Six Nations. First up - the Irish!

[Wallpaperman]

Here's your opposition tomorrow:

15. Keenan ; 14. Earls, 13. Ringrose, 12. Henshaw, 11. Lowe ; 10. Sexton (cap), 9. Murray ; 7. Van Der Flier, 8. Stander, 6. O’Mahony ; 5. Ryan, 4. Beirne ; 3. Porter, 2. Herring, 1. Healy.
16. Kelleher, 17. Kilcoyne, 18. Furlon, 19. Henderson, 20. Connors, 21. Gibson Park, 22. Burns, 23. Larmour.

No Doris, but it's still a strong line-up. As I wrote earlier in the thread, the 6N needs a resurgent Welsh XV and I hope to see a good performance by your team and hopefully a good win!

Thank you for the kind wishes. Allez les Bleus, aussi. Apart from when they play Wales. France should contest the title this year, although it is a tough call when they have to go to Dublin and Twickenham.

[Wallpaperman]

Here's your opposition tomorrow:

15. Keenan ; 14. Earls, 13. Ringrose, 12. Henshaw, 11. Lowe ; 10. Sexton (cap), 9. Murray ; 7. Van Der Flier, 8. Stander, 6. O’Mahony ; 5. Ryan, 4. Beirne ; 3. Porter, 2. Herring, 1. Healy.
16. Kelleher, 17. Kilcoyne, 18. Furlon, 19. Henderson, 20. Connors, 21. Gibson Park, 22. Burns, 23. Larmour.

No Doris, but it's still a strong line-up. As I wrote earlier in the thread, the 6N needs a resurgent Welsh XV and I hope to see a good performance by your team and hopefully a good win!

That’s a good team. Going for Porter and Beirne probably means that they aren’t frightened of the Welsh set piece, and gives them some extra strength at carrying and the breakdown. There’s also some class on the bench in Furlong, Henderson and Larmour. Wales will need to stop their close carrying in the 22, and, as always, try and disrupt Sexton. The choice of replacement props will also be very important (assuming that Wyn Jones and Francis start)

The rolling maul is a big concern as well.

Will Pivac pick Adam Beard, the man who might be able to stop it ? I think if they are all fit he will go for the tried and trusted combo of Ball and AWJ

[normanski]

Beard partners AWJ, North at 13, Amos on the wing, Lydiate at six, much as predicted in the WoL.

[Numbers]

No Watkin on the bench, I suppose you could say Tompkins is more of an impact player but he's very unlucky not to be involved.

[Wallpaperman]

It’s our strongest available front row to start, and we’ve gone for (in my view) the next best options from the squad on the bench.

Surprised at the second row, I assume Ball must be crocked if Rowlands is on the bench. Hopefully AWJ is 100%. It’s a great opportunity for Beard to stake his claim. Would expect the lineout and maul defence to be much better for his presence.

The back row is a bit ancient but the flankers are in form and play together at regional level, and Faletau looked to be getting back to his best in the Autumn. Great to see Navidi back on the bench.

Very happy to see Tomos Williams start, and Biggar will need to be at his authoritative best. A good match up v Sexton.

Feel a bit sorry for Owen Watkin to not make the 23, but Williams, North and Rees-Zammit can all do some damage with ball in hand. It’s also an opportunity for Amos on the wing, and Halfpenny won’t let us down.

Wales by 5-10.

[normanski]

This is a very experienced and talented group of players who now need to play with passion as a cohesive team. Pivac says training has gone well; I just hope that he’s right and we can put in a match winning performance.

[Wallpaperman]

No Watkin on the bench, I suppose you could say Tompkins is more of an impact player but he's very unlucky not to be involved.

Pivac said in the press conference that North has been training at 13 throughout as Davies is injured.

Agree that Tompkins is more of an impact player than Watkin, and is the better man if the game needs breaking up. On the other hand, if one of the starting centres got injured I would rather have Watkin on the bench.

[Wallpaperman]

Talking of game changers, I thought that Jarrod Evans would make the bench

[normanski]

Talking of game changers, I thought that Jarrod Evans would make the bench

Perhaps he’s carrying a knock. His form has been good with Blues.

[Sandydragon]

The Fail call it right (not a coincidence I suspect), but I like that team. The pack looks solid, although anything is possible at the moment, and Beard will be hugely important in maul defence. I would have preferred Ball for his carrying, but if he is a bit crocked then understandable why he isn't there.

The backline can cause the irish defence problems, although it can be equally porous itself. Good opportunity for Amos and I think we need to give North a run at 13 and let him bed in there. With 90 plus caps, he has plenty of experience and should be able to cope (maybe never the defence strength that JD2 has been for us) but we need to get on the front foot and using him to drive forward is a huge bonus. He's too good a player to be freezing his arse off for 80 minutes on the wing.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Johnny Williams, Hallam Amos; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Will Rowlands, Josh Navidi, Gareth Davies, Callum Sheedy, Nick Tompkins.

Good team. They're up against it with Ireland but have bags of experience and certainly can win it. Please break with the Gatland tradition and start well!

Hope Navidi gets a good spell on the pitch. Hope Amos makes the most of this unexpected start while Liam and Adams are away (although even when those guys are back he's still a decent option for the 23 shirt. Needs a good game on Sunday though).

[morepork]

I thought Murray and Sexton were done with after the last couple of years.

[normanski]

I thought Murray and Sexton were done with after the last couple of years.

We have to hope. Sexton seems to be easily rattled when playing Wales and when he’s upset he can go to pieces. This ain’t no walkover for Ireland just yet.

[paddy no 11]

Sexton is physically unable he'll be lucky to get to half time

Murray has improved a bit when he realised he was about to be dropped

[Wallpaperman]

I thought Murray and Sexton were done with after the last couple of years.

Murray played very well the other week in the Munster v Leinster game. Sexton seems to pick up a lot of knocks though, and I suspect he would have retired by now but hopes for one last Lions tour. In all fairness, he’s not the only one.

[Buggaluggs]

The pair of them are pansy show ponies

[Spiffy]

I thought Murray and Sexton were done with after the last couple of years.

Sadly they are living on reputation. Sexton is a crock and will never play a full game. Murray is a shadow of his former self, has lost his zip, is slow to get to the breakdown, constantly kicks the ball away, and never tries a break. Ireland are now paying the price for not bringing on successors to these half backs, who were world class in their day, but no longer.

[Sandydragon]

I thought Murray and Sexton were done with after the last couple of years.

Sadly they are living on reputation. Sexton is a crock and will never play a full game. Murray is a shadow of his former self, has lost his zip, is slow to get to the breakdown, constantly kicks the ball away, and never tries a break. Ireland are now paying the price for not bringing on successors to these half backs, who were world class in their day, but no longer.

There’s an article in the Times today about Wales rolling out the old guard when both teams are in very similar places at the moment in trying to rebuild.

[normanski]

I thought Murray and Sexton were done with after the last couple of years.

Sadly they are living on reputation. Sexton is a crock and will never play a full game. Murray is a shadow of his former self, has lost his zip, is slow to get to the breakdown, constantly kicks the ball away, and never tries a break. Ireland are now paying the price for not bringing on successors to these half backs, who were world class in their day, but no longer.

There’s an article in the Times today about Wales rolling out the old guard when both teams are in very similar places at the moment in trying to rebuild.

I’m still sticking to my forecast of a 20-12 win for Wales.

It’ll be a close game but I have a fancy Wales will nick it in the last ten minutes.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Sadly they are living on reputation. Sexton is a crock and will never play a full game. Murray is a shadow of his former self, has lost his zip, is slow to get to the breakdown, constantly kicks the ball away, and never tries a break. Ireland are now paying the price for not bringing on successors to these half backs, who were world class in their day, but no longer.

There’s an article in the Times today about Wales rolling out the old guard when both teams are in very similar places at the moment in trying to rebuild.

I’m still sticking to my forecast of a 20-12 win for Wales.

It’ll be a close game but I have a fancy Wales will nick it in the last ten minutes.

Sure we have a massively capped team which might suggest "rolling out the old guard", but that term really only applies to Lydiate being recalled to duty. The other experienced players also happen to be our best* and we're lucky that so many of them are uninjured (or back from injury). And Lydiate's form, with Moriarty out and Navidi just coming back, justifies his selection.

I think Ireland have the edge (not because of Sexton and Murray, mind you), my head says 25-18 to them. But a good start** or a heroic 80-minute defensive effort would push it the other way.

* perhaps we could argue that point re Biggar.
** Like 2019 (but we'd have to do it without Anscome and Parkes).

[normanski]

There’s an article in the Times today about Wales rolling out the old guard when both teams are in very similar places at the moment in trying to rebuild.

I’m still sticking to my forecast of a 20-12 win for Wales.

It’ll be a close game but I have a fancy Wales will nick it in the last ten minutes.

Sure we have a massively capped team which might suggest "rolling out the old guard", but that term really only applies to Lydiate being recalled to duty. The other experienced players also happen to be our best* and we're lucky that so many of them are uninjured (or back from injury). And Lydiate's form, with Moriarty out and Navidi just coming back, justifies his selection.

I think Ireland have the edge (not because of Sexton and Murray, mind you), my head says 25-18 to them. But a good start** or a heroic 80-minute defensive effort would push it the other way.

* perhaps we could argue that point re Biggar.
** Like 2019 (but we'd have to do it without Anscome and Parkes).

Let’s hope Melon has put his training under Edwards to good use over the past two weeks and gives us that heroic 80-minute defensive shift which could let us sneak this one.

[Graigwen]

I do not have the faintest idea what is going to happen on Sunday. I don't often feel like this. I think it will turn on the scrums, if we hold our own I don't think we will lose.

I don't have any grumbles about the team.

.

[Buggaluggs]

I suspect Ireland will win it up front with some ease, Wales to score flattering points toward the end to give it a more respectful look. 31-22 Ireland.

[Graigwen]

I suspect Ireland will win it up front with some ease, Wales to score flattering points toward the end to give it a more respectful look. 31-22 Ireland.

This could well be correct.

I am starting on the beer now.....

.

[normanski]

I suspect Ireland will win it up front with some ease, Wales to score flattering points toward the end to give it a more respectful look. 31-22 Ireland.

This could well be correct.

I am starting on the beer now.....

.

No. It’s time to keep the Faith! Strangely I’m not as worried as I normally am.