Ireland vs Wales, 8th February 2014

First topic message reminder :

IRELAND: Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster); Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster); Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) (capt), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster).

Replacements: Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster), Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster), Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster), Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster).

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro 92), George North (Northampton Saints); Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro 92); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro 92), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues) (capt), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Bath), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), JP Doyle (England)
Television Match Official: Graham Hughes (England)

   

Trimble is having an awesome game

Nice run by Trimble but shocking from Ireland at the breakdown.

Trimble making a few critics eat their words today.

Ahhh. Trimble did so well to set that chance up... wasted.

Great run by Trimble there, unlucky for Ireland that there was nobody at the base of that ruck

Wales will score a try before half time so Ireland have to take their Chances

Sorry but D'Arcy is just a passenger at the moment...

Both teams look shattered. Wales will finish the stronger though so Ireland need to take their chances.

Ireland have upped a gear but Wales are looking dangerous when they build up pressure through phases.

Priestland having a good kicking game

Kicking has been awful by ireland

Wales's shocking line out is keeping Ireland in this.

Well done Kearney. Great work

Great stuff! Ireland having a purple patch here! Maul time!

Kick kick kick. Terrible advert for nh rugby. Both teams are better than this!

Try!

G'wan lads

Irish line out has been the difference

Yes!!!!! Good man Chris!

Now that is how you drive a lineout. Quick set and push on before the defending team is set. Excellent

Very well executed maul, shift the weght to the blibside and gather momentum immediately.

Great score

Chris Henry! But the man I really tip my hat to is John Plumtree- what a difference he's made to our lineout and maul!

I haven't been so excited since Rocky cut Ivan Drago in that third round.

Oh cracking conversion from Sexton

Easy try difficult tp prevent, Wales must stop their rubbish kicking or there is only one winner

Nailed it. Turteen nill now.

Ireland playing very well, very high intensity. Wales playing with a lack of intensity in attack, plus we can't compete at the breakdown.

C'mon Wales, up your game.

What are Wales doing? They should be lined up and shot after the game, they're playing like they want Ireland to win!

great try.

beautiful kick into space by Sexton.

Ireland just doing the basics, set piece, line-out ruck and maul, not giving pens away.

Wales no awareness

And that is why halfpenny is told to kick

Wales look out of ideas already. They just need to get Roberts and North running at the irish defence

Notch wrote:Chris Henry! But the man I really tip my hat to is John Plumtree- what a difference he's made to our lineout and maul!

Good shout, its always been a strength of ours but neglected in the last few years. Really going well over the past few games.

That was forward, and penalty for Ross offside.

Great kick

Ireland on the roll here.

The welsh way is a myth. They are as one dimensional a team I've ever watched

HammerofThunor wrote:That was forward, and penalty for Ross offside.

No, red hand slapped it back.

Sexton starting to come into the game now.

O Connell has had a brilliant half

What a kick by Sexton!

I'd like to see Isaac Boss come on.

Liam Williams looks lost like Preistland, must start winning set piece ball.

Try 2 for Ireland coming up, Wales couldn't learn to counter the maul if their mothers' lives depended on it. Ireland just need to carry on what they're doing and they're home free. Pathetic Wales    

Wales forwards look knackered, Lydiate particularly so

This will be a big kick...

Really stupid by Wales, another 3 points here exactly what Ireland need because we are looking very tired now.

Notch wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:That was forward, and penalty for Ross offside.

No, red hand slapped it back.

Yeah

rodders wrote:Really stupid by Wales, another 3 points here exactly what Ireland need because we are looking very tired now.

I think wales look more tired to be honest.

Wales are looking a bit disorganised, except defence.

I can really see how Lydiate kept SOB out of the Lions team...

I would have gone for the corner myself.

Still a good first half for Ireland. 13 - 0