Wales v Ireland 2019 6N (The Match)

[artaneboy]

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.

No question. He’s a better (quicker and accurate) passer than Murray, McGrath and Marmion- even on their best days. Kicks well from hand or the tee. Gives leadership and links... all that good stuff.

I accept Murray- at his best, is still a better all-round player. But it’s hard to discern what he doesn’t do to get on the bench over the rest.


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[Ruckedtobits]

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.

The big skill the Welsh pack have shown is breakdown turnovers. On that basis, SO'B or Leavy were destined for selection. Jordi is not our top tier for digging. Conan's last two displays have been right up to his best Provincial form and has clearly shown his standards. With Beirne, O'Brien and Best we have a group to compare with Tipuric, Navidi & Owens.

As for Hooker, I believe the unlucky one is Herring, not Nugget. Scannell gets another chance, and Killer is very fortunate to get another shot at keeping McGrath out. He has carried very well but his scrummaging is still a liability, although neither of the Welsh THPs are particularly aggressive scrum merchants.

The roof debate is fascinating. Sexton and Kearney are the aces for Joe, but Anscombe and Williams are no slouches at kicking and fielding. The big factor that might have influenced Joe is the crowd noise. With the roof open, it lessens the constant rumble and song. Close that roof and that din just reverberates for every moment.

[paddyor]

This gets a blast every year but didn't Schmidt say it has nothing to do with him only a few years ago? It's just the Welsh making a song and dance about it.

EDIT apparently not given news reports but it seems like a makey uppy talking point to stir up news coverage. The decision is made already IMO.

[sunshiner1]

by 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.

It's obvious from your comments you don't rate Carty but saying he doesn't have big game experience is daft. Yes he's not a seasoned international but he's being the number 1 outhalf in Connacht for a few seasons and played in a lot of big games over there.

For me Roux and Conan are on the bench for power. Jordi at 8 last time made a dogs dinner getting the ball out from the scrum so not surprised he didn't get the nod. Surprised Joe went with Porter instead of Ryan though. Otherwise a good team.

[dropkick]

I just watched the game from the weekend. It was a big improvement not only on performances in this 6 nations but in games against France in recent years.


The 4 previous 6N matches Ireland averaged 0.25 tries per game. Could have had 6 in that game.


France were not great but the reason Ireland were more dangerous in that game could be summed up in 1 word, variety.


Instead of one out runners and Murray box kicks we saw a great more variety in the attack. Little tip on passes from the forwards, more passing options in general, Ringrose being used to kick etc. It made for a much more fluid attack and the attack wasn't even that expansive, it just had a few extra dimensions.


It was far from perfect, errors were made but the extra variety of attacking options ment the French defence got stretched and resulted in more tries than the last 5 games against France put together.


Wales will be tougher to break down but the France game will be giving Gatland and Edwards more homework to do. Schmidt surely knows they can't approach playing Wales like they usually do with box kicks and one out runners.


If we play like we played against France then I can see an Ireland win. The way Ireland moved the ball also ment the match wasn't as physical as usual and the tries scored gave Schmidt the luxury of putting on the subs early. Ireland are in a good place heading to Cardiff.

This gets a blast every year but didn't Schmidt say it has nothing to do with him only a few years ago? It's just the Welsh making a song and dance about it.

Reading walesonline is good craic this week. We even have Eddie Jones trolling them.

[dropkick]

by 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.

It's obvious from your comments you don't rate Carty but saying he doesn't have big game experience is daft. Yes he's not a seasoned international but he's being the number 1 outhalf in Connacht for a few seasons and played in a lot of big games over there.

Carty couldn't kick snow off a rope a season or two ago but he's made some improvements in his kicking.


He was always able to run a backline and a good passer, playmaker but kicking WAS his Achilles heel.

[paddyor]

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.

He's not like CJ and Schmidt has a plan of how to use him different to CJ (further out from the ruck sometimes supporting a winger). I think you'll see him pop up in support of winger more than Stander( I noticed this in the last Oz test - never came off) and he's better hands for giving a pass. It'll be decried as seagulling but if boshing up the middle isn't working.....

[Oldschool]

It's fair to say to say that Gattie has had the edge over Joe at international level.
Gattie is both ruthless and knowledgeable.
He ditched POM after the first lion's test.
It's a fair bet that he will target POM.
POM's tackling is poor so expect the welsh SH to have a few cuts at him.
POM doesn't have the power you typically expect from your six.
Murray and Sexton can expect a roasting.
We could well see Ireland picking and going a lot more than usual.
A poster mentioned variety.
To beat Wales we'll need more of the same but perhaps just different.

[backrower8]

It's obvious from your comments you don't rate Carty but saying he doesn't have big game experience is daft. Yes he's not a seasoned international but he's being the number 1 outhalf in Connacht for a few seasons and played in a lot of big games over there.

For me Roux and Conan are on the bench for power. Jordi at 8 last time made a dogs dinner getting the ball out from the scrum so not surprised he didn't get the nod. Surprised Joe went with Porter instead of Ryan though. Otherwise a good team.

I think Carty is a better athlete and footballer than Ross Byrne and a more natural 10 than Joey. So I do rate him.

No, I don't rate the level of big match expereince he has to date compared to what Ross Byrne has experienced and delivered on. I am thinking Montpellier away and taking over from Johnny in the opening 10 minutes against a rampant Exeter side in the Heineken last season.

So I will be very, very nervous if Carty has to come on and dig us out of a hole at any stage and even just steer the ship for the majority or more than 20 minutes of a match we are winning by a score.

But Joe obviously sees something he likes...and you know what we say about Joe...

[neill_m]

Roof staying open on Saturday.

[tingman]

brutal start....

[FLIP]

First good decision by the ref all game..

[FLIP]

Tuperic right in the side there. Consistency from refs shouldn't be a novelty

[tingman]

bit of a sh!t show so far....

[FLIP]

Wales driving in at right angles at the scrum and get the penalty. Referees are clueless

[tingman]

anyone else getting the impression this ref is going to be a homer.

[FLIP]

anyone else getting the impression this ref is going to be a homer.

Impression? He is corrupt

[domhnallj]

anyone else getting the impression this ref is going to be a homer.

Impression? He is corrupt

Not being helped by our decision making. Absolutely awful stuff.

[wixfjord]

We are f%~king atrocious. Blame the ref all we want, but not one of our big guys has shown up bar James Ryan.

Lineout a shambles, Healy/Furlong getting roasted and giving away pens, Murray awful, Sexton his usual petulant self and our lineout doesn't function without Toner.

Our backrow is totally anonymous too.

[domhnallj]

We are f%~king atrocious. Blame the ref all we want, but not one of our big guys has shown up bar James Ryan.

Lineout a shambles, Healy/Furlong getting roasted and giving away pens, Murray awful, Sexton his usual petulant self and our lineout doesn't function without Toner.

Our backrow is totally anonymous too.

This