WELSH TEAM ANNOUNCED - Ireland vs Wales

ROBERTS AND PRIESTLAND WIN WALES RACE

R hys Priestland and Jamie Roberts will both start for Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday (kick-off 3.00pm)

Scarlets fly half Priestland and Blues centre Roberts have recovered from knee injuries in time to take their places in a starting line-up which shows six changes to that which faced Australia at the Millennium Stadium in December and just five from that which defeated Ireland in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals six weeks earlier.

Osprey Huw Bennett is set to win his 50 th Wales cap, making him only the second hooker to do so (Garin Jenkins has 58 caps), in a squad which features no debutants in its ranks but has three players who will make their second appearance for their country.

Saracens loosehead prop Rhys Gill comes into the side for the injured Gethin Jenkins (knee), after winning his other cap two years ago - appearing from the bench against Ireland at Croke Park in the 2010 RBS 6 Nations.

Blues wing Alex Cuthbert, who made his debut against Australia before Christmas, makes his first start profiting from the retirement of Shane Williams, with Scarlets wing George North (who played in all 7 RWC matches last year) switching flanks to take the No11 jersey synonymous with Wales’ top try scorer.

The third player with a single cap to his name is Scarlets hooker Ken Owens, who starts on the bench after making his debut at the RWC in the Pool D clash with Namibia.

Elsewhere in the starting XV Scarlet Jonathan Davies (7 RWC 2011 appearances) is reunited with Roberts (6 RWC 2011 appearances) and Bayonne scrum half Mike Phillips (6 RWC 2011 appearances) also returns.

Davies replaces his Regional colleague Scott Williams and Phillips replaces Blues half back Lloyd Williams, with both departing players providing cover from the bench.

Ospreys and British and Irish Lions prop Adam Jones returns to the front row alongside Gill and half centurion Bennett.

The final change from the Australia match sees another Osprey Ryan Jones come into the back row for injured Dragon Dan Lydiate (ankle).

The second row duo of Ian Evans (Ospreys) and Bradley Davies (Blues) is retained, with this pairing giving the side a different look as neither figured in the RWC showdown with Ireland.

Blues full back Leigh Halfpenny, Roberts, North, Priestland, Bennett, captain Sam Warburton (Blues) and Dragons No8 Toby Faletau (the other player alongside North and Davies to play in all 7 RWC 2011 matches) are all retained from last time out in Cardiff and all figured in that historic match at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

“We have been able to retain continuity in some key areas, we have been working hard and we feel we are approaching this match with the right attitude and with some good preparation work done,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

“We are two sides who know each other well, Ireland will not have enjoyed losing to us in New Zealand, they will want to redress the balance in Dublin this weekend, but they will find us in just as determined mood.”

On the bench James Hook (Perpignan) joins the Williamses in providing cover for the backs and could win his 60 th cap. Osprey Paul James joins Owens to provide front row cover and Sale Sharks No8 Andy Powell and Osprey Justin Tipuric complete the list of replacements. Dan Lydiate (ankle), Matthew Rees (calf) and Gethin Jenkins (knee) were unavailable for selection due to injury.

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Rhys Priestland, Michael Phillips; Rhys Gill, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton (C), Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Paul James, Andy Powell, Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams

WALES

15 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060)
DoB: 22.12.88. 5’10” / 1.77m. 13st 2lbs / 83kgs
International record: 27 caps (W 12, L 15; 75 pts – 9T, 10PG)

14 Alex CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,089)
DoB: 05.04.90. 6’6” / 1.98m. 16st 5lbs / 104kgs
International record: 1 cap (L 1)

13 Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,066)
DoB: 05.04.88. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 3lb / 103kgs
International record: 21 caps (W 11, L 10; 25 pts – 5T)

12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)
DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 39 caps (W 18, L 21; 20 pts – 4T)

11 George NORTH (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,078)
DoB: 13.04.92. 6’4” / 1.92m. 16st 5lbs / 104kgs
International record: 16 caps (W 6, L 9, D 1; 45 pts – 9T)

10 Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,080)
DoB: 07.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 10 caps (W 6, L 4; 50 pts – 1T, 12C, 7PG)

9 Mike PHILLIPS (BAYONNE – Cap No 1,022)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs
International record: 60 caps (W 28, L 29, D 2; 40 pts – 8T)

1 Rhys GILL (SARACENS – Cap No 1,073)
DoB: 30.10.86. 5’11” / 1.80m. 17st 2lbs / 109kgs
International record: 1 cap (L 1)

2 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,017)
DoB: 11.06.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs
International record: 49 caps (W 23, L 25, D 1)

3 Adam JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0” / 1.83m. 18st 12lb / 120kgs
International record: 75 caps (W 35, L 37, D 3; 10 pts – 2T)

4 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
DoB: 09.01.87. 6’6” / 1.98m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs
International record: 32 caps (W 14, L 17, D 1)

5 Ian EVANS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,045)
DoB: 04.10.84. 6’8” / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs
International record: 17 caps (W 6, L 10, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)

6 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 58 caps (W 28, L 28, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)

7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,070)
DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs
International record: 24 caps (W 12, L 12; 10 pts - 2T)

8 Toby FALETAU (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,082)
DoB: 12.11.90. 1.88m / 6’2”. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 5, L 6; 10 pts – 2T)

REPLACEMENTS:

16 Ken OWENS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,088)
DoB: 03.01.87. 6’1” / 1.86m. 17st 8lbs / 112kgs
International record: 1 cap (W 1)

17 Paul JAMES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,021)
DoB: 13.05.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs
International record: 31 caps (W 12, L 18, D 1)

18 Andy POWELL (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 1,061)
DoB: 23.08.81. 6’4” / 1.94m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 22 caps (W 12, L 10; 5 pts – 1T)

19 Justin TIPURIC (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,086)
DoB: 06.08.89. 1.88m / 6’2” 15st 10lbs / 100kgs
International record: 2 caps (W 1, L 1)

20 Lloyd WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,087)
DoB: 30.11.89. 6’0” / 1.83m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 5 caps (W 3, L 2; 10 pts – 2T)

21 James HOOK (PERPIGNAN – Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 59 caps (W 25, L 32, D 2; 326 pts – 12T, 40C, 58PG, 4DG)

22 Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,084)
DoB: 10.10.90. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 3lbs / 97kgs
International record: 8 caps (W 4, L 4; 20 pts – 4T)

I find these Ireland Wales threads to be entertaining. There´s no love lost between the two nations but things usually stay respectable. That´s thrown out the window for England Wales threads. You just get Neanderthal key bashing and figurative clubbing over the head. The Irish at least help to maintain the comedic and anecdotal heart of the thread. The Welsh provide us with the passion and the consonants. (Sorry, not called for. All the best for the coming weekend and may rugby be the winner. God knows it won´t be at Murrayfield)

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Almost at 1000 posts. Great stuff guys. I can easily see 1000 posts for the Wales Ireland aftermatch thread.

It makes you wonder what has been left unsaid. If anything.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:The Welsh provide us with the passion and the consonants.

It's llddchwmffllch true!

Often it is what is not said that is more revealing than what is said.

I guess they´re covering all the bases...

Good call by Kidders on Sexton but I reckon Reddan should have been picked to partner Sexton. He has been playing very well this year.

He has been playing well leinster but i think that Murray is just the better of the two at the moment..

murray just gets the nod for me also. right call i feel

maestegmafia wrote:What about Madigan or Keatley?

Madigan isn't ready but hopefully one for the future.

Keatley - did you see the Wolfhounds game he was awful.

If ROG and Sexton were both knocked down by the same bus I would actually call for Humphreys.
He is not good enough but nor are any of the alternatives

dublin_dave wrote:o mahony on the bench?? typo? Would be an interesting one and well deserved to be honest. But it makes a mockery of the argument that the likes of Cave,Henry,EOM,Toner,Tuouhy must be ripping up trees for the wolfhounds to earn the right to get into first team squad.

Not sure how you can claim these players have been ripping up trees for the Wolfhounds - there has only been one match.

Cave didn't play and is injured.

Toner did nothing when he came on and whilst the other three did ok none of them put in a performance that said I must be considerdd - only Kearney did that.

So it has been confirmed then.


Ger Thornley picks the team for Deccie. We should have asked him two feicin' months ago.

Team as expected though like most people I would have played Ryan from the start.

at least i humph would be a bit of craic and mix the horrific with the world class.

on his day he is a great attacking fly half but a complete liability at other times

Next Irish 10? You could pick from Madigan, Keatley, Paddy Jackson, JJ Hanrahan, McKinney etc. Of those I think the U20 lads (Jackson and Hanrahan) look the best prospects but they'll take a few years to come through yet.

Pity about Ian McKinley having to retire. He looked like he would be next in line behind ROG and Sexton.

not talking about the wolfhounds game geoff. just making an observation that a lot of kidneys "bolter" selections are from munster. i am delighted he has fast tracked murray and hopefully pom is as succesful.

i have read people say on here that cave,o'malley,toner,tuohy must do the business in wolfhounds games (even chuchill cup games) to warrant a selection for ireland. Excelling in the Heiniken Cup week in week out is not enough.

A bit of paranoia there. There are less Munster reps on the team now than when DK took over. Not enough Connacht players if you ask me...

Murray was a great pick by DK and POM has been outstanding in the backrow this year.

Some of the other are unlucky, specially Cave but he is injured. The rest are options but wouldnt be better than the incumbents at this stage...

Overall the team is evolving...best team available (with DOC/Ryan the only talking point really). Lets see how they perform on Sunday

I think Murray is average plus he's a bit scared of Iron Mike who has bossed him twice

RubyGuby wrote:I think Murray is average plus he's a bit scared of Iron Mike who has bossed him twice

I think Murray has only played against Phillips once though. And he wasn't bad. Murray is almost a carbon copy of Phillips. Hope he learns a lot from facing him again.

Average is all he needs to be for the first game. Why work up a sweat when big games are down the line.......... conserve energy

Feckless Rogue wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:I think Murray is average plus he's a bit scared of Iron Mike who has bossed him twice

I think Murray has only played against Phillips once though. And he wasn't bad. Murray is almost a carbon copy of Phillips. Hope he learns a lot from facing him again.

How can he be? Murray looks like a nice lad, he's got to develop into more of a tw** before being comparable to Phillips. Conor trains in a gym, Mike trains in in the streets and pubs of Cardiff with ten coppers wrestling him to the ground as tackle bags.

Joking aside (and Murray is a nice lad) I think everyone takes the pish out of Phillips, however he is a player who can really turn a game and he has shown up well on the international scene lately, particularly against Ireland, he is like having a 4th back row, which we might need but he is a strong runner and has an eye for the gap.

Phillips is a great player, no question.

At worse Feckless; Phillips is a nuisance who throws himself around, if he wasn't welsh I'd hate the fecker on the field

RubyGuby wrote:At worse Feckless; Phillips is a nuisance who throws himself around

and at best he just takes a seat, eats his burger and doesn't need to be held down by security.

Look out the Milky Bar Kid has jumped on the rugby wagon, England's favourite welsh rugby fan - I take it you remember Mr Phillips from Twickers in 2008,

2008? Blimey that's going back a bit.

Yeah I'm afraid it's that far back since we won a Grand Slam

He only ever wants a little more salt on his burger. Is that so big a deal in Cardiff? The chippies call the cops, he gets his WW2 flashbacks and all hell breaks loose. Just give him another little packet of salt!

SecretFly wrote:He only ever wants a little more salt on his burger. Is that so big a deal in Cardiff? The chippies call the cops, he gets his WW2 flashbacks and all hell breaks loose. Just give him another little packet of salt!

and wash it down with some llaeth!!!

SecretFly wrote:He only ever wants a little more salt on his burger. Is that so big a deal in Cardiff?

Ever since Thatcher closed the salt mines it's been a sore point.

SafeAsMilk wrote:

SecretFly wrote:He only ever wants a little more salt on his burger. Is that so big a deal in Cardiff?

Ever since Thatcher closed the salt mines it's been a sore point.

Milk was hardly safe under Thatcher either was it

SafeAsMilk wrote:

SecretFly wrote:He only ever wants a little more salt on his burger. Is that so big a deal in Cardiff?

Ever since Thatcher closed the salt mines it's been a sore point.

That gave me a good laugh

Knowsit17 wrote:

Feckless Rogue wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:I think Murray is average plus he's a bit scared of Iron Mike who has bossed him twice

I think Murray has only played against Phillips once though. And he wasn't bad. Murray is almost a carbon copy of Phillips. Hope he learns a lot from facing him again.

How can he be? Murray looks like a nice lad, he's got to develop into more of a tw** before being comparable to Phillips. Conor trains in a gym, Mike trains in in the streets and pubs of Cardiff with ten coppers wrestling him to the ground as tackle bags.

A BIT more of a tw@t? He'd have to go to The Cardiff University Of Advanced Tw@ttery for the rest of his Life. And then some. Murray is as big and strong as Phillips. And younger and faster. On Sunday, he just needs to get in his face. Annoy the livin schitt out of him. I can see a yellow card coming.

Ireland by 20.

Woooo! Tommy's in

I'm getting nervous about this match now, what with all the Welsh injuries - gulp!

RubyGuby wrote:Joking aside (and Murray is a nice lad) I think everyone takes the pish out of Phillips, however he is a player who can really turn a game and he has shown up well on the international scene lately, particularly against Ireland, he is like having a 4th back row, which we might need but he is a strong runner and has an eye for the gap.

And he has scored some good tries for us in pressure games too...

WALES insist they would have no qualms handing Ashley Beck a Dublin debut if Jamie Roberts is ruled out of Sunday’s Six Nations opener against Ireland.

Lions centre Roberts is struggling to recover from his knee ligament injury in time, while Rhys Priestland and Dan Lydiate are also very doubtful for the Aviva Stadium clash.



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/01/31/ospreys-centre-ashley-beck-could-start-in-six-nations-opener-as-wales-sweat-on-jamie-roberts-fitness-91466-30236862/#ixzz1lAXjmB3w

BBC Website

"The rising star of Welsh rugby prepares for his Championship bow against Ireland on Sunday already established as one of the best number eights in world rugby after his stunning displays at the 2011 World Cup."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/16785512

Murray and Philips are similar but not the same type of players. Philips is bigger and more powerful. Murray is faster and more skilfull. They're both very good players.

It will depend which side of the bed a butterfly in Japan gets out of bed and if he argues with his wife.

profitius wrote:Murray and Philips are similar but not the same type of players. Philips is bigger and more powerful. Murray is faster and more skilfull. They're both very good players.

Phillips has put in some big performances for Wales in the last few games he's played.

Phillips is a big lad and a good defender but i have always doubted his distribution ability. He just doesnt seem to provide quick ball often enough for me. 10 years ago, under the old style, Phillips probably would have been seen as the best 9 on the planet.

There's nothing more frustrating than seeing your team getting in behind the opposition, only for your scrum half to take so long to get the ball out that the opposition defence has time to reorganise. That happens quite often with Phillips.

But there is a balance between giving it out and having a run. It seems like Phillips has found the right balance.
I don't think Lloyd Williams has though. He's on the other side of the argument. He passes it too much and doesn't run or kick enough.

I really like Lloyd Williams gowales. I think that he is going to be an excellent 9 in years to come. I love his quick distribution and his ability to ignite the Welsh backline. He is far more effective there than Phillips is. His defence is not too shabby either. He is just short of that international experience needed to make a great 9.

Phillips, although a very good 9, often allows Blitz defences to get behind the attack and subsequently put Wales' attack on the backfoot.

Well when you have both you have options.

For Phillips poor passing we still score plenty of tries, his distribution has been good and fast over the last year. Phillips scores tries in big games. That is pretty important for us.

Lloyd Williams, Rhys Webb and Tavis Knoyle are all very young players but they along with good men like Tom Habberfield, Rhodri Williams, Gareth Davies, John Evans will all push each other to become better scrumhalfs.

Phillips scores tries (not always with the correct ball.... had to be said ) and is a very good 9. I am not saying that he isnt. I am just saying that he has this ability to either go on his own and get isolated or his distribution can be very slow.

eirebilly wrote:Phillips scores tries (not always with the correct ball.... had to be said ) and is a very good 9. I am not saying that he isnt. I am just saying that he has this ability to either go on his own and get isolated or his distribution can be very slow.

I read what you said, I am inferring that you missed a few points.

His distribution has been slow but not recently over the last year it has been very good. He doesn't seem to get isolated very often i haven't noticed that..

He has faults, he doesn't see space behind defences or read the game as well as other players and his Kicking game is appalling.

Fair enough maest. I havent seen him play much club rugby lately so i cant really be a judge on that but on the international stage i have noticed the above more often than not. Just my views though

I was including the RWC. He has lapses of poor play but distribution seems to not be an issue.

Though it annoys the hell out of me when you see so many scrum halfs these days standing at the back of a ruck for ages and ages asking forwards to come in so they can set up for box kicks and so on. Stringer at Saracens is one of the worst.

Referees should penalise for time wasting.

He does my head with those couple of steps he takes before passing the ball, allowing the defence time to close the gap.

BridgendBoyo wrote:He does my head with those couple of steps he takes before passing the ball, allowing the defence time to close the gap.

Most scrumhalfs do it, it is to tie in the opposition back row a bit longer. I spoke to Robert Jones about it in Mumbles over breakfast once. Lovely bloke and one of the finest passers from the ground ever to play rugby union. He said some players like it some don't.

As long as the pass is fast and accurate and the backrow are short of the receiving player then all is good.