6 Nations 2021

[neill_m]

WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND (SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7 KO 15:00)

1. Wyn Jones (30 Caps)

2. Ken Owens (77 Caps)

3. Tomas Francis (52 Caps)

4. Adam Beard (21 Caps)

5. Alun Wyn Jones (CAPT) (143 Caps)

6. Dan Lydiate (64 Caps)

7. Justin Tipuric (80 Caps)

8. Taulupe Faletau (81 Caps)

9. Tomos Williams (20 Caps)

10. Dan Biggar (87 Caps)

11. Hallam Amos (22 Caps)

12. Johnny Williams (2 Caps)

13. George North (98 Caps)

14. Louis Rees-Zammit (4 Caps)

15. Leigh Halfpenny (93 Caps)

Replacements:

16. Elliot Dee (33 Caps)

17. Rhodri Jones (17 Caps)

18. Leon Brown (12 Caps)

19. Will Rowlands (5 Caps)

20. Josh Navidi (24 Caps)

21. Gareth Davies (57 Caps)

22. Callum Sheedy (4 Caps)

23. Nick Tompkins (8 Caps)

[Atlas]

If CJ goes down in the first minute, who goes to 8?

[LeinsterLeader]

I think wales will look to get Tiprac in to shut down CJ early and then who carries the ball? Doris would have made a huge difference of course but I think it's crazy not have RR to share the load. If CJ doesn't carry well (and in fairness he hasn't been recently) it's hard to see where else in the pack we're going to make a great amount of yards from.

Maybe that's the Plan. The Welsh will be concentrating so hard on CJ we will use him as a decoy?

[Oldschoolsocks]

If CJ goes down in the first minute, who goes to 8?

Beirne

[Oldschoolsocks]

I think wales will look to get Tiprac in to shut down CJ early and then who carries the ball? Doris would have made a huge difference of course but I think it's crazy not have RR to share the load. If CJ doesn't carry well (and in fairness he hasn't been recently) it's hard to see where else in the pack we're going to make a great amount of yards from.

Maybe that's the Plan. The Welsh will be concentrating so hard on CJ we will use him as a decoy?

He still won’t pass the ball tho

[Laighin Break]

I think it's a really strange selection to have a 7 who doesn't really play anywhere else on the bench when there's already a 7 who doesn't play anywhere else starting.
Rhys would actually be the perfect no.20. Mostly known for playing 6, has been Leinster's player of the season so far at 8, and has beaten South Africa at 7.

[Atlas]

If CJ goes down in the first minute, who goes to 8?

Beirne

Yeah thought that as well. I can't remember ever seeing him play 8 but I guess he must have with Scarlett's.

Conners over Ruddock on the bench seems a very strange call

[Dave Cahill]

Played 8 against us for Scarlets in the Pri14 final a few years ago

[wixfjord]

They'd hardly bring on Hendo and move Beirne back.

Surely most likely would be bring on Connors and put POM at 8.

I would agree though, I don't know how Connors gets in ahead of Rhys, unless they're expecting Wales to not bring the physical threat so much as the running threat.

[leinsterforever]

If you ask me the backrow Leinster put out in their last game (6. Murphy, 7. Leavy, 8. Conan) is a better unit than that Ireland backrow.

[wixfjord]

If you ask me the backrow Leinster put out in their last game (6. Murphy, 7. Leavy, 8. Conan) is a better unit than that Ireland backrow.

It's certainly more balanced.

[Keith]

Whenever Leinster announce the matchday squad, I usually scroll straight to the backrow to see whose selected. It's exciting to see who is getting their shot this time and to marvel at the incredible depth we have there, but yet whenever I look at the Ireland backrow I just feel deflated. Anyway the best of luck to the lads this weekend, I believe they will still put a good performance in.

[hugonaut]

Whenever Leinster announce the matchday squad, I usually scroll straight to the backrow to see whose selected. It's exciting to see who is getting their shot this time and to marvel at the incredible depth we have there, but yet whenever I look at the Ireland backrow I just feel deflated. Anyway the best of luck to the lads this weekend, I believe they will still put a good performance in.

This selection [O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander] is a combination that hasn't worked well together over the last two years – three losses against England [Feb 2019, Aug 2019, Feb 2020] and the games in RWC19 against Japan and New Zealand.

[Keith]

Whenever Leinster announce the matchday squad, I usually scroll straight to the backrow to see whose selected. It's exciting to see who is getting their shot this time and to marvel at the incredible depth we have there, but yet whenever I look at the Ireland backrow I just feel deflated. Anyway the best of luck to the lads this weekend, I believe they will still put a good performance in.

This selection [O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander] is a combination that hasn't worked well together over the last two years – three losses against England [Feb 2019, Aug 2019, Feb 2020] and the games in RWC19 against Japan and New Zealand.

The only thing is at least POM and Stander are in better form now than they were in 2019. Although, personally I still don't think POM should be anywhere near a green jersey but I trust the coaches know what they're doing.

[hugonaut]

Whenever Leinster announce the matchday squad, I usually scroll straight to the backrow to see whose selected. It's exciting to see who is getting their shot this time and to marvel at the incredible depth we have there, but yet whenever I look at the Ireland backrow I just feel deflated. Anyway the best of luck to the lads this weekend, I believe they will still put a good performance in.

This selection [O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander] is a combination that hasn't worked well together over the last two years – three losses against England [Feb 2019, Aug 2019, Feb 2020] and the games in RWC19 against Japan and New Zealand.

The only thing is at least POM and Stander are in better form now than they were in 2019. Although, personally I still don't think POM should be anywhere near a green jersey but I trust the coaches know what they're doing.

O'Mahony has been better playing at openside this season. It's a role that ensures that he is busy and close to the ball in open play, and you still get his outstanding lineout abilities.

Stander struggled to impose himself the last two games he played at No6 for Ireland [vs Scotland, @ England]. He hasn't played there for years for Munster and he had two of the quietest games of his test career in those fixtures.

Personally speaking, I don't think that Henderson has done anything to get into the starting lineup. I have a bit of a jaundiced view of Hendo; in my opinion he is one of the most inconsistent players with 50+ Irish caps that I've seen. He has played a lot of ordinary rugby for Ireland over the last three years, spiced up with a few excellent games. I was happy to see Beirne named in the second row, because he's been playing better rugby.

I assumed that Farrell would opt for Ruddock at blindside if he selected Beirne at lock, in order to improve Ireland's close-in play. Ruddock has clearly been the best blindside in Ireland this year; that's not even up for debate. That he hasn't been involved in a single test match since return-to-play is really iffy selection.

[Keith]

This selection [O'Mahony, van der Flier, Stander] is a combination that hasn't worked well together over the last two years – three losses against England [Feb 2019, Aug 2019, Feb 2020] and the games in RWC19 against Japan and New Zealand.

The only thing is at least POM and Stander are in better form now than they were in 2019. Although, personally I still don't think POM should be anywhere near a green jersey but I trust the coaches know what they're doing.

O'Mahony has been better playing at openside this season. It's a role that ensures that he is busy and close to the ball in open play, and you still get his outstanding lineout abilities.

Stander struggled to impose himself the last two games he played at No6 for Ireland [vs Scotland, @ England]. He hasn't played there for years for Munster and he had two of the quietest games of his test career in those fixtures.

Personally speaking, I don't think that Henderson has done anything to get into the starting lineup. I have a bit of a jaundiced view of Hendo; in my opinion he is one of the most inconsistent players with 50+ Irish caps that I've seen. He has played a lot of ordinary rugby for Ireland over the last three years, spiced up with a few excellent games. I was happy to see Beirne named in the second row, because he's been playing better rugby.

I assumed that Farrell would opt for Ruddock at blindside if he selected Beirne at lock, in order to improve Ireland's close-in play. Ruddock has clearly been the best blindside in Ireland this year; that's not even up for debate. That he hasn't been involved in a single test match since return-to-play is really iffy selection.

I don't think he could've got much worse tbh. He's an incredible lineout operator but has offered next to nothing else at this level (imo) since his great performance against the ABs in 2018. I agree regarding Henderson although I do think injuries have ruined him to this point. I think he has all the talent in the world but just can't get a run of weeks and months without getting injured. A bit like Ruddock to be fair.

[riocard911]

If you ask me the backrow Leinster put out in their last game (6. Murphy, 7. Leavy, 8. Conan) is a better unit than that Ireland backrow.

That's how I feel too.

[Oldschool]

So Predictions.
The easy one first.
BP win for France.
A brave man would bet on Scotland and only a fool would agree with him.

Wales v Ireland is going to be close, It would be interesting to see what the bookies are quoting.
If Gatland were still coaching Wales then the bookies would have them firm favourites, Gattie has that great skill of being able to identify his opponents weakness and to then come up with a game plane to exploit them.
This Ireland selection is badly flawed so there are plenty of opportunities to be exploited.
On the other hand the Welsh selection has a few surprises, gambles even, so maybe that levels things a bit.
Wales will probably win unless the ref happens to suit us.
C'mon Ireland

[Ruckedtobits]

Seeing as how Paulie won the selection discussion ahead of Fogs, it looks like it will be a very tough afternoon for Cian at scrum-time. Ireland appear to have selected a pack expecting a lot of line-outs and breakdowns and few scrums. Good luck with that. We don't appear to have either an attacking or defence maul that will prosper against that Welsh pack.

[wixfjord]

Scots putting the cat amongst the pigeons!

Jesus England were utter shite.