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Six Nations Preview: Wales vs Ireland

Ireland's number 8 Jamie Heaslip

It’s a case of brain versus brawn in Cardiff this weekend as Wales pits a blunt instrument against Ireland’s quicker wits.

Wales vs Ireland at The Principality Stadium (Saturday, March 11, 4.05am HKT)

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What we can expect
High passion both on and off the pitch, despite the fact that Friday-night Six Nations matches – even in Cardiff, where they have been a common occurrence in recent seasons – have never been hugely popular with fans. Ireland have won five of the past eight Six Nations meetings in Cardiff, but have not beaten Wales since 2014, and lost 23-16 in the last meeting here in 2015.

Wales
It’s as-you-were for Wales, after stand-in coach Rob Howley resisted the temptation to tinker and named an unchanged side as the Welsh look to avoid a third consecutive defeat in the Six Nations for the first time since 2007. The mighty bosh worked for Howley the last time he took charge of a Six Nations campaign, in 2013. This time, however, the limited gameplan is proving rather less successful. A worst Six Nations’ finish in a decade is a very real possibility – and, more worryingly, another slip down World Rugby’s rankings could have a calamitous effect on Wales’s place in the draw for the 2019 World Cup in May.

Matchday 23: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 6 Sam Warburton, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Ross Moriarty. Bench: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Jamie Roberts

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Ireland
Like his opposition counterpart, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has named an unchanged starting 15 for this week’s Six Nations opening act. Unlike his opposition counterpart, he has good reason to stick with the same players. Last time out, Ireland gameplanned France right out of Aviva Stadium with a pitch-and-conditions-perfect performance in a Dublin downpour. The only change to the 23 is the return of Tommy Bowe, who takes over luckless Ulster team-mate Andrew Trimble’s bench-warming duties, after the latter suffered a broke a bone in his hand … having just recovered from an earlier groin injury.

Matchday 23: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Conor Murray; 1 Jack McGrath, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Devin Toner, 6 CJ Stander, 7 Sean O’Brien, 8 Jamie Heaslip. Bench: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Cian Healy, 18 John Ryan, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Peter O’Mahony, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Tommy Bowe.

All eyes on: Johnny Sexton
Ireland’s perfect 10 starts consecutive Test matches for the first time since last year’s Six Nations. He was the tactical rock on which their win over France was built a fortnight ago – expect more of the same this week.

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Key battle: The back rows
The midfield contest was a contender here, but … Stander, O’Brien and Heaslip versus Warburton, Tipuric and Moriarty – what’s not to like?

Prediction
It’s going to be close, but the game has moved on since the Welsh battering-ram approach last won the Six Nations. Ireland by 5.

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B
BeamMeUp 1 hour ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

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