WELSH TEAM ANNOUNCED - Ireland vs Wales

First topic message reminder :

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)

In my eyes it's essentially slowing quick ball down, which is a sin. This is why we go through multiple phases not moving more than a couple of yards forward.

BridgendBoyo wrote:In my eyes it's essentially slowing quick ball down, which is a sin. This is why we go through multiple phases not moving more than a couple of yards forward.

You might have noticed that not happening so in the RWC? Though I agree it was previously.

A lot of that slowness was also to do with Stephen Jones slowness, he and Phillips were a very poor combination.

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.

Dont believe this is a problem with Phillip's, he's a big guy who will always lock in at least 1 defender when he takes a step. If he were to pass it instantly that would allow defences to move out to focus on the likes of Davies and Roberts. Phillips style works very well for Wales and he has been a huge player for them.....especially against Ireland.
Murray is improving almost by the game so looking forward to an intereting battle between those two.

Red Right wrote:

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.

Dont believe this is a problem with Phillip's, he's a big guy who will always lock in at least 1 defender when he takes a step. If he were to pass it instantly that would allow defences to move out to focus on the likes of Davies and Roberts. Phillips style works very well for Wales and he has been a huge player for them.....especially against Ireland.
Murray is improving almost by the game so looking forward to an intereting battle between those two.

I agree, with the above...!

Young murray is a hell of a player, considering he has some very good players like TOL and Reddan behind him he is doing well.

Red Right wrote:

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.

Dont believe this is a problem with Phillip's, he's a big guy who will always lock in at least 1 defender when he takes a step. If he were to pass it instantly that would allow defences to move out to focus on the likes of Davies and Roberts.

No, it's the couple of steps he takes that allows the defence to come up and shut down the space for the centres. Once Phillips has his hands on the ball, it's out. If he passed it off the floor they'd have more time and space, not less.

Rhys Webb's the future anyway.

You are both right. Phillips size and strike threat attracts defender and by taking the step it checks the defence. Its something thats used in RL a lot.

However sometimes you just need quick ball and taking the step will slow the play down. Its about knowing when to do it but it is a useful option to keep the defence on their toes.

One gripe I had with Stringer is that as good as his passing was the fact that he so seldom made breaks around the fringes meant that the defence could drift straight away onto the 10 and outside backs.

The best scrum halves can provide quick service when they need to but also keep the defence tight due to their ability to snipe and make breaks.

Murray has the ability to do both but is still learning how to read the game.

I would love to see Webb on the bench, he's lightening quick and strong - I see Lloyd williams as slightly overated and for me he's starting to take the wrong options instead of playing the percentages. Connor Murray reminds me of a young Dave Loveridge as a scrum half, silky smooth and strong but I have yet to be really convinced of him at this level, he has time on his side but I haven't seen him boss a scrum half when playing for Ireland and I think he relies on a lot of protection from his back row unlike Iron Mike

I really didnt think there were any problems with phillips service of the last year. I thought it was quite widely considered to have improved dramatically. That and not having a slow decision maker at flyhalf like Wellies made all the difference to getting good ball where it needs to be quickly.

Anyone know what time tomorrow Gatland will announce the Welsh team?

Bevington and Priestland to start?

Id like to see Paul James start with Rhys Gill on the bench.

It had improved, Maesteg, but he was back to his old ways in the 3rd / 4th place playoff.

Maes - I think the announcement will be tomorrow lunchtime.

Can't wait Cari

Don't think we will see too many surprises with the strongest side available to be picked.

I would like to see Rhys Webb on the bench as he has been the form scrum half in Wales so far this year.

Fingers crossed the sick note list are good enough to play. I am not holding any large hopes of it though.

Most controversial inclusion would be Henson I think. As a bench player. But I do trust garlands selectors to do a good job.

We could possibly be missing half our first choice team..

Quite a worry against such a good side.

Plenty of praise in the Welsh press recently of Leigh Halfpenny, "fantastic work ethic," says Neil Jenkins the greatest goal kicker in the history of the game, "can be Wales' new hero after Shane Williams" says barry john the greatest flyhalf to play the game.

A lot of expectation is sitting on the young players shoulders. This year is his opportunity to prove whether or not he can deliver.

Neil Jenkins wrote:

Leigh always does a huge amount of kicking in training and has a fantastic work ethic, we have always been pushing for him to be first choice for the Blues and he has done that over the last month. It is an added bonus for us and it puts pressure on the other kickers.

We know he does all the long-range stuff but he is doing the short stuff as well. He has put his hand up to be the first choice which is outstanding.

We will make the right decision when the time is right, but we are lucky to have the kickers we have. I was happy with the kicking up until the semi-final because we had improved our statistics. In the 2007 World Cup group stages we missed 13 in the four group games compared with only seven in New Zealand.

Even in the quarter-finals, where we missed three with two hitting the post and a missed one wide out, was not a concern, because Wellington provides some of the worst kicking conditions I had ever seen. But for some reason it did not go our way in the semi-final.

James and Stephen have excellent records with only usually missing one a game and Leigh can bang over the long-range efforts.

These boys don’t want to miss kicks and they practise hard. But if we were still there now we probably would have not won that game.

The World Cup is the biggest stage of all and to go out in the manner in which we did in the semi-final was heartbreaking, there was a lot talk about us after the World Cup just turning up and winning the Grand Slam. But we don’t believe that for a minute and we know there is a lot of hard work to do.

Sunday is a massive game for us. The Six Nations is all about momentum and we need to get a good start. You read a few things about Ireland and they always seem confident. There is no reason for them not to be because they are home this weekend. But it is a great challenge and we are looking forward to a special atmosphere in Dublin.

Barry John wrote:

SO here we go again ... only this time it is a Six Nations with a difference.

No Shane Williams to light up the tournament with the mercurial skills which have won so many matches for Wales down the years.

Can the gigantic boots of our wonderful wing wizard be filled by anyone... and if so, by whom?

The answer is that there is only one Shane Williams and, as such, comparisons with our record try-scorer are somewhat unfair.

But in his absence, someone else is going to have to step forward and provide the spark in the Wales backline which was Shane’s domain for so many years.

And the one player I believe is capable of providing the X-Factor which Shane so readily supplied is Leigh Halfpenny.

I’m a huge fan of Halfpenny, who seems to have everything in his locker, and how he performs will play a big part in how successful, or otherwise, a tournament Wales have.

Halfpenny is a completely different sort of player to Shane, who had a bit of a roving licence to come in from the wing looking for the ball.

Shane would be as liable to pop up at scrum-half or in midfield, as he was to be found on the wing, as he tried to provide the spark Wales needed.

Halfpenny’s first duty is at full-back, where he made such a magnificent impact during the World Cup when handed his opportunity there.

But like Shane, he has an uncanny ability to break through would-be tacklers and set up, or score, wonderful tries.

Like Shane, halfpenny gets the crowd on the edge of their seat and much of that isn’t just down to his dazzling footwork and speed, but also this incredible inner belief he clearly has in his own ability.

Halfpenny will not shy away from anything on the rugby pitch. Just look at the way he attempted that monster penalty against France in the World Cup semi-final, which came within a whisker of winning the game for us,

You can’t buy that sort of strength of mind, You either have it, or you don’t, and Shane certainly does, even though he is still only 23 years of age.

Wales possess gifted backs, Halfpenny, George North, Jamie Roberts, James Hook and Mike Phillips amongst them, while the reputations of the likes of Warburton, Faletau and Lydiate up front have soared as a result of our World Cup exploits.

As such, an awful lot of Welsh folk I speak to seem to think the Grand Slam is very much on again for Warren Gatland’s side, or the Championship at the very least.

The title this year is very much up for grabs, but I can’t see any team winning five out of five.

The Six Nations after a World Cup is always fascinating, because it tends to involve teams rebuilding and we always await with interest to see how they go. It becomes a bit of a mixed bag, with teams keen on a decent tournament but also beginning the rebuilding programme towards the next world Cup.

Wales, in a way, are ahead of most other countries in that respect because of the youth policy implemented by Gatland out in New Zealand.

As such, they can look to hit the ground running more than, shall we say England, who have a huge job to undertake as they start looking towards 2015.

But winning the opening game in Dublin is a huge ask for Wales, because it is always such a hard place to get anything from.

And I speak from first-hand experience there because I never left Ireland on the winning team myself!

The current Irish side are going to be fired up for obvious reasons, as they look to erase the memory of what Wales did to them in the World Cup.

If we are to triumph out there, we need Halfpenny at his best, Hook shining in the way we know he can, rather than the shadow player we saw out in New Zealand.

And the other kingpin for me will be Mike Phillips, one of the best players in the World Cup who was in prime form during the autumn.

That’s the Phillips I like to see, the one looking to exploit little gaps and using his physique to break the gain-line, rather than the one who is slow to get the ball away and finds himself blotted out by the opposition back row.

Wales quite rightly earned plaudits for their endeavours down in New Zealand, but time does not stand still in professional sport and they do need to keep that momentum going with a decent Six Nations.

By the end of March, we will know whether Wales head down under again for a three-Test summer tour of Australian on a high... or having taken a step backwards and worrying about what is in store for them against the Wallabies.

Let’s hope it is the former, but, as usual, I cannot wait for this great old tournament to begin.

Bring it on.

Where do Wales seem to want to play him most? I prefer him at full back personally.

Are we talking about the womens or mens game here?

1/2 P to full back with Stoddart eventually returning on the other wing when he gets back from injury - he has been a big loss. Byrne and Cuthbert look excellent back ups

I would agree with Ruby, once Stoddart fully fit and Cuthbert gets some more experience then Halfpenny is our best option at XV.

However while we waiting for them two to get there and with Byrne in some decent form of late I am happy for a back 3 of North Byrne Halfpenny

Lee Halfpenny
George North
Jonathan Davies
Jamie Roberts
Alex Cuthbert
Rhys Priestland
Mike Phillips

Rhys Gill
Huw Bennett
Adam Jones
Ian Evans
Bradley Davies
Ryan Jones
Sam Warburton (c)
Toby Falatau

Chunky Norwich wrote:
Lee Halfpenny
George North
Jonathan Davies
Jamie Roberts
Alex Cuthbert
Rhys Priestland
Mike Phillips

Rhys Gill
Huw Bennett
Adam Jones
Ian Evans
Bradley Davies
Ryan Jones
Sam Warburton (c)
Toby Falatau

Is that a guess?

I cant see Gill starting

Me neither nor Cuthbert

They won't start with Cuthbert.

Please tell me they won't start with Cuthbert!

Gill really took it to the Ospreys front row recently - Ive been impressed with him this season and would love to see him at a Region, maybe Scarlets

wales606 wrote:

Is that a guess?

Not really.

Leave Gill out of it. I will be in Dublin and am prepared to kidnap Cuthbert if his name is anywhere near the 22!

Chunky Norwich wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Is that a guess?

Not really.

??? Insider knowledge?

I would be happy to see that team since it means that Preistland and Roberts are fit.

I wouldnt be surprised to see Cuthbert start, based on what Gatland et al have been saying.

Gill is a surprise, but he must have impressed in training at at Sarries.

Whats wrong with Cuthbert ??

munkian wrote:Whats wrong with Cuthbert ??

As long as we don't pick Hugh, Pugh, Barney Mcgrew, Dibble and Grubb I'm happy with Cuthbert as he's on fire at the moment - Cue SAM

RubyGuby wrote:

munkian wrote:Whats wrong with Cuthbert ??

As long as we don't pick Hugh, Pugh, Barney Mcgrew, Dibble and Grubb I'm happy with Cuthbert as he's on fire at the moment - Cue SAM

There is a Huw playing

Ritchie Pugh hasnt made the step up yet.

That's Huw by the way and I was waiting for someone - Nice one 606

Pick Cuthbert, i wont mind

Although I'm not saying we'll see him on Sunday, Liam Williams is going to be in the mix for the back 3 pretty soon.

munkian wrote:Whats wrong with Cuthbert ??

I think he'd be a total liability.

Nah he is absolutely perfect for Sunday luckless

eirebilly wrote:Nah he is absolutely perfect for Sunday luckless

I'll laugh if he scores the winning try now

wales606 wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Nah he is absolutely perfect for Sunday luckless

I'll laugh if he scores the winning try now

I'll laugh if Wales score a try It would be like Sexton using his pace.....

Thomond wrote:

wales606 wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Nah he is absolutely perfect for Sunday luckless

I'll laugh if he scores the winning try now

I'll laugh if Wales score a try It would be like Sexton using his pace.....

Ahh, its all a little banter wales606, nothing mean meant

Sexton has no pace thomond

If that is the team, the 3/4s are huge.

Sure Billy, I was just being polite, we all know how fast ROG is, do you not remember his try against Scotland last season where he skinned Ford and showed his amazing stength by handing him off in the process? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D74Dlwy07i8

I know you were Thomond

That was some try, especially that last sidestep to beat Patterson, if very risky

He doesnt have the pace of Sexton though.

Lol that was funny.

Add it to the Heino semi when he handed off Malcolm O'Kelly and he you could start to build up a highlights reel that makes him look like a beast.

ROG is hard, bring on the beast and he will skin him too

wales606 wrote:

RubyGuby wrote:

munkian wrote:Whats wrong with Cuthbert ??

As long as we don't pick Hugh, Pugh, Barney Mcgrew, Dibble and Grubb I'm happy with Cuthbert as he's on fire at the moment - Cue SAM

There is a Huw playing

Ritchie Pugh hasnt made the step up yet.

Contrary to popular belief, there's no Hugh... it's...

Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grub

so you could have...

huw, huw, bradley davies, Cuthbert, Dribble, Pub

quiet here tonight in comparison to last night...

All waiting in anticipation for the team tomorrow before we know how its looking.

Well my guess is

James
Bennett
Jones
Evans
Davies
Jones
Warburton
Faletau
Phillips
Hook
Halfpenny
Beck
Davies
North
Byrne

Thats a decent side maesteg. I still would not be all that confident with Hook as he can win a game and lose a game at the drop of a hat.

eirebilly wrote:Thats a decent side maesteg. I still would not be all that confident with Hook as he can win a game and lose a game at the drop of a hat.

Any player can.

He's in decent shape at the moment at USAP. Deserves his position. Would be great to have an inform and fit Priestland but we don't.

You can only pick what you have, coach them to play their best and hope its good enough to beat a great Irish team you guys have selected.

But our team doesn't look so bad for an injury ridden worst case scenario does it...! Seven key players out. And I am far from giving up hope of a win.

Live announcement of welsh team 11:50 a.m.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/02/02/wales-v-ireland-live-six-nations-team-announcement-11-50am-friday-91466-30257035/