Wales v Ireland 2019 6N (The Match)

[Oldschool]

Talk of playing Leavy in a match of this intensity after 3 months out seems madness. He could blow up in terms of sheer lack of match fitness and realy damage his reoutation which seems to have grown inexorably during this tournament based on last year's 6N and a cameo against Argentina.

Also talk of this match being a 'free hit' for Ireland seems very odd...surely we are building towards the RWC and this game should be seen as a do-or-die game equivalent to the quarter or semi-final of RWC. Probably not winning the 6N is is not the issue to focus on. Performance and getting a result under real pressure is.

Yeah way too soon to bring Leavy into a game of this intensity.

[hugonaut]

Leavy back in the squad, Ross Byrne back with Leinster.

Leavy must be back in just to avoid them forgetting what he looks like and he forgetting the calls...its been that long.

As for Ross Byrne. That had better mean that Joey is readyto play as I would have a real issue of Carty was back-up to J10. I was amazed that he got the slot against France. He hasn't played big high pressure games. He did very well when he came on at 26-0 and also in Italy, but he hasn't had to do what Ross did away to Montpellier or had to do at home to Exeter last season, both in the high pressure environment of the Champions Cup.

I still think Murray was better than the previous 3 matches. Maybe it was an illusion created by the pack's dominance. I just don't see Joe dropping him, not after last week.

The bench is the key as Wales will go all day and night and we need to bring 13 forwards that will own their lot for 80.

Murray was really poor on the rewatch. No improvement on any of his previous performances [in my opinion] and probably the worst performing player of the 15 who started in green. He's obviously a superb scrum-half when near his best, but he's nowhere near his best.

[Barry]

according to The42 :- Henderson is injured - Beirne to replace him. SOB to start at 7

[FLIP]

according to The42 :- Henderson is injured - Beirne to replace him. SOB to start at 7

My preferred back row in that case would be 6 - Stander, 7 - SOB, 8 - Conan. In the words of Jeremy Clarkson - POOOOWAAAAH

[johng]

Will likely be Beirne in the 2nd row with conan or levy on the bench

[artaneboy]

according to The42 :- Henderson is injured - Beirne to replace him. SOB to start at 7

While I’m excited by Beirne getting a start, I’m disappointed for Henderson. I thought he was excellent against France- even better than Ryan.

He showed real (not “angry face”) leadership in all aspects. Set piece, defence, attack, restarts.


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[ribs]

I agree. The power he brings can stop an attack in its tracks - he did that to France several times last weekend

[Ruckedtobits]

Henderson would be a real loss but Beirne would an interesting addition. However, it might also influence Joe to pick SOB from the start rather than Leavy - a mistake in my view.

If Beirne and Leavy do start, he'll need to include a real 2nd row on the bench and that militates against Conan.

[sunshiner1]

by Ruckedtobits » March 14th, 2019, 12:18 am

Henderson would be a real loss but Beirne would an interesting addition. However, it might also influence Joe to pick SOB from the start rather than Leavy - a mistake in my view.

If Beirne and Leavy do start, he'll need to include a real 2nd row on the bench and that militates against Conan.

As much as I am a fan of Leavy bringing into a game of that intensity after 2 months off doesn't make sense. Henderson is a loss but Beirne and his penchant for turnovers could be a real nusiance to the welsh.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Assuming the rumoured team is correct, I can't fathom what Jordi has done to fall down the pecking order. I think he's been excellent for Ulster and developed into a leader up there. He's never let Ireland down and IMO he's the most versatile backrower (don't like SOB at eight) we have.

[MylesNaGapoleen]

given our experience, at a club level, with the welsh pro14 teams whom we mostly dominate, I fancy us on Saturday. Just. The incentive of a grand slam finish for them might negate that advantage for us but am expecting a red tsunami in the first quarter.

can't wait.

[outcast eddie]

Assuming the rumoured team is correct, I can't fathom what Jordi has done to fall down the pecking order. I think he's been excellent for Ulster and developed into a leader up there. He's never let Ireland down and IMO he's the most versatile backrower (don't like SOB at eight) we have.

Jordi is a great player but not a better 7 than either J VdF or DL. He is not a better 8 than JC or CJ. He is not a better 6 than Rhys and cannot do angry face as good as POM.

He suffers from Ian Madigan syndrome, ie not specialised enough in any one position to make it his own but his broad range skill set is great to have on the bench when there is room.

[outcast eddie]

Aul' bandy legs is fit...

Wales team to face Ireland: 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).

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Assuming the rumoured team is correct, I can't fathom what Jordi has done to fall down the pecking order. I think he's been excellent for Ulster and developed into a leader up there. He's never let Ireland down and IMO he's the most versatile backrower (don't like SOB at eight) we have.

Jordi is a great player but not a better 7 than either J VdF or DL. He is not a better 8 than JC or CJ. He is not a better 6 than Rhys and cannot do angry face as good as POM.

He suffers from Ian Madigan syndrome, ie not specialised enough in any one position to make it his own but his broad range skill set is great to have on the bench when there is room.

Yeah I don't disagree with that but he's always been trusted to step in before and obviously Josh is injured and Leavy hasn't played in months. I can even see why Joe would start SOB ahead of him (although wouldn't myself) but he's a perfect guy to have on the bench. Seems odd to me.

[Barry]

team as forecast - Porter, Roux & Marmion on the bench

[outcast eddie]

15. Rob Kearney

14. Keith Earls

13. Garry Ringrose

12. Bundee Aki

11. Jacob Stockdale

10. Johnny Sexton

9. Conor Murray

1. Cian Healy

2. Rory Best

3. Tadhg Furlong

4. Tadhg Beirne

5. James Ryan

6. Peter O'Mahony

7. Sean O'Brien

8. CJ Stander

Replacements

16. Niall Scannell

17. Dave Kilcoyne

18. Andrew Porter

19. Quinn Roux

20. Jack Conan

21. Kieran Marmion

22. Jack Carty

23. Jordan Larmour

[Flash Gordon]

Cooney very unlucky. Joe really doesn't like him and I can't understand why, thought he was by far the better scrum half last weekend.

[paddyor]

Assuming the rumoured team is correct, I can't fathom what Jordi has done to fall down the pecking order. I think he's been excellent for Ulster and developed into a leader up there. He's never let Ireland down and IMO he's the most versatile backrower (don't like SOB at eight) we have.

He's not a specialist 8 and wrt the RWC that's where the gap in our backrow stocks are IMO.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

True. I had thought that Conan's lack of versatility would count against him (I know he can play 6 but it's been a while and CJ moved for him on Sunday) but maybe the last few games have shown Joe that his carrying is important.

[backrower8]

The chopping and changing on the bench can only be explained by Joe looking to build the squad for RWC, although I still cannot fathom Killer's inclusion.

I don't get Roux and especially not Carty given his lack of big game experience. I don't count 20 mins against France at 26-0 up. If Johnny goes down early all Carty will have to rely on is Pro14 and Challenge Cup experience.

The losers from this 6N are Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Luke McGrath (injury reasons only...but he is fallin down the list), Ross Byrne, Will Addison, Jordi and Andrew Conway.

Interesting to note that Henderson hasn't started against the Welsh and has only benched once in the last 4 outings. He is a big loss, would have nullified AWJ.