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)

   

When are commentators going to realise that 'making an effort to roll away' isn't enough? If you get in the wrong position and slow the ball down you will/should get penalised. Doesn't matter if you can move or not.

Sexton with ease

Rule number one, don't back off from Faletau...

Even though Wales gave away the penalty there, you can see that they've been working on a very strong counter-maul.

Jeebus we are getting killed out there. Nearly 10 phases and zero metres.

OUCH!

Yikes

We just look terrified of Wales, we're hanging off them in defence and going nowhere in attack.

What a hit. Don't think bod will finish this

That was a fair attempt from Williams. Just because it is BOD doesn't automatically mean its bad.

No arms, bod taken out again.

Barnes should review that

I think Scott Williams tackle looked 100% ok, don't know why the Irish crowd are booing

Good rugby league tackle there.

Go on lads! Great maul!

And Scott Williams makes it Wales 1-0 Ireland in the cheap shot stakes #GrudgeMatch

I bet Gatland enjoyed it!

Rubbish!

Take that Alun wyn who's your daddy!

Notch wrote:And Scott Williams makes it Wales 1-0 Ireland in the cheap shot stakes #GrudgeMatch

Never a cheap shot in my opinion.

Ireland don't look like breaching that defence

Awful kick from sexton, doesn't matter though

Notch wrote:And Scott Williams makes it Wales 1-0 Ireland in the cheap shot stakes #GrudgeMatch

It was a perfect tackle, and no cheap shot at all.

Williams came off worse from that tackle  

Sexton has been taking some tips from ROG in the kicking game at Racing- shame his cross-field kicking is more ROG 2013 than ROG 2007!

BOD v North

Ding Ding Round:3

Scott Williams is off, got what his shoulder barge on BOD deserved

North to centre - he gave Brian a torrid time there in the heino.

Doesn't make BODs day any easier

Wales defence is great - until they give away the penalty - 5 or 6 already. If they don't watch it they'll lose someone soon - Barnes won't be shy with a yellow.

Awful kick

Stop kicking it to 1/2p ffs

Kicking to halfpenny isn't the best tactic. Sexton has lost the plot.

Thought o mahony was on his feet there

I guess I was right when I said the team selection lacked dynamism and ball carriers.

Phillips is a hot headed dipstick

Sextons game management is sometimes very poor.

Best is amazing on the deck

Bestie!

We are awful at the breakdown.

excellent kick by Priestland, takes the sting out of the game

Sexton getting schooled by Priestland. Bring on ROG!

Sexton has been poor so far.

Have Wales done any homework on this Ireland team? Doesn't look like it. They're playing straight into their hands on the floor. Lydiate's a penalty machine.

OK, lets see how this scrum will go...

Nice play by Murray but should have thrown the dummy, poor box kick to finish.

what is the point of that up and under 1/2p   

Why are wales kicking so much? When they go to the back line they make metres

Its a kick fest. Neither team trying to play but Ireland doing the basics better.

Gethin on his head again, Paul James might as well played

Finally Barnes realises its the low taxes the IRB are getting in Dublin that's keeping him in a job.