Ireland v Wales 6N Thread

[Jim Lahey]

Can't be arsed doing the PR-style match thread format.

But lads, its that glorious time of the year again

Ireland Wales is always an interesting game, usually some sort of contraversy comes from it.

Paddy Power has Ireland by 14. I don't believe in the Mocker Gods so I think PP have this one right. Theoretically it should be a routine win for Ireland at home based on form and ability.

I have a lot of admiration for the stubborness and dogged-ness of the Welsh, who always seem to lift their game and play at a level greater than the sum of their parts for the national side. But a good side should be able to overcome this after the first 60mins and put them away in the last 20. If the Irish team are as good as us supporters and the media think, we should win, and win well.

[GogLais]

There was an interview with Furlong in the Sunday Times, he's been on the winning side four times against the ABs. Paper might have got it wrong but he's only got 51 caps so nearly 10% of his games have been victories over NZ. Damn him. Doesn't seem that many caps. Was he a late-developer? Afaik he hasn't been injury-prone.

[ASMO]

Needs more spite

[Jim Lahey]

Needs more spite

I had a peak over at PR and it seems in full flow of the Welsh dick-waving over their WC knockout wins/grand slams and Irish posters biting down heavily on the bait.

I'd rather talk about the game with rational rugby folk. I looked at the Welsh 6N squad and am ashamed to say I recognised very few of the forwards so I assume its full of young guns. Any Welsh posters care to comment on which players we should look out for and are capable of being mainstays in the side for the next 5 or so years?

[sockwithaticket]

There was an interview with Furlong in the Sunday Times, he's been on the winning side four times against the ABs. Paper might have got it wrong but he's only got 51 caps so nearly 10% of his games have been victories over NZ. Damn him. Doesn't seem that many caps. Was he a late-developer? Afaik he hasn't been injury-prone.

He has had a couple of fairly long lay offs iirc.

[GogLais]

There was an interview with Furlong in the Sunday Times, he's been on the winning side four times against the ABs. Paper might have got it wrong but he's only got 51 caps so nearly 10% of his games have been victories over NZ. Damn him. Doesn't seem that many caps. Was he a late-developer? Afaik he hasn't been injury-prone.

He has had a couple of fairly long lay offs iirc.

Ta, I havent been paying attention.

[GogLais]

Needs more spite

I had a peak over at PR and it seems in full flow of the Welsh dick-waving over their WC knockout wins/grand slams and Irish posters biting down heavily on the bait.

I'd rather talk about the game with rational rugby folk. I looked at the Welsh 6N squad and am ashamed to say I recognised very few of the forwards so I assume its full of young guns. Any Welsh posters care to comment on which players we should look out for and are capable of being mainstays in the side for the next 5 or so years?

Gareth Thomas prop - late 20s I think, hopefully at the least a competent scrummager.
Dewi Lake - supposed to be good in the loose hooker but dodgy thrower.
Ben Carter - very young lock. Too early for him really but needs must.
Seb Davies - been around for a while floating around between second and back row.
Ratti - 18 stone bulky 6/8 of the type that we're short of
And of course there's Christ who's another who shouldn't be there yet.

[tcc_dc]

Winning the 6n is always the goal...but will Ireland give some lads chances at the highest level (or close) to prep for France next year...or more like 2018 where I did not think we gave enough of the young ones chances..

2018 team out against Wales:

FB 15 Rob Kearney
RW 14 Keith Earls 63'
OC 13 Chris Farrell
IC 12 Bundee Aki
LW 11 Jacob Stockdale
FH 10 Jonathan Sexton 76'
SH 9 Conor Murray
N8 8 CJ Stander
OF 7 Dan Leavy
BF 6 Peter O'Mahony 66'
RL 5 Devin Toner 73'
LL 4 James Ryan
TP 3 Andrew Porter 66'
HK 2 Rory Best (c) 70'
LP 1 Cian Healy 63'

Replacements:
HK 16 Seán Cronin 70'
PR 17 Jack McGrath 63'
PR 18 John Ryan 66'
LK 19 Quinn Roux 73'
N8 20 Jack Conan 66'
SH 21 Kieran Marmion
FH 22 Joey Carbery 76'
WG 23 Fergus McFadden 63'

[Ymx]

There was an interview with Furlong in the Sunday Times, he's been on the winning side four times against the ABs. Paper might have got it wrong but he's only got 51 caps so nearly 10% of his games have been victories over NZ. Damn him. Doesn't seem that many caps. Was he a late-developer? Afaik he hasn't been injury-prone.

4 times?? And 4 is 10% of 50?

Or 3/51 = 5.9%

Damn you for making me bite !

[Ymx]

Anyway, I always enjoy this fixture as a neutral. It’s going to be a great Saturday!

[ASMO]

On form Ireland should dry hump Wales into submission, but say what you like about them but Wales never respect form.

[Slick]

Anyway, I always enjoy this fixture as a neutral. It’s going to be a great Saturday!

It’s funny, apart from the Italy games this is always the one that I’m not that bothered about. No idea why as it’s often a decent game

[paddyor]

There was an interview with Furlong in the Sunday Times, he's been on the winning side four times against the ABs. Paper might have got it wrong but he's only got 51 caps so nearly 10% of his games have been victories over NZ. Damn him. Doesn't seem that many caps. Was he a late-developer? Afaik he hasn't been injury-prone.

1 of them is with the Lions. I don't think he has been that injury prone. But he was behind Mike Ross and Marty Moore as the 1/2 for Leinster and Ireland at the start of his career. Only really became first choice in 16/17

[laurent]

There was an interview with Furlong in the Sunday Times, he's been on the winning side four times against the ABs. Paper might have got it wrong but he's only got 51 caps so nearly 10% of his games have been victories over NZ. Damn him. Doesn't seem that many caps. Was he a late-developer? Afaik he hasn't been injury-prone.

1 of them is with the Lions. I don't think he has been that injury prone. But he was behind Mike Ross and Marty Moore as the 1/2 for Leinster and Ireland at the start of his career. Only really became first choice in 16/17

He was Strong early (like another 'Tarf Prop)
played AIL as a 20 year old and smashing anything in front of him. a bit fragile then but he is young for a prop. 30...

[The sun god]

Ireland by 14......

[TB63]

Is that all?..

[C69]

Ireland by 14......

18

[The sun god]

Is that all?..

Don't want to sound cocky...!!!

[Uncle fester]

Wales always seem to play better than the sum of their players club form and most of the time, they "get it up" against Ireland.

[Jim Lahey]

Likely starting teams? For Ireland I'd assume the following:

Porter
Kelleher
Furlong
Ryan
Hendy (if deemed fit)/Beirne
Doris
VDF (if fit)/Timoney
Conan

JGP
Sexton
Earls/Conway
Henshaw
Ringrose
Baloucoune
Keenan

PoM and Murray to stink up the bench. Would love to see Lowry in the 23 jersey but more likely to be Hume (good option tbf).

[JM2K6]

Isn't Murray finding some decent form again or did I just imagine it

[Jim Lahey]

Isn't Murray finding some decent form again or did I just imagine it

Even if he's having a good game its all based around his box kicking these days. Slow passing off the base of the ruck and no snipes or linebreaks.

Ireland should avoid getting into an arm wrestle with Wales. Murray's game is so slow that invariably it would descend into that imo.

He was world class 3 or 4 years ago but his credit in the bank has been drying up since.

[C69]

Likely starting teams? For Ireland I'd assume the following:

Porter
Kelleher
Furlong
Ryan
Hendy (if deemed fit)/Beirne
Doris
VDF (if fit)/Timoney
Conan

JGP
Sexton
Earls/Conway
Henshaw
Ringrose
Baloucoune
Keenan

PoM and Murray to stink up the bench. Would love to see Lowry in the 23 jersey but more likely to be Hume (good option tbf).

Wales are missing 5 of their first choice forwards. Their captain and the only hooker who can at times throw the ball in straight. The front row are way out of form.
The loss of North who was becoming a behemoth in midfield is a loss but nothing like our forward decimation.

Navidi for me is a massive loss to the team, if Wales can't compete in the front row we are fecked.


Oh we are fecked. Our scrum will be bummed and our hpokers throwing is woeful.
Ireland by 18 ish.

Tbh this and the last 6N should have a massive asterisk against it.

[Jim Lahey]

Likely starting teams? For Ireland I'd assume the following:

Porter
Kelleher
Furlong
Ryan
Hendy (if deemed fit)/Beirne
Doris
VDF (if fit)/Timoney
Conan

JGP
Sexton
Earls/Conway
Henshaw
Ringrose
Baloucoune
Keenan

PoM and Murray to stink up the bench. Would love to see Lowry in the 23 jersey but more likely to be Hume (good option tbf).

Wales are missing 5 of their first choice forwards. Their captain and the only hooker who can at times throw the ball in straight. The front row are way out of form.
The loss of North who was becoming a behemoth in midfield is a loss but nothing like our forward decimation.

Navidi for me is a massive loss to the team, if Wales can't compete in the front row we are fecked.


Oh we are fecked. Our scrum will be bummed and our hpokers throwing is woeful.
Ireland by 18 ish.

Tbh this and the last 6N should have a massive asterisk against it.

At least you have test Lion and GS winner Fluffburt back in the squad to pick up some of North's slack.

What's the Welsh pack likely to look like?

[C69]

Likely starting teams? For Ireland I'd assume the following:

Porter
Kelleher
Furlong
Ryan
Hendy (if deemed fit)/Beirne
Doris
VDF (if fit)/Timoney
Conan

JGP
Sexton
Earls/Conway
Henshaw
Ringrose
Baloucoune
Keenan

PoM and Murray to stink up the bench. Would love to see Lowry in the 23 jersey but more likely to be Hume (good option tbf).

Wales are missing 5 of their first choice forwards. Their captain and the only hooker who can at times throw the ball in straight. The front row are way out of form.
The loss of North who was becoming a behemoth in midfield is a loss but nothing like our forward decimation.

Navidi for me is a massive loss to the team, if Wales can't compete in the front row we are fecked.


Oh we are fecked. Our scrum will be bummed and our hpokers throwing is woeful.
Ireland by 18 ish.

Tbh this and the last 6N should have a massive asterisk against it.

At least you have test Lion and GS winner Fluffburt back in the squad to pick up some of North's slack.

What's the Welsh pack likely to look like?

Francis Elias Wyn Jones
Beard Rowlands

My guess backrow not my choice
Basham Wainwright Moriarty/Jenkins


Francis Elias and Wyn Jones have been awful this season.

Wainwright is terrible.

[C69]

Wales are missing 5 of their first choice forwards. Their captain and the only hooker who can at times throw the ball in straight. The front row are way out of form.
The loss of North who was becoming a behemoth in midfield is a loss but nothing like our forward decimation.

Navidi for me is a massive loss to the team, if Wales can't compete in the front row we are fecked.


Oh we are fecked. Our scrum will be bummed and our hpokers throwing is woeful.
Ireland by 18 ish.

Tbh this and the last 6N should have a massive asterisk against it.

At least you have test Lion and GS winner Fluffburt back in the squad to pick up some of North's slack.

What's the Welsh pack likely to look like?

Francis Elias Wyn Jones
Beard Rowlands

My guess backrow not my choice
Basham Wainwright Moriarty/Jenkins


Francis Elias and Wyn Jones have been awful this season.

Wainwright is terrible.

I think Gareth Thomas and Leon Brown may be on the field at some point. Brown has all the potential but injuries and his at times dodgy scrummaging could be an issue.

Dewi Lake is Wales hooker going forward and he is a monster with the ball in hand and scrummaging and tackling but can't hit a barn door throwing in.

Perhaps it's a year too early for Christ but he will have some decent cameos.

[yermum]

Likely starting teams? For Ireland I'd assume the following:

Porter
Kelleher
Furlong
Ryan
Hendy (if deemed fit)/Beirne
Doris
VDF (if fit)/Timoney
Conan

JGP
Sexton
Earls/Conway
Henshaw
Ringrose
Baloucoune
Keenan

PoM and Murray to stink up the bench. Would love to see Lowry in the 23 jersey but more likely to be Hume (good option tbf).

Leinster deluxe

[Jim Lahey]

Likely starting teams? For Ireland I'd assume the following:

Porter
Kelleher
Furlong
Ryan
Hendy (if deemed fit)/Beirne
Doris
VDF (if fit)/Timoney
Conan

JGP
Sexton
Earls/Conway
Henshaw
Ringrose
Baloucoune
Keenan

PoM and Murray to stink up the bench. Would love to see Lowry in the 23 jersey but more likely to be Hume (good option tbf).

Leinster deluxe

Well its on you lads if we get beaten.

Paddy Power offering 3.75 for a red card during the game . Is that typical these days? Thought they'd be more generous than that, especially given that PoM will be lucky to make the bench.

[yermum]

Likely starting teams? For Ireland I'd assume the following:

Porter
Kelleher
Furlong
Ryan
Hendy (if deemed fit)/Beirne
Doris
VDF (if fit)/Timoney
Conan

JGP
Sexton
Earls/Conway
Henshaw
Ringrose
Baloucoune
Keenan

PoM and Murray to stink up the bench. Would love to see Lowry in the 23 jersey but more likely to be Hume (good option tbf).

Leinster deluxe

Well its on you lads if we get beaten.

Paddy Power offering 3.75 for a red card during the game . Is that typical these days? Thought they'd be more generous than that, especially given that PoM will be lucky to make the bench.

I guess any tackle with a mistiming these days has the red potential.

But given the ref I would say less in this game given the shocker at the weekend.

I'm an 11 toed exile buddy...

[Insane_Homer]

There was an interview with Furlong in the Sunday Times, he's been on the winning side four times against the ABs. Paper might have got it wrong but he's only got 51 caps so nearly 10% of his games have been victories over NZ. Damn him. Doesn't seem that many caps. Was he a late-developer? Afaik he hasn't been injury-prone.

and not even a semi

[Jim Lahey]

Leinster deluxe

Well its on you lads if we get beaten.

Paddy Power offering 3.75 for a red card during the game . Is that typical these days? Thought they'd be more generous than that, especially given that PoM will be lucky to make the bench.

I guess any tackle with a mistiming these days has the red potential.

But given the ref I would say less in this game given the shocker at the weekend.

I'm an 11 toed exile buddy...

Good man.
We need more salt of the earth, honest hard working sons of Ulster and Culchies on NPR to gain critical mass before the trust fund, privately-educated, scarf-wearing Leinster brats finally ditch PR and climb aboard the lifeboat.

[GogLais]

Likely starting teams? For Ireland I'd assume the following:

Porter
Kelleher
Furlong
Ryan
Hendy (if deemed fit)/Beirne
Doris
VDF (if fit)/Timoney
Conan

JGP
Sexton
Earls/Conway
Henshaw
Ringrose
Baloucoune
Keenan

PoM and Murray to stink up the bench. Would love to see Lowry in the 23 jersey but more likely to be Hume (good option tbf).

Leinster deluxe

Paddy Power offering 3.75 for a red card during the game . Is that typical these days? Thought they'd be more generous than that, especially given that PoM will be lucky to make the bench.

I reckon it'll be open season on our boys this season to make up for last year.

[Uncle fester]

Isn't Murray finding some decent form again or did I just imagine it

POM has actually been playing pretty well but Murray is just done at this stage. Shouldn't even be playing for Munster.

[Line6 HXFX]

It's such a shame, Wales a were developing some seriously good things in the forwards, driving mauls and line-out were masterful last year and the year before under Pivac.
T'was Glorious and used to make me smile, having had years of other teams ( Ireland and England) doing exactly that to us over and over.
No idea what style of play we will attempt.

I dhunno, turn up, defend like bastards (something we should be able to do) kick the ball down the middle, keep the ball infield..and away from lineouts..see what happens, accepting at least once during the match, we will race up, get chipped over the top..and have easy run ins against us.

Jonathan Davies and Josh the Adams maybe something special in Midfield, and Stephen Jones may have actually worked out how actually to create space and overlaps and gaps for Zammit.

I mean these are vastly experienced Professional Rugby Players and Coaches, who have dedicated their lives to this thing.
I mean you have to be optimistic right?

[The sun god]

It's such a shame, Wales a were developing some seriously good things in the forwards, driving mauls and line-out were masterful last year and the year before under Pivac.
T'was Glorious and used to make me smile, having had years of other teams ( Ireland and England) doing exactly that to us over and over.
No idea what style of play we will attempt.

I dhunno, turn up, defend like bastards (something we should be able to do) kick the ball down the middle, keep the ball infield..and away from lineouts..see what happens, accepting at least once during the match, we will race up, get chipped over the top..and have easy run ins against us.

Jonathan Davies and Josh the Adams maybe something special in Midfield, and Stephen Jones may have actually worked out how actually to create space and overlaps and gaps for Zammit.

I mean these are vastly experienced Professional Rugby Players and Coaches, who have dedicated their lives to this thing.
I mean you have to be optimistic right?

Absolutely........

[GogLais]

Halaholo injury doubt. Talk on the BBC of Adams having a first start at centre (I’m pretty sure) against Ireland. Paired with Tompkins. Against Henshaw and Ringrose. Let’s hope Sexton kicks a lot.

[Jim Lahey]

Baloucoune, Timoney and Lowry named for Ulster, so I assume it'll be 2 of Conway/Hansen/Earls on the wing with the other on the bench, and POM also on the bench.

Would've liked to have seen Big Bob get the start tbf. Admitidely I haven't seen enough of Hanson to make a fair assessment but the idea throwing a merc into the side in his first season doesn't sit well with me.

[ASMO]

It's such a shame, Wales a were developing some seriously good things in the forwards, driving mauls and line-out were masterful last year and the year before under Pivac.
T'was Glorious and used to make me smile, having had years of other teams ( Ireland and England) doing exactly that to us over and over.
No idea what style of play we will attempt.

I dhunno, turn up, defend like bastards (something we should be able to do) kick the ball down the middle, keep the ball infield..and away from lineouts..see what happens, accepting at least once during the match, we will race up, get chipped over the top..and have easy run ins against us.

Jonathan Davies and Josh the Adams maybe something special in Midfield, and Stephen Jones may have actually worked out how actually to create space and overlaps and gaps for Zammit.

I mean these are vastly experienced Professional Rugby Players and Coaches, who have dedicated their lives to this thing.
I mean you have to be optimistic right?

Absolutely........

Davies is past it and Adams is a very good winger but not a very good center.

[Jim Lahey]

Irish team:

Porter
Kelleher
Furlong
Beirne
Ryan
Doris
VDF
Conan

JGP
Sexton
Hansen
Aki
Ringrose
Conway
Keenan

Sheehan
Healy
Bealham
Baird
POM
Murray
Carberry
Hume

[The sun god]

Baloucoune, Timoney and Lowry named for Ulster, so I assume it'll be 2 of Conway/Hansen/Earls on the wing with the other on the bench, and POM also on the bench.

Would've liked to have seen Big Bob get the start tbf. Admitidely I haven't seen enough of Hanson to make a fair assessment but the idea throwing a merc into the side in his first season doesn't sit well with me.

Isn't his Mum Irish ?