Wales vs Ireland - Round 5

by maestegmafia Sun 10 Mar 2019, 6:12 pm

First topic message reminder :

SAT 16 MAR 2019
GUINNESS SIX NATIONS
Kick Off 14:45
Principality Stadium

Teams TBA Thursday the 14th March

Referee Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant 1 Ben O'Keeffe (New Zelaand)
Assistant 2 Karl Dickson (England)
TMO Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Wales:

L Williams (Saracens); North (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), Parkes (Scarlets), Adams (Worcester); Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), Owens (Scarlets), Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Beard (Ospreys), AW Jones (Ospreys, capt), Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Tipuric (Ospreys), Moriarty (Dragons).

Replacements: Dee (Dragons), Smith (Ospreys), D Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Ball (Scarlets), Wainwright (Dragons), A Davies (Ospreys), Biggar (Northampton), Watkin (Ospreys).

Ireland:

Kearney; Earls, Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best (capt), Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O'Mahony, O'Brien, Stander.

Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter, Roux, Conan, Marmion, Carty, Larmour.

by LordDowlais Mon 11 Mar 2019, 12:05 pm

SecretFly wrote:So Wales can get away with iffy stuff because it's part of how they play/tactics?

And I have said this where ?

by SecretFly Mon 11 Mar 2019, 12:34 pm

Penalise them coz we need to have our specialists have their tools to work with but it's okay to look the other way with AWJ coz the Scots don't need penalties so much?

My point is simply that Scotland infringe and sometimes the ref looks away, Wales infringe and sometimes the ref looks away. Ireland infringe and sometimes the ref loos away...etc.
You Lord, obviously concentrate on the times such blindness stalls the Welsh players but you too often always paint the opposition as the ones doing most of the dirty work and the refs helping them do iit more than the Welsh.

by LordDowlais Mon 11 Mar 2019, 12:35 pm

by TightHEAD Mon 11 Mar 2019, 1:00 pm

Congratulations Wales, The Grand Slam is already yours.

Ireland will roll over by half time.

by BlueNote Mon 11 Mar 2019, 1:15 pm

On paper that Irish team looks formidable.

by **LondonTiger** Mon 11 Mar 2019, 1:20 pm

TightHEAD wrote:Congratulations Wales, The Grand Slam is already yours.

Ireland will roll over by half time.

by TightHEAD Mon 11 Mar 2019, 1:20 pm

On paper means nothing.

Ireland peaked too soon, a bunch of has-beens in need of re-building.

by SecretFly Mon 11 Mar 2019, 1:44 pm

Let's start the rebuilding process against Wales?
Ireland are having a rest, Tight. Remember where England were this time last year? Taking a break before downing The All Blacks.in Autumn. Nearly worked too. We'll try it next Wink

by munkian Mon 11 Mar 2019, 2:23 pm

SecretFly wrote:Let's start the rebuilding process against Wales?
Ireland are having a rest, Tight. Remember where England were this time last year? Taking a break before downing The All Blacks.in Autumn. Nearly worked too. We'll try it next

Henderson you future 15, starting this Saturday thumbsup

by SecretFly Mon 11 Mar 2019, 2:34 pm

Yep, and u20 scrumhalf marvel, Casey to go straight in at 8. We'll bamboozle the feck out of the Welsh

by munkian Mon 11 Mar 2019, 2:40 pm

SecretFly wrote:Yep, and u20 scrumhalf marvel, Casey to go straight in at 8. We'll bamboozle the feck out of the Welsh

Shiny foil would do it.

by robbo277 Mon 11 Mar 2019, 3:36 pm

SecretFly wrote:So Wales can get away with iffy stuff because it's part of how they play/tactics?

So be it. That's a pragmatic reading of reality. That's how a game balances out. Judge the game, judge the ref and act accordingly to the edge of what is legal IF the ref has blind spots on just what is legal or otherwise. That's the game as you've acknowledged. So back to Scotland, they played the game in the same spirit as Wales and didn't have enough to get over the line.

Refereeing blind spots are an interesting area for me.

When Wales go through their 30 phase sets, count how many rucks they should be penalised for the arriving players going off their feet. Several times they flood the ruck and unsurprisingly can't all keep their feet. The ball is 100% secure when they do this and although it is technically illegal the referees never penalise Wales (or anyone else) for this. All teams do it, but Wales seem to be the ones who have picked up on this interpretation and incorporated it into their tactics for phaseplay. When was the last time you saw an attacking team penalised at the breakdown for anything other than holding on or the most blatant of side entry offences?

Similarly, you can see England and others pushing the offside line as far as it will go, standing in marginally offside positions that aren't "clear and obvious" when the referees glance down the line. It happens too often for it to be coincidence.

Referees are told before each tournament what to focus on and they in turn share that message with coaches and captains at launch events. Coaches and captains then go away and figure out how they can get an advantage in an area that a referee may not be looking at. Infuriating for fans watching other teams get away with constant law-breaking, but you'd have to say it's part-and-parcel of the modern game now.

by eirebilly Mon 11 Mar 2019, 3:52 pm

The GS is very much Wales' to lose. For all the talk of Ireland not really getting out of third gear, Wales have not got out of second...

I think home ground advantage will be a big factor in this game.

On a side note, I rarely read much about JD2. For he is the best 13 in world rugby so.

by Guest Mon 11 Mar 2019, 3:55 pm

SecretFly wrote: Just a thought, Lord, but do you ever seriously take some time out to assess how your own team might be getting the benefit of the doubt in reffing decisions through games both in this and in other contests down through the years? It just seems you are so blinkered in thinking Wales always the victim of reffing decisions rather than other sides perhaps getting purple patches in games, finding a rhythm of their own etc. You seem unwilling to accept that Wales can be as smart at the infringing and getting away with it as other teams.
When fans acknowledge that their own side can benefit from reffing decisions not being made against them, they kinda go easier on always blaming refs for what the opposition does in a game.

In the words of Will Carling... https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/why-we-must-learn-to-hate-the-welsh-6305858.html

by munkian Mon 11 Mar 2019, 3:56 pm

robbo277 wrote:
SecretFly wrote:So Wales can get away with iffy stuff because it's part of how they play/tactics?

So be it. That's a pragmatic reading of reality. That's how a game balances out. Judge the game, judge the ref and act accordingly to the edge of what is legal IF the ref has blind spots on just what is legal or otherwise. That's the game as you've acknowledged. So back to Scotland, they played the game in the same spirit as Wales and didn't have enough to get over the line.

Refereeing blind spots are an interesting area for me.

When Wales go through their 30 phase sets, count how many rucks they should be penalised for the arriving players going off their feet. Several times they flood the ruck and unsurprisingly can't all keep their feet. The ball is 100% secure when they do this and although it is technically illegal the referees never penalise Wales (or anyone else) for this. All teams do it, but Wales seem to be the ones who have picked up on this interpretation and incorporated it into their tactics for phaseplay. When was the last time you saw an attacking team penalised at the breakdown for anything other than holding on or the most blatant of side entry offences?

Similarly, you can see England and others pushing the offside line as far as it will go, standing in marginally offside positions that aren't "clear and obvious" when the referees glance down the line. It happens too often for it to be coincidence.

Referees are told before each tournament what to focus on and they in turn share that message with coaches and captains at launch events. Coaches and captains then go away and figure out how they can get an advantage in an area that a referee may not be looking at. Infuriating for fans watching other teams get away with constant law-breaking, but you'd have to say it's part-and-parcel of the modern game now.

You don't watch many Ireland games do you ?

by Guest Mon 11 Mar 2019, 4:08 pm

eirebilly wrote:On a side note, I rarely read much about JD2. For he is the best 13 in world rugby so.

Think it's just become the norm now that his baseline is a solid 7/10. Just like Tipuric, although in slightly different ways. Both very good at the 'basics' but that gives the impression that they're plodding workhorses, or perhaps a Robshaw type. Tipuric in particular isn't, but JD2 is no doubt one of the best defenders in the modern game. I also think he's a fantastic attacker but does have some flaws in that respect. Not the best kicker either, but can hoof it well enough when needed. Would loved to have seen him play outside a creative, passing 12 for Wales. Henson, basically, between 2011-15, had that worked out.

Too many years standing outside Jamie Roberts led to the impression he was just as poor with ball in hand for the lazier/more casual fans. Some of the early tries he scored at the Scarlets, coming at an angle off a shoulder and running in from 30m out, were sublime. The try he scored against Scotland in the autumn was perfect - as was his score against Ireland in 2012. The point is, there's more to his game that fantastic defence, and a lot of Welsh fans probably want to see that. But yeah, very good at the basics. Probably the most important player for Wales in terms of 'we can't lose him'. The drop-off in quality at 13 for his backup is immense, by far the biggest. Only AWJ comes close between 1st and 2nd choice, and that's more for leadership/captaincy issues than his playing ability.

by robbo277 Mon 11 Mar 2019, 4:09 pm

munkian wrote:
robbo277 wrote:
SecretFly wrote:So Wales can get away with iffy stuff because it's part of how they play/tactics?

So be it. That's a pragmatic reading of reality. That's how a game balances out. Judge the game, judge the ref and act accordingly to the edge of what is legal IF the ref has blind spots on just what is legal or otherwise. That's the game as you've acknowledged. So back to Scotland, they played the game in the same spirit as Wales and didn't have enough to get over the line.

Refereeing blind spots are an interesting area for me.

When Wales go through their 30 phase sets, count how many rucks they should be penalised for the arriving players going off their feet. Several times they flood the ruck and unsurprisingly can't all keep their feet. The ball is 100% secure when they do this and although it is technically illegal the referees never penalise Wales (or anyone else) for this. All teams do it, but Wales seem to be the ones who have picked up on this interpretation and incorporated it into their tactics for phaseplay. When was the last time you saw an attacking team penalised at the breakdown for anything other than holding on or the most blatant of side entry offences?

Similarly, you can see England and others pushing the offside line as far as it will go, standing in marginally offside positions that aren't "clear and obvious" when the referees glance down the line. It happens too often for it to be coincidence.

Referees are told before each tournament what to focus on and they in turn share that message with coaches and captains at launch events. Coaches and captains then go away and figure out how they can get an advantage in an area that a referee may not be looking at. Infuriating for fans watching other teams get away with constant law-breaking, but you'd have to say it's part-and-parcel of the modern game now.

You don't watch many Ireland games do you ?

Maybe I've noticed it more from Wales this tournament because they've been the most successful at it? For once I've actually watched most of the Six Nations games this year because I've been injured and therefore unable to play myself on game days.

Wales have been brutally efficient at this game this year which doesn't generate quick ball, but is all but guaranteed to return the ball to the attacking team. And then they've made the small gains in phase play off slow ball to allow themselves to play this way.

Ireland kept getting caught behind the gainline against England and therefore couldn't settle into this pattern of play. Against France at home I also felt they tried to play with a bit more tempo. I didn't watch them against Italy though.

Wales obviously used this tactic to good effect against England, Scotland and France in the rain. The Italy vs Wales game was quite forgettable, can't remember how you played that game.

by Guest Mon 11 Mar 2019, 4:11 pm

Ireland seem to go for the 'pre bind' where Wales tend to seal off a sole ball carrier. Different strokes for different...folks...

by No9 Mon 11 Mar 2019, 5:31 pm

If Brexit vote fails this week.... Does it mean we can have a hard border on our 22, so that Ireland cannot cross it without paying the correct tarrifs..

Just thinking of any and everyway we can beat Ireland for the Slam ... thumbsup

by SecretFly Mon 11 Mar 2019, 7:23 pm

I'll go for that, No9, as that there border tariff stuff goes both ways....or rather, doesn't go both ways ..
or rather, I mean it stops both sides at that 22. Wink

But somebody still has to win or else England have the Slam shirts for a year. So we'll stop at the border legally speaking but dig a tunnel to keep the game interesting for the fans.

by Taylorman Mon 11 Mar 2019, 7:48 pm

Wales for this one. Ireland and England are both suffering who's the king of the castle syndrome and have let Wales through the side door, the quiet achiever looking to play ambush over the Xmas break.

It bodes well for both England and Ireland at World cup time as now they both know (if they didn't earlier) that limited tactics wont necessarily win a campaign. Wales unfortunately wont have the firepower and range of skills across the side to sustain these levels against tougher company in Japan.

France still retain shock value at this years tournament as theyve remained typically hot and cold, and tend to be not as 'uptight' as the others at knockout time, hence their better historical performances at the tournament.

by SecretFly Mon 11 Mar 2019, 8:39 pm

There is no side door through which Wales get to surprise either Ireland or England. They come through the front door - every year, and despite Gatland talking about being happy to come in under the radar earlier on, he's bloody certain Ireland have always been thinking about this year's final game, regardless of us being in the running for a title or not.
Nope, we're still very grounded here, Taylor. England will have to speak for themselves.

by quinsforever Mon 11 Mar 2019, 9:28 pm

hey everyone been a while.

think this one is too hard to call. ireland got tactically mugged by england, and i dont think they will play henshaw at 15 ever again.

since then they have been very solid. and Wales have been dogged throughout, if not ever exceptional.

Welsh home advantage in my book roughly cancels out irish lineout advantage, as for the rest they appear very well matched. irish didnt commit too many to the breakdown which i suspect Gatland will try to expose like he did against england. hard to see where the tries are going to come from...

should be fierce Smile

by Guest Mon 11 Mar 2019, 9:52 pm

When Wales played Ireland in 2005 for the Grand Slam, the first one for a very long time, there was something in the air that day. It was an unusually warm day for March - proper t shirt weather. And it was a BIG day for any welsh rugby fan. I’ve not experienced anything like that since. It was almost mandatory that people make the pilgrimage to Cardiff that day. I went down with a big group of pals. Mini pub crawl before the game until we made one pub move too many and couldn’t get in anywhere to watch the game! There was a real carnival or festival atmosphere everywhere. We went to City Hall first to see the outdoor screens and its was mayhem! There were people up trees, literally, to get sight of a screen! It was such a good day. Ended up finding somewhere to get in eventually - a back street pub watching it on a tiny tv behind the bar - but that made it even better somehow (more memorable perhaps)!

So where am I going with this......... well, I never felt like we were going to lose that day. Like I said, there was something in the air. But that year we were coming off the back of 4 really good performances. Beaten England at home first up (the Gav kick), demolished Scotland away (Ryan Jones running rampant), beaten France and Italy away. This was the year of the offload and some of the best running rugby I’ve ever seen in my lifetime from Wales. So we came into the Ireland game with an air of confidence and I just didn’t feel like we would/could lose.

But I’m not quite so confident this time. 3 stuttering performances and 1 good performance against England (arguably perhaps just a good 2nd half comeback). And Ireland are a different prospect to what they were in 2005, probably. We have to play our best game of the tournament, I think. We have to be better than we were against England. We can’t try to be just strong finishers. It needs be a an 80 minute performance. Can Wales get up for Ireland in the same way as we did for England? Will the Warren Gatland last 6N game thing give us an extra few %? Have Wales played all of their ‘get out of jail cards’ already? Will St Patrick’s Day be a motivator for Ireland? One thing’s for sure....... it’s gonna be tense!

by **LondonTiger** Mon 11 Mar 2019, 9:59 pm

The Oracle wrote: Have Wales played all of their ‘get out of jail cards’ already?

by Guest Mon 11 Mar 2019, 10:02 pm

2005 Grand Slam fever outside City Hall!

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by mikey_dragon Mon 11 Mar 2019, 10:23 pm

Taylorman wrote:It bodes well for both England and Ireland at World cup time as now they both know (if they didn't earlier) that limited tactics wont necessarily win a campaign. Wales unfortunately wont have the firepower and range of skills across the side to sustain these levels against tougher company in Japan.

Aside from NZ who is tougher company that Ireland and England? Both ranked higher than the rest and are currently in better form. Wales have beaten all their opposition so far with just Ireland standing in way, before we get onto next season with pre-RWC games and then the actual tournament. I think you're also forgetting our Autumn Campaign (not that far back) where it seems that our form was a bit better than it is now.

by mikey_dragon Mon 11 Mar 2019, 10:27 pm

The Oracle wrote:2005 Grand Slam fever outside City Hall!

Great images! I remember the feeling you're referring to except I wasn't there in 2005. I felt it in 2012 when France came to town looking to halt our Grand Slam. The streets and bars of Cardiff were full to the brim, red everywhere!

by yappysnap Mon 11 Mar 2019, 11:15 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:
Taylorman wrote:It bodes well for both England and Ireland at World cup time as now they both know (if they didn't earlier) that limited tactics wont necessarily win a campaign. Wales unfortunately wont have the firepower and range of skills across the side to sustain these levels against tougher company in Japan.

Aside from NZ who is tougher company that Ireland and England? Both ranked higher than the rest and are currently in better form. Wales have beaten all their opposition so far with just Ireland standing in way, before we get onto next season with pre-RWC games and then the actual tournament. I think you're also forgetting our Autumn Campaign (not that far back) where it seems that our form was a bit better than it is now.

This.

After NZ it's pretty close between 4-5 teams and Wales have shown or are about to show they can beat them all. Fair play to them too.

by yappysnap Mon 11 Mar 2019, 11:16 pm

Wales AI form did seem better then their current form, but they're still winning. I guess the question is are they slowing running out of steam, or are they conserving themselves ready for the big push later this year?

by **RiscaGame** Tue 12 Mar 2019, 12:04 am

I said after the France game (I think) that Gatland is keeping a lot back for the WC and I still believe that. I genuinely do believe he will bank on his defence at the minute and try not to show a lot of aces in attack.

by SecretFly Tue 12 Mar 2019, 12:26 am

Quit with the pictures! You're making me plumb guilty for what we're about to inflict on you. Wink

by Guest Tue 12 Mar 2019, 12:27 am

The Oracle wrote:2005 Grand Slam fever outside City Hall!

For all the ways rugby has got 'better' in the last 14 years, there's no doubt crowds/the spectacle meant a lot more around that era.

by SecretFly Tue 12 Mar 2019, 12:37 am

Jones says his boys are only getting there..and look at them steamrolling the hell outta decent folks.
Gats thinks people is blind and don't see how good his side are...and look at them - giant killers and mockers to boot, toying with Scotland who threw just about every kitchen sink in Edinburgh at them.
Schmidt says he hasn't a clue what's wrong with his boys but looks the most relaxed I've seen him since he came here. Maybe he don't give a damn anymore that his players don't only seem blind but also look deaf and dumb too - or maybe he's just like Jones and Gatland, holding his deck close to his chest.
Hell, maybe even Scotland and France are playing a better poker game than any of us.

by maestegmafia Tue 12 Mar 2019, 1:42 am

SecretFly wrote:Jones says his boys are only getting there..and look at them steamrolling the hell outta decent folks.
Gats thinks people is blind and don't see how good his side are...and look at them - giant killers and mockers to boot, toying with Scotland who threw just about every kitchen sink in Edinburgh at them.
Schmidt says he hasn't a clue what's wrong with his boys but looks the most relaxed I've seen him since he came here. Maybe he don't give a damn anymore that his players don't only seem blind but also look deaf and dumb too - or maybe he's just like Jones and Gatland, holding his deck close to his chest.
Hell, maybe even Scotland and France are playing a better poker game than any of us.

This Six Nations Championship has been a very odd collective of matches so in all fairness it’s irresistibly hard to forecast the fortunes next weekend. Can Italy get a win at home, sure no problem, they have played very well in Rome against better sides. Can wales beat Ireland, yes, they seem to have the ability, too close to call, Ireland are undoubtedly favourites. Then can Scotland beat England? Yes..! But do the Scots believe they can?

by yappysnap Tue 12 Mar 2019, 2:50 am

How are Ireland undoubtedly favourites??!

That is a baffling statement. Wales are at home, on a record breaking run and can't lose at the moment.

Have some balls and back your team. Too much faux respect for the opposition is a terrible thing.

by maestegmafia Tue 12 Mar 2019, 6:42 am

yappysnap wrote:How are Ireland undoubtedly favourites??!

That is a baffling statement. Wales are at home, on a record breaking run and can't lose at the moment.

Have some balls and back your team. Too much faux respect for the opposition is a terrible thing.

Ireland are the second best team in the world and have been ranked so for ages. One off game this year, none last year, the last team that beat us, their provinces dominate our regions in pro14 , in Europe, they beat the all Blacks twice, they don’t choke in crunch games, they have probably got the best coach in the game and on top of all that they have the best system of any NH nation at focusing talent in the right direction from school boys onwards.

There is no “faux respect” there is absolute admiration. Wales and Ireland’s game was an absolute mess thirty years ago. Now everything about Irish rugby can only be bettered by NZ. Both nations have come a long way but Ireland have already got it right.

by **LondonTiger** Tue 12 Mar 2019, 6:52 am

I am not sure how Ireland can be deemed undoubted favourites. Heck I was "told off" for suggesting it was 50/50 Smile

For me Ireland have the better team, but have struggled for form a little. Wales have the best defence, but not that far ahead of Ireland to be crucial, but seem unwilling to attack.

Home advantage is a big factor though. With not too much between teams that may be crucial.

by BigTrevsbigmac Tue 12 Mar 2019, 7:00 am

LondonTiger wrote:I am not sure how Ireland can be deemed undoubted favourites. Heck I was "told off" for suggesting it was 50/50

For me Ireland have the better team, but have struggled for form a little. Wales have the best defence, but not that far ahead of Ireland to be crucial, but seem unwilling to attack.

Home advantage is a big factor though. With not too much between teams that may be crucial.

Agreed if this was at a neutral venue I would say right now Ireland would be favourites, however, it is at Cardiff and that shades it for Wales just.

There were signs against France that Ireland are getting their mojo back.

Another factor in this is Liam Williams fitness....he maybe fit enough to play but....

by eirebilly Tue 12 Mar 2019, 7:10 am

I would not say that Ireland are 'undoubted favourites' at all. I would suggest that Wales are favourites for this match. People say that Ireland are struggling for form but the exact can be said for Wales. The difference is, Wales are on a very long undefeated run even when playing off form.

by munkian Tue 12 Mar 2019, 8:21 am

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:
LondonTiger wrote:I am not sure how Ireland can be deemed undoubted favourites. Heck I was "told off" for suggesting it was 50/50

For me Ireland have the better team, but have struggled for form a little. Wales have the best defence, but not that far ahead of Ireland to be crucial, but seem unwilling to attack.

Home advantage is a big factor though. With not too much between teams that may be crucial.

Agreed if this was at a neutral venue I would say right now Ireland would be favourites, however, it is at Cardiff and that shades it for Wales just.

There were signs against France that Ireland are getting their mojo back.

Another factor in this is Liam Williams fitness....he maybe fit enough to play but....

I don't see how Ireland can take anything from that France game - France were absolutely atrocious - the 'wrap around' try 5 m from their try line case in point.

by Guest Tue 12 Mar 2019, 8:29 am

yappysnap wrote:How are Ireland undoubtedly favourites??!

That is a baffling statement. Wales are at home, on a record breaking run and can't lose at the moment.

Have some balls and back your team. Too much faux respect for the opposition is a terrible thing.

I agree with this. The only favourite team this weekend is England. Italy/France is pretty muh 50:50 with it being in Rome, and the Wales/Ireland game likewise considering circumstances that offsets Ireland's recent pedigree. 55:45 at best in either of those two games - and depending on who you ask you'll get different answers for which team is the '55'!

by munkian Tue 12 Mar 2019, 8:35 am

miaow wrote:
yappysnap wrote:How are Ireland undoubtedly favourites??!

That is a baffling statement. Wales are at home, on a record breaking run and can't lose at the moment.

Have some balls and back your team. Too much faux respect for the opposition is a terrible thing.

I agree with this. The only favourite team this weekend is England. Italy/France is pretty muh 50:50 with it being in Rome, and the Wales/Ireland game likewise considering circumstances that offsets Ireland's recent pedigree. 55:45 at best in either of those two games - and depending on who you ask you'll get different answers for which team is the '55'!

I wouldn't say Ireland are 'undoubtely favouraites' but it's not as though Cardiff is a fortress - we each have fairly good records of beating each other away.

by Guest Tue 12 Mar 2019, 8:47 am

2 wins out of 2 in Cardiff in the 6Ns though. That's what makes me most confident. The days of swapping away victories in the 6Ns appear to have ended. Wales won in 2011, lost in 2013, and then won in 2015 and 2017 against Ireland. The most recent 2 are the most important. You could add the (pretty drab) draw in 2016 and the narrow loss in 2018 in Dublin as well to say that Wales have actually pushed Ireland pretty close in this cycle.

In fact, without checking, does any team have a better record than Wales do against Ireland since the end of 2015? Wales won 2, drew 1, lost 1. I think England have lost 2 won 2, NZ lost 2 won 1...anyone else?

Is Gatland and Wales still Schmidt and Ireland's bogey team?

by No 7&1/2 Tue 12 Mar 2019, 8:52 am

Since the end of 2015 Wales have won 1 lost 1 and drawn.

by Guest Tue 12 Mar 2019, 9:01 am

Yep. Got carried away and counted the 2015 win.

Or can I see into the future...?

by No 7&1/2 Tue 12 Mar 2019, 9:06 am

Let's hope not.

by Guest Tue 12 Mar 2019, 9:08 am

Let us? Speak for yourself...

by Scarpia Tue 12 Mar 2019, 9:35 am

Weather forecast very wet. Will Ireland want the roof open or closed?

by Guest Tue 12 Mar 2019, 9:38 am

Scarpia wrote:Weather forecast very wet. Will Ireland want the roof open or closed?

I'm gonna suggest half open, to please everyone. And then we can both take it in turns each half to play at the 'dry end'.

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