Ireland v Wales, 29 August

 
IRELAND v WALES
29 August 2015
KO: 14:30 local
Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Live on Sky Sports 1/RTÉ Radio 1/IRFU Live Blog/highlights RTÉ Two (8pm

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes, Luke Pearce (both England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

A. Head to Head

122 Played 122
50 Won 66
6 Drawn 6
66 Lost 50
1,355 Points 1,445

B. Recent Form

8 August 2015
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
21 – 35 to Ireland

14 March 2015
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
23 – 16 to Wales

8 February 2014
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
26 – 3 to Ireland

2 February 2013
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
22 – 30 to Ireland

5 February 2012
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
21 – 23 to Wales

8 October 2011
Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
22 – 10 to Wales

12 March 2011
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
19 – 13 to Wales

C. Teams

IRELAND

Rob Kearney (Leinster), Dave Kearney (Leinster), Luke Fitzgerald (Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Connacht), Keith Earls (Munster), Johnny Sexton (Leinster), Conor Murray (Munster), Jack McGrath (Leinster), Richardt Strauss (Leinster), Nathan White (Connacht), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Paul O'Connell (Toulon, CAPT), Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Jordi Murphy (Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

Replacements: Sean Cronin (Leinster), Dave Kilcoyne (Munster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Donnacha Ryan (Munster), Sean O'Brien (Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Leinster), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Felix Jones (Munster)

WALES

Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), George North (Northampton Saints), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, CAPT), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons)

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), James King (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons).

My stab at Team Ireland - focus of having key changes to see if Ireland can break down the welsh first team defence which they failed to do in 6Ns.

1. McGrath
2. Best
3. White
4. Ryan (hasn't played for a couple of weeks)
5. POC
6. POM
7. Murphy
8. Heislip
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. D Kearney
12. Henshaw
13. Earls (half and half with Payne)
14. Bowe (needs the gametime because he is going anyway)
15. R Kearney

16. Bent, Strauss, Moore, Toner, Henderson, Reddan, Jackson, Payne

Has Trimble been ruled out for this match yet?

Joubert - home win. No Irish player will be required to support his weight whilst over the ball.

Golden wrote:Has Trimble been ruled out for this match yet?

No, not yet. If he is fit, he could start ahead of Bowe, who would then start v England.

PhilBB wrote:Joubert - home win. No Irish player will be required to support his weight whilst over the ball.

Mahoney will walking on his knuckles all game then

munkian wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Joubert - home win. No Irish player will be required to support his weight whilst over the ball.

Mahoney will walking on his knuckles all game then

Didn't Warburton get yellow carded for continuously slowing play down in the 6N against Ireland? He should benefit it the same way then I suppose..

Wales fans expect to see Francis starting? Hope George North can make a successful return

For Ireland, I'm really hoping Trimble is available to be involved in some way, if not I don't think it would bode well for his chances and he has really taken to the Schmidt way in the last two years. I would say more involvement for Zebo, Jones, D. Kearney and Fitzgerald too, missing out of the 23 altogether here and I would say that is curtains.

Nathan White i imagine well get some time to stake his claim of the bench

Some of the as yet unseen big guns back in too, Sexton, Murray, Henshaw, R. Kearney, POM.

Mark.

Marshes wrote:

munkian wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Joubert - home win. No Irish player will be required to support his weight whilst over the ball.

Mahoney will walking on his knuckles all game then

Didn't Warburton get yellow carded for continuously slowing play down in the 6N against Ireland? He should benefit it the same way then I suppose..

Really hoping Trimble is available to be involved in some way, if not I don't think it would bode well for his chances.

He got a team yellow for not rolling away

munkian wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Joubert - home win. No Irish player will be required to support his weight whilst over the ball.

Mahoney will walking on his knuckles all game then

Walking on knuckles would be something new, but I'm not convinced it would be much to Ireland's advantage. Better to drag them, methinks.

Lots of faffing around on here. Who's going to win, then, and why?

The Irish because they're Irish? Or the Irish because thanks to Gatland's gentle conditioning regimen, the Welsh team are too tearful and exhausted to totter to the free ambulances provided after each beating? Or the Welsh because nobody puts Wazza in a corner and gets away with it?

Apologies, its his forearms/elbows he normally rests on

Doesn't matter w wins: tis is the kind of match guaranteed to rob the squads of two or three players just before the tournament starts.

A lot will depend on the strength of the teams Gatland and Schmidt put out, but even so, I'll be surprised if Wales win.

munkian wrote:

Marshes wrote:

munkian wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Joubert - home win. No Irish player will be required to support his weight whilst over the ball.

Mahoney will walking on his knuckles all game then

Didn't Warburton get yellow carded for continuously slowing play down in the 6N against Ireland? He should benefit it the same way then I suppose..

Really hoping Trimble is available to be involved in some way, if not I don't think it would bode well for his chances.

He got a team yellow for not rolling away

It was hands on the ball, Barnes said as he gave him the card "you had your warning Sam, you had you warning. You stayed on the ball, come off it".

munkian wrote:Apologies, its his forearms/elbows he normally rests on

Sure whatever works, and whatever we can get away with. So long as we win. That's all that matters.

munkian wrote:Apologies, its his forearms/elbows he normally rests on

Sam went to a different school of pilfering I believe, the famous leaning-on-the-ruck dojo

Who's the Irish female in the photo? I'm asking for a friend.

Ireland team is due a speed-wobble. Welsh crash balls through the centre to make yards. Ireland to suffer penalties around the breakdown. Couple of Irish tries, but not enough for the win. Warrenball to be plastered all over this match and the anti-Joe brigade to put their placeholders out so that they can say they flagged issues before the RWC should things not go well in the coming months.

Mickado wrote:Who's the Irish female in the photo? I'm asking for a friend.

Mickado wrote:Who's the Irish female in the photo? I'm asking for a friend.

Irish team rep this week is Caitriona Balfe (native of Monaghan).

George Carlin wrote:

Mickado wrote:Who's the Irish female in the photo? I'm asking for a friend.

Irish team rep this week is Caitriona Balfe (native of Monaghan).

Thank you, I'm off to watch Outlander.

I mean, my friend is off to watch Outlander.

Mickado wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

Mickado wrote:Who's the Irish female in the photo? I'm asking for a friend.

Irish team rep this week is Caitriona Balfe (native of Monaghan).

Thank you, I'm off to watch Outlander.

I mean, my friend is off to watch Outlander.

'watch'

I think we're pretty much looking at our first choice world cup 23 this game, with a mix next week vs italy of both first 15 and fringe players.
So looking at out first choice squad I think we're going to see something like this:
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Ken Owens
3. Tomas Francis
4. Alyn Wyn Jones
5. Luke Charteris
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Watburton
8. Taulupe Falateu

9. Rhys Webb
10. Dan Biggar
11. Hallam Amos
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Scott Williams
14. George North
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Scott Baldwin, 17. Paul James, 18. Aaron Jarvis, 19. Bradley Davies, 20. Justin Tipuric, 21. Gareth Davies, 22. Gareth Anscombe, 23. Tyler Morgan

Hooker is a hard decision and could go either way though. Would love to see tipuric start at 6 to see how he works with warburton but Gats is going to stick with Lydiate which isn't an issue but i just feel going into the aussie game, a Tipuric and Warburton would be the better option up againt Pocock and Hooper.

Jhamer25 wrote:I think we're pretty much looking at our first choice world cup 23 this game, with a mix next week vs italy of both first 15 and fringe players.
So looking at out first choice squad I think we're going to see something like this:
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Ken Owens
3. Tomas Francis
4. Alyn Wyn Jones
5. Luke Charteris
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Watburton
8. Taulupe Falateu

9. Rhys Webb
10. Dan Biggar
11. Hallam Amos
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Scott Williams
14. George North
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Scott Baldwin, 17. Paul James, 18. Aaron Jarvis, 19. Bradley Davies, 20. Justin Tipuric, 21. Gareth Davies, 22. Gareth Anscombe, 23. Tyler Morgan

Hooker is a hard decision and could go either way though. Would love to see tipuric start at 6 to see how he works with warburton but Gats is going to stick with Lydiate which isn't an issue but i just feel going into the aussie game, a Tipuric and Warburton would be the better option up againt Pocock and Hooper.

Wasn't it Warbs at 6 , Tips at 7 that worked rather well before ?

Jhamer25 wrote:I think we're pretty much looking at our first choice world cup 23 this game, with a mix next week vs italy of both first 15 and fringe players.
So looking at out first choice squad I think we're going to see something like this:
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Ken Owens
3. Tomas Francis
4. Alyn Wyn Jones
5. Luke Charteris
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Watburton
8. Taulupe Falateu

9. Rhys Webb
10. Dan Biggar
11. Hallam Amos
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Scott Williams
14. George North
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Scott Baldwin, 17. Paul James, 18. Aaron Jarvis, 19. Bradley Davies, 20. Justin Tipuric, 21. Gareth Davies, 22. Gareth Anscombe, 23. Tyler Morgan

Hooker is a hard decision and could go either way though. Would love to see tipuric start at 6 to see how he works with warburton but Gats is going to stick with Lydiate which isn't an issue but i just feel going into the aussie game, a Tipuric and Warburton would be the better option up againt Pocock and Hooper.

I'd start Baldwin just because he's the man in possession and really stepped up to the mark and would have Ball over Davies on the bench. Other than that I think that's pretty much what we will see.

Though as he cuts the squad to the required 31 after this game I wonder if M Morgan will get a bench spot.

Jhamer25 wrote:I think we're pretty much looking at our first choice world cup 23 this game, with a mix next week vs italy of both first 15 and fringe players.
So looking at out first choice squad I think we're going to see something like this:
1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Ken Owens
3. Tomas Francis
4. Alyn Wyn Jones
5. Luke Charteris
6. Dan Lydiate
7. Sam Watburton
8. Taulupe Falateu

9. Rhys Webb
10. Dan Biggar
11. Hallam Amos
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Scott Williams
14. George North
15. Leigh Halfpenny

16. Scott Baldwin, 17. Paul James, 18. Aaron Jarvis, 19. Bradley Davies, 20. Justin Tipuric, 21. Gareth Davies, 22. Gareth Anscombe, 23. Tyler Morgan

Hooker is a hard decision and could go either way though. Would love to see tipuric start at 6 to see how he works with warburton but Gats is going to stick with Lydiate which isn't an issue but i just feel going into the aussie game, a Tipuric and Warburton would be the better option up againt Pocock and Hooper.

Hallam Amos first choice now over Williams, Walker et al?

We don't know if Sanjay will be fit or not yet.

Amos is more versatile than Walker too.

munkian wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Joubert - home win. No Irish player will be required to support his weight whilst over the ball.

Mahoney will walking on his knuckles all game then

Agreed. Could be a whistle fest as it's NH vs NH.

munkian wrote:We don't know if Sanjay will be fit or not yet.

Amos is more versatile than Walker too.

Yep.

I thought it was strange to see some Ospreys fans championing Walker whilst claiming Amos harmed his chances on the back of that Ireland game. Only one of them goes for me, and it's definitely Amos.

Does anybody know who will be making up the commentary team for this one? Jiffy and Keith Wood would be the dream team combo...

It's on Sky, so it'll probably be the nightmare combo of Mark Robson and Ieuan Evans.

Marshes wrote:

munkian wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Joubert - home win. No Irish player will be required to support his weight whilst over the ball.

Mahoney will walking on his knuckles all game then

Didn't Warburton get yellow carded for continuously slowing play down in the 6N against Ireland? He should benefit it the same way then I suppose..

2+2=5

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:It's on Sky, so it'll probably be the nightmare combo of Mark Robson and Ieuan Evans.

Robson is quite enthusiastic - I quite like him (if it's the one I'm thinking of). Evans is more of a drone who seems to read what the sky producers tell him. I prefer Quinnell, I can relate to him a bit better.

PhilBB wrote:

Marshes wrote:

munkian wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Joubert - home win. No Irish player will be required to support his weight whilst over the ball.

Mahoney will walking on his knuckles all game then

Didn't Warburton get yellow carded for continuously slowing play down in the 6N against Ireland? He should benefit it the same way then I suppose..

2+2=5

In the world of GWlad.

PhilBB wrote:

Marshes wrote:

munkian wrote:

PhilBB wrote:Joubert - home win. No Irish player will be required to support his weight whilst over the ball.

Mahoney will walking on his knuckles all game then

Didn't Warburton get yellow carded for continuously slowing play down in the 6N against Ireland? He should benefit it the same way then I suppose..

2+2=5

You think Warburton is above attempting to play a potential advantage if he can get it past the ref, unlike POM (or any other god-fearing player)?

2+2 in this case is a 7

mikey_dragon wrote:

munkian wrote:We don't know if Sanjay will be fit or not yet.

Amos is more versatile than Walker too.

Yep.

I thought it was strange to see some Ospreys fans championing Walker whilst claiming Amos harmed his chances on the back of that Ireland game. Only one of them goes for me, and it's definitely Amos.

You must have been watching a different game then. Eli Walker put one hell of a shift in. He was solid in defence and was not to scared to run at Ireland when given the chance. Amos on the other hand looked as though the occasion had got to him. Although I still think Amos has a bright future ahead of him, and when he matures he is a Wales regular in the making, I think now is a bit too soon for him. If he is managed properly, he will be a starter at the next world cup.

LordDowlais wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

munkian wrote:We don't know if Sanjay will be fit or not yet.

Amos is more versatile than Walker too.

Yep.

I thought it was strange to see some Ospreys fans championing Walker whilst claiming Amos harmed his chances on the back of that Ireland game. Only one of them goes for me, and it's definitely Amos.

You must have been watching a different game then. Eli Walker put one hell of a shift in. He was solid in defence and was not to scared to run at Ireland when given the chance. Amos on the other hand looked as though the occasion had got to him. Although I still think Amos has a bright future ahead of him, and when he matures he is a Wales regular in the making, I think now is a bit too soon for him. If he is managed properly, he will be a starter at the next world cup.

You were one of the fans I had in mind when I wrote this - I read your comments at the time and couldn't agree. I still disagree. While you're correct about Walker there you couldn't be more incorrect about Amos; you also fail to acknowledge how Walker fluffed a try-scoring opportunity created by Amos - also Amos later had a hand in Tips' try. I don't see how it's too soon for one and not the other? They're both capable of going, but if only one can go then on the back of just that game it's Amos. If it's form over the whole season, it's Amos.

Amos had slightly more responsibility than Walker and playing to the 'Team Wales' game plan ala Halfpenny.

mikey_dragon wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

munkian wrote:We don't know if Sanjay will be fit or not yet.

Amos is more versatile than Walker too.

Yep.

I thought it was strange to see some Ospreys fans championing Walker whilst claiming Amos harmed his chances on the back of that Ireland game. Only one of them goes for me, and it's definitely Amos.

You must have been watching a different game then. Eli Walker put one hell of a shift in. He was solid in defence and was not to scared to run at Ireland when given the chance. Amos on the other hand looked as though the occasion had got to him. Although I still think Amos has a bright future ahead of him, and when he matures he is a Wales regular in the making, I think now is a bit too soon for him. If he is managed properly, he will be a starter at the next world cup.

You were one of the fans I had in mind when I wrote this - I read your comments at the time and couldn't agree. I still disagree. While you're correct about Walker there you couldn't be more incorrect about Amos; you also fail to acknowledge how Walker fluffed a try-scoring opportunity created by Amos - also Amos later had a hand in Tips' try. I don't see how it's too soon for one and not the other? They're both capable of going, but if only one can go then on the back of just that game it's Amos. If it's form over the whole season, it's Amos.

I just reckon Eli looked a little bit more assured of himself than Hallam did. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but that is just how I saw it. The only reason I could give is, that Eli Walker has played in more higher profile games for Ospreys than Hallam Amos has for Dragons. What with Ospreys play off games and top tier European games, ability wise I would say there is not much between them, but Eli just looked a little less overawed. But that's just my opinion, hopefully if he is managed correctly Hallam could become a mainstay in the Welsh set-up in the years to come.

That versatility might count in his favour too - personally on this season's form it has to be Amos. Walker can fight it out with Cuthbert. The former has been injured quite a lot, the latter just doesn't score tries any more.

mikey_dragon wrote:That versatility might count in his favour too - personally on this season's form it has to be Amos. Walker can fight it out with Cuthbert. The former has been injured quite a lot, the latter just doesn't score tries any more.

14 tries in 32 internationals.

Jaysus, you Welshmen are a fickle bunch.

Sean Lamont has scored twice in about 5,693 international appearances.

I thought Amos was the better of the two when I was at the match, I remember he made one very good break from deep but then ran out of ideas a bit, expected when you are new to this level. Walker I remember mostly for being thumped for Earls try from an absolute hospital pass from Hook. Also remember a pretty vicious fight between some lads from North Wales and some from South Wales but that was after the game as you turn on to St Mary Street. Aside from that mighty first time trip to the Millennium Stadium and Cardiff was very friendly after

With Scott Williams was it just a bad day at the office in the previous outing? I've always thought he is a good impact sub, expecting a bit more this time out?

mikey_dragon wrote:That versatility might count in his favour too - personally on this season's form it has to be Amos. Walker can fight it out with Cuthbert. The former has been injured quite a lot, the latter just doesn't score tries any more.

If it is a straight shoot out between Eli Walker and Alex Cuthbert, then for me Eli is as good as in the squad, but we all know it does not work like that, Gatland likes to make left wing decisions and perhaps Hallam Amos is going to be one of these for the next world cup. But sadly I could very well see them both being left out in favour of Cuthbert, Hallam sadly will not be picked for his versatility, Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny and Gareth Anscome will be the ones picked for that attribute.

George Carlin wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:That versatility might count in his favour too - personally on this season's form it has to be Amos. Walker can fight it out with Cuthbert. The former has been injured quite a lot, the latter just doesn't score tries any more.

14 tries in 32 internationals.

Jaysus, you Welshmen are a fickle bunch.

I take it you haven't been watching him at the Blues this past season then? It was the only thing he had going for him. He doesn't seem to be as hungry in a Wales jersey these days either - as a result he doesn't look for work around the field and is less effective. Past seasons he was a big game player. His current form puts his spot on jeopardy. I think Gatland will still select him in the squad though - he can still do the business against Uruguay and Fiji, and North will need a rest.

Marshes wrote:With Scott Williams was it just a bad day at the office in the previous outing? I've always thought he is a good impact sub, expecting a bit more this time out?

It was more to do with having players like Hook and Mike Phillips playing, Scott Williams thrives from having quick ball, this was never going to happen with those two lining up along side him in the backs.

Marshes wrote:I thought Amos was the better of the two when I was at the match, I remember he made one very good break from deep but then ran out of ideas a bit, expected when you are new to this level. Walker I remember mostly for being thumped for Earls try from an absolute hospital pass from Hook. Also remember a pretty vicious fight between some lads from North Wales and some from South Wales but that was after the game as you turn on to St Mary Street. Aside from that mighty first time trip to the Millennium Stadium and Cardiff was very friendly after  

With Scott Williams was it just a bad day at the office in the previous outing? I've always thought he is a good impact sub, expecting a bit more this time out?

Most people from North Wales just hate everyone, including people from South Wales.

Just a bad day at the office for Scott I think. He's been in good form all season and until this game he never really had a bad game for Wales; I guess they're all entitled to at least one in their career.

LordDowlais wrote:

Marshes wrote:With Scott Williams was it just a bad day at the office in the previous outing? I've always thought he is a good impact sub, expecting a bit more this time out?

It was more to do with having players like Hook and Mike Phillips playing, Scott Williams thrives from having quick ball, this was never going to happen with those two lining up along side him in the backs.

This as well.

Munchkin wrote:
In the world of GWlad.

Don't forget the lovely analysis done by that fiercely anti-Irish rugby publication the42.ie

Elbows a go go

Marshes wrote:

You think Warburton is above attempting to play a potential advantage if he can get it past the ref, unlike POM (or any other god-fearing player)?

2+2 in this case is a 7

Not at all, but the point made was the systemic play of the Irish at this area. It's why they struggle with Wayne Barnes but love Nigel O'wens.