wales in the last Six Nations, Dee has played frequently for Wales recently and Rob Evans, Ball, Moriarty and Patchell have all featured for Wales a fair bit.

It will evidently do you some good to watch them tomorrow.

[mikey_dragon]

"It will evidently do you some good to watch them tomorrow."

Not if the posters' previous form is anything to go by.

[Collapse2005]

Id love to see a big game from Farrell today.

Also quite like channel 4's coverage

[Collapse2005]

No surprise to see Navidi as captain, has really hit the mark in international rugby.

[No9]

Lots of seats unsold today, for Gats last home game. Bit of a surprise that.

Guess the WRU could have dropped the price of the tickets a bit .

[majesticimperialman]

Lots of seats unsold today, for Gats last home game. Bit of a surprise that.

Guess the WRU could have dropped the price of the tickets  a bit .

What did you expect? it is only a warm up game after all.

[Collapse2005]

Why is the roof closed? Is it not sunny in Wales?

[Guest]

Why is the roof closed? Is it not sunny in Wales?

P*ssing down earlier.

[Collapse2005]

Oh, its lovely here in Dublin.

[Collapse2005]

Jees Addison looks good

[Guest]

It’s sunny in Newport now in fairness. Probably the same in Cardiff!

[mikey_dragon]

More shocking work by Aled Davies.

[No9]

Why is the roof closed? Is it not sunny in Wales?

Schmidt wanted it closed to practice for Japanese roofed stadiums, as under RWC rules it’s the organisers decide if roofs are closed not the coaches. And you can bet they’ll be closed with Japan’s rain during the RWC.

[Collapse2005]

thanks 9

[No9]

Nice break, but Lane has to watch the loose offloads. Stockdale nearly had that and it would have been all the way to the Welsh try line.

[No9]

Great try.... well done.

[majesticimperialman]

Great try by Ireland. well played.

[Guest]

Nice try. Terrible defence from Wales!

[No9]

Have to agree with mickey.... aled is not international standard.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

In contrast, Ireland's defence looks a lot better than last week.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Oh dear. A gift that one

[tigertattie]

Stockdale is the reverse of Samson it would seem

[mikey_dragon]

Well damn, Stockdale is wrecking us.

[No9]

From cr@p kick from aled. Dear or dear....

[mikey_dragon]

I called it, I said we’d lose with Aled starting. It’s it too soon to bring him off...

[BigGee]

A few of these Welsh players clearly don't like Japanese food

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Stockdale is the reverse of Samson it would seem

Samson Lee?

[Guest]

Oh dear. Wales b team looking poor. Ireland b team looking great!

[No9]

What.... we not playing forward passes are we,,,,

[WELL-PAST-IT]

What is happening here, a lot of rubbish from both sides when it comes to handling.

Some nice little kicks though.

[BigGee]

They are funny old games these

The players trying to make an impression are all trying to hard and making silly mistakes. I am coming more round to the idea that it may be better to name the squad further in advance like England and France have done

[Collapse2005]

What is happening here, a lot of rubbish from both sides when it comes to handling.

Some nice little kicks though.

That ball was knocked out of Stockdales hand

[BigTrevsbigmac]

Scrappy nervous game.
Lots of mistakes with players trying too hard to impress.
Two well taken tries though.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Are the Wales team all squad members as the much vaunted defence looks a liability today, it's like they had never trained together.

[tigertattie]

Stockdale is the reverse of Samson it would seem

Samson Lee?

Nah, the Samson that went about with that Delilah burd that Tom Jones sings about!

[No9]

We have to have a second 10, but not sure Evans is the man.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

tackling not great, in fact rather awful.

[Brendan]

Carty showing good varity

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Stockdale is the reverse of Samson it would seem

Samson Lee?

Nah, the Samson that went about with that Delilah burd that Tom Jones sings about!

Why, Why, Why.............................. can this Welsh side not tackle or pass.

[Collapse2005]

Nice game so far from Kilcoyne so far, great to see.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

Farrell Snr. has earned his pay in this last week.

[No9]

Loss of Anscombe look bigger than first thought. If Patchel has a bad second half, not sure who goes as our second 10....

Anyone got Phil Bennett’s number.

[RDW]

What's going on with the pitch?

Much improved Ireland performance - this is Bundee Aki's best game in an Ireland shirt. Stockdale's haircut making all the difference!

I fear for Wales at halftime - I think they're going to get a bollocking.

[majesticimperialman]

Well so far Ireland seem yo be playing as a team, every one on the same sheet.

Wales seem to playing like a team of individuals, every one out for them selves

[tigertattie]

What's going on with the pitch?

Much improved Ireland performance - this is Bundee Aki's best game in an Ireland shirt. Stockdale's haircut making all the difference!

I fear for Wales at halftime - I think they're going to get a bollocking.

They need it. It’s bar far a 2nd string side and it could be that players are trying too hard to try stake a claim for a place on the plane?

Think Patchel could be coming on after the break to try being some direction. Both welsh halfbacks have been rather headless so far and patchel might be able to start putting Wales into areas they want to be

[mikey_dragon]

I don’t want to say I was wrong about Watkin as I think he does well when coming off the bench for us, but it seems he hasn’t showed up yet.

[maestegmafia]

Not a very good performance by wales but for many players out there this is their first competitive match in a while. Might have been a mistake by Gatland not giving a few of them more time in the last match.

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