Team -vs- Ireland

[Buggaluggs]

What are you fucking smiling about?



..oh that's right. You get to play Wales on Friday.

[Wallpaperman]

What are you fucking smiling about?



..oh that's right. You get to play Wales on Friday.

He’s practicing his try scoring celebration. This could be one to watch from behind the sofa - I haven’t done that since watching ‘armchair thriller’ in about 1978.

[Sandydragon]

What are you fucking smiling about?



..oh that's right. You get to play Wales on Friday.

He’s practicing his try scoring celebration. This could be one to watch from behind the sofa - I haven’t done that since watching ‘armchair thriller’ in about 1978.

I did far too much of that in the 1990s. I’m really dreading the next month.

[Son of Mathonwy]

No doubt I will be able to conjure up some unjustified optimism at kick-off, but I fear it will be VERY short-lived.

Still, on the positive side Pivac can focus on Georgia the following week as a chance to get back to 'winning ways'.

[paddy no 11]

our back 3 cannot defend and out half is a liability, there'll be chances for ye if ye get some ball

[Graigwen]

WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND

1. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues (10 Caps)

2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets) (15 Caps)

3. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (49 Caps)

4. Will Rowlands (Wasps) (2 Caps)

5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (140 Caps) (CAPT)

6. Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues) (1 Cap)

7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (77 Caps)

8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath) (78 Caps)

9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (55 Caps)

10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) (85 Caps)

11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues) (26 Caps)

12. Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (23 Caps)

13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (83 Caps)

14. Liam Williams (Scarlets) (64 Caps)

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (91 Caps)

REPLACEMENTS:

16. Elliot Dee (Dragons) (29 Caps)

17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (26 Caps)

18. Samson Lee (Scarlets) (42 Caps)

19. Jake Ball (Scarlets) (46 Caps)

20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (23 Caps)

21. Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues) (28 Caps)

22. Callum Sheedy (Bristol) (*Uncapped)

23. George North (Ospreys) (96 Caps)

[Sandydragon]

So some minor tinkering only. None of that really addresses our issues in the front five.

[normanski]

So some minor tinkering only. None of that really addresses our issues in the front five.

Yes. It’s going to be rough on Friday night in the scrums and it’s going to be really hard to get even anywhere near parity. I fear greatly for the brutal breakdown clearouts by the Irish as well.

My only hope is that the team are so disgusted with their lack of performance in recent matches that they up their game and play with a hell of a lot more passion than they have so far under Pivac.

While I forecasted Scotland to win by five or fewer points last time out, I would be not be surprised if Wales recovered some kind of form and composure and sneaked a narrow win. Ireland didn’t look at all happy against France and their confidence may be down but probably not as down as Wales.

Still hope springs eternal!

[Son of Mathonwy]

At least Tips is back.

Persisting with Biggar. Patchell out. Sheedy in for a tough first cap against Ireland??

Don't like our options if a centre gets injured (unless Sheedy can cover that?) North seems inflexible for bench cover.

Ah well, I haven't given up hope for the Pivac project yet but am not expecting victory here.

[Scrumhead]

Ireland have Billy Burns on the bench so both he and Sheedy could end up facing off as 2nd half debutants.

[Son of Mathonwy]

One to watch from behind the sofa.

[normanski]

One to watch from behind the sofa.

Or with a rapidly emptying bottle of 15% Australian Shiraz.

[Son of Mathonwy]

One to watch from behind the sofa.

Or with a rapidly emptying bottle of 15% Australian Shiraz.

Or both? A plan is emerging.

[Graigwen]

After I posted the team, I did not add any comment as I am not sure what we are trying to achieve. It really does not matter if we lose this game, so long as we show some progress.

We have a lot of players who need either or both game time and experience. I hope Porter does not destroy Carre to badly.

Stockdale and Henderson are out of the Irish side. That weakens them a bit.

At least we get Callum Sheedy on the pitch in red.

I have started on drinking Murphy's already.

.

[Wallpaperman]

After I posted the team, I did not add any comment as I am not sure what we are trying to achieve. It really does not matter if we lose this game, so long as we show some progress.

We have a lot of players who need either or both game time and experience. I hope Porter does not destroy Carre to badly.

Stockdale and Henderson are out of the Irish side. That weakens them a bit.

At least we get Callum Sheedy on the pitch in red.

I have started on drinking Murphy's already.

.

As always, am feeling positive pre kick off. Hope it lasts !

Share your concerns re Carre tonight

[Graigwen]

I don't have a sofa.

I must drink more.

(Porter has been playing very well, but with props there is always a chance....however slim.)

[Wallpaperman]

Crikey. Two scrums...

[normanski]

Crikey. Two scrums...

Yep! Carre needs to up his game.

[normanski]

Well he held that one.....

[normanski]

Bloody French ref

[normanski]

Elias is shit

[Wallpaperman]

Good scrum before the try. I though Ireland were holding on.

[normanski]

At least we’re still in it after 30 mins.

[normanski]

Not for long I suspect

[Wallpaperman]

Already waiting for the half time whistle