6N 2017: Wales v Ireland, 10 March

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WALES v IRELAND
10 March 2017
KO: 20:05 GMT
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Live on [ITV, RTE, SC4, FR2, DMAX / BBC (H)]

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: [tbc]
TMO: [tbc]

A. Head to Head

124 Played 124
50 Won 67
7 Drawn 7
67 Lost 50
1,477 Points 1,381

B. Recent Form

7 February 2016
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
16 – 16 draw

29 August 2015
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
10 – 16 to Wales

8 August 2015
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
21 – 35 to Ireland

14 March 2015
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
23 – 16 to Wales

8 February 2014
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
26 – 3 to Ireland

2 February 2013
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
22 – 30 to Ireland

5 February 2012
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
21 – 23 to Wales

8 October 2011
Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand
22 – 10 to Wales

C. Teams

WALES 


Halfpenny; North, J Davies, S Williams, L Williams, Biggar, Webb, Evans, Owens, Francis, Ball, A Jones, Warburton, Tipuric, Moriarty.

Replacements: Roberts for S Williams (67), S Davies for Biggar (80), G Davies for Webb (67), Smith for Evans (67), Baldwin for Owens (72), Lee for Francis (70), Charteris for Ball (63), Faletau for Moriarty (67).

IRELAND


Kearney; Earls, Ringrose, Henshaw, Zebo; Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best, Furlong, D Ryan, Toner, Stander, O'Brien, Heaslip.

Replacements: Bowe for Kearney (70), Jackson for Sexton (19), Marmion for Murray (46), C Healy for McGrath (59), Scannell for Best (80), J Ryan for Furlong (80), Henderson for Toner (63), O'Mahony for Stander (63).

Well that's my week 4 prediction bust

Ireland getting exactly what they deserve.

Congrats, Wales

Sexton

Munchkin wrote:Congrats, Wales

Sexton

Think Sexton has been dodgy all game, his passing from hand is just off tonight

As much as tonight has been a great, intense game of rugby... We sort of knew Wales could do this. But we have seen time and time ago that this isn't a feasible longterm game plan.

But tonight I will just enjoy the win!

marty2086 wrote:

Munchkin wrote:Congrats, Wales

Sexton

Think Sexton has been dodgy all game, his passing from hand is just off tonight

He has, and you're right about his kicking from hand. Couldn't understand the pundits gushing about him, when his game has been off all through.

Rubbish from Joe. Rubbish from heaslip, sob, best, toner, Kearney.

That was just stupid from Sexton

Well i must admit i am shocked by Ireland's performance tonight.

Well played Wales for a great game and a well deserved win.

Fair play to Wales they kept Ireland out although I have to say Ireland looked blunt in attack ...

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:Ireland getting exactly what they deserve.

Yep. And there just sums up Joe's wonderful decision-making.  Plays a 33 year old winger in a high intensity rugby game over younger, more deserving players. That's probably his career finished.

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:Rubbish from Joe. Rubbish from heaslip, sob, best, toner, Kearney.

And Sexton.

Just rubbish. How can he take off stander ffs...

Very poor from Ireland.
Very annoyed/disappointed.

Well done to Wales.

Gutted though.

I'm glad we beat Ireland I had a horrible feeling we were going to do the old 5 Nations white wash. At least this stops it.
We have still had a pathetic tournament though whatever happens.

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:Just rubbish. How can he take off stander ffs...

He did look fairly pooped

...and Henshaw. But really, the tactics are a joke. We played with a bit of pace at the start which fooled me into thinking Joe was going to pull some tricks out of the bag, but we have been waiting for those tricks since before the World Cup.

Joe is a great coach but he is very one dimensional and unable to adapt.

marty2086 wrote:

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:Just rubbish. How can he take off stander ffs...

He did look fairly pooped

Had an ice pack right away didn't he?

Sexton didn't play well in some ways, but I wouldn't criticise him too much. He is critical to playing Schidt rugby. Our attack is totally dependent on him and the loop. That's all we've got. That and our wee inside pop from Murray/Sexton off the ruck.

Jeez.. I remember when we had another coach like that ...kidney o Sullivan gatland..etc etc

Regardless.. One of the great games of 5/6 nations rugby!

That's why we love this competition!

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Sexton didn't play well in some ways, but I wouldn't criticise him too much. He is critical to playing Schidt rugby. Our attack is totally dependent on him and the loop. That's all we've got. That and our wee inside pop from Murray/Sexton off the ruck.

Don't forget rob kearnage doing nothing

Anyone see how murrey is?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:...and Henshaw. But really, the tactics are a joke. We played with a bit of pace at the start which fooled me into thinking Joe was going to pull some tricks out of the bag, but we have been waiting for those tricks since before the World Cup.

Joe is a great coach but he is very one dimensional and unable to adapt.

We know thats not true though, we know he can put out a team to play with creativity and invention but seems afraid at times to let the players loose. Maybe not having the players day in day out makes it harder for him to let them off the leash

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Sexton didn't play well in some ways, but I wouldn't criticise him too much. He is critical to playing Schidt rugby. Our attack is totally dependent on him and the loop. That's all we've got. That and our wee inside pop from Murray/Sexton off the ruck.

Sexton was off all game, and Joe persists with keeping him on until the game is lost. Reminds me of when we lost away to England when Sexton took a knock, and Joe kept him on. Excellent coach in many ways, but stupid when it comes to selection, and use of the bench, imho.

marty2086 wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:...and Henshaw. But really, the tactics are a joke. We played with a bit of pace at the start which fooled me into thinking Joe was going to pull some tricks out of the bag, but we have been waiting for those tricks since before the World Cup.

Joe is a great coach but he is very one dimensional and unable to adapt.

We know thats not true though, we know he can put out a team to play with creativity and invention but seems afraid at times to let the players loose. Maybe not having the players day in day out makes it harder for him to let them off the leash

Not a good int'l coach then

To me Ireland just didnt seem up for it today, perhaps blame for that can be aimed at the coach, but really the players didnt show anywhere near the trench warfare committment that the welsh players brought to the stadium, something which I didnt anticipate.
 Dont really understand all the criticism of Sexton (above) he is still the most influential playmaker in Britain/Ireland.
 Good to see the Welsh fans have a good day out.

marty2086 wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:...and Henshaw. But really, the tactics are a joke. We played with a bit of pace at the start which fooled me into thinking Joe was going to pull some tricks out of the bag, but we have been waiting for those tricks since before the World Cup.

Joe is a great coach but he is very one dimensional and unable to adapt.

We know thats not true though, we know he can put out a team to play with creativity and invention but seems afraid at times to let the players loose. Maybe not having the players day in day out makes it harder for him to let them off the leash

Do we know? Afraid to let his team play with creativity and help him win the game?

Most of the time it is because he picks the wrong players, for a start.

Well done Wales - a sustained performance, enormous commitment in defence and taking chances when they were available. Very similar to the performance against England but sustained for the full 80.

Ireland seemed to struggle with the intensity - bad mistakes at key moments (including a couple that betrayed a lack of awareness of the rules), and some poor tactical decisions. I thought Heaslip had a particularly poor game, running obvious lines into heavy traffic again and again. Billy V can get away with that, but very few others can.

A couple of tough decisions went against the men in green, though - I thought Sexton's yellow was quite harsh given how he was clearly and deliberately pinned in by the Welsh - but that very few referees give any leeway for that.

Well done Wales, I knew you had a big performance to come this six nations.

Very nervous about tomorrow now.

Yeah, congratulations to Wales, forgot to say. 

Poorfour wrote:Well done Wales - a sustained performance, enormous commitment in defence and taking chances when they were available. Very similar to the performance against England but sustained for the full 80.

Ireland seemed to struggle with the intensity - bad mistakes at key moments (including a couple that betrayed a lack of awareness of the rules), and some poor tactical decisions. I thought Heaslip had a particularly poor game, running obvious lines into heavy traffic again and again. Billy V can get away with that, but very few others can.

A couple of tough decisions went against the men in green, though - I thought Sexton's yellow was quite harsh given how he was clearly and deliberately pinned in by the Welsh - but that very few referees give any leeway for that.

A player can only be pinned in if they are in the wrong place in the first place. He stopped Wales playing it quickly. Once he had done that the Welsh held him their to make it obvious. It was a clear yellow.

Poorfour wrote:Well done Wales - a sustained performance, enormous commitment in defence and taking chances when they were available. Very similar to the performance against England but sustained for the full 80.

Ireland seemed to struggle with the intensity - bad mistakes at key moments (including a couple that betrayed a lack of awareness of the rules), and some poor tactical decisions. I thought Heaslip had a particularly poor game, running obvious lines into heavy traffic again and again. Billy V can get away with that, but very few others can.

A couple of tough decisions went against the men in green, though - I thought Sexton's yellow was quite harsh given how he was clearly and deliberately pinned in by the Welsh - but that very few referees give any leeway for that.

The sexton yellow was spot on, he didn't release the ball and deliberately put his body in the way. Completely 100% correct.

So far John Inverdale hasn't mentioned Wilko. On the red button.

TightHEAD wrote:So far John  Inverdale hasn't mentioned Wilko. On the red button.

Give it time.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Regardless.. One of the great games of 5/6 nations rugby!

That's why we love this competition!  

It was good, but really?

Total destruction.  Congratulations Wales.  Wonderful spite and effort.  Not a competition at all.  Humbling for the Irish team.  Non-existent embarrassing pretence attack.  Non-existent emotion too.  Wales were at war in their drive and intensity.  Ireland couldn't meet it.  We even had players laughing long before the game was over.  For me that's not nearly the right attitude.  Ireland almost accepted defeat because of the yellow card.  They had their excuse.  Pressure off.  
Raw Irish emotion needs to be kicked back into this Irish team again because year by year now we're losing it.  We need a primary Irish coach in there to growl and get more than a technical mood into that side.  

There'll be Irish boys that come on here and suggest it's just a blip and just one game, that we can still win in Dublin.  Yeah, we can win in Dublin, it's possible - but this isn't a blip and the complaints that will come about today from fans and journalists were there even when we were winning.  This Irish team needs to almost completely change now from 11 to 15.  There is nothing there; nothing that pushes the opposition to second guess what we're going to do.  So they just keep to their defensive lines as we pound and pound and pound until our ears ring.  Pound, pound. pound, pound, pound, pound...pound.

It's just not rugby at the highest level.  It's elementary stuff.  Bang, Bang, Bang, no brain - win a few, lose a few, bob's your uncle

Exiledinborders wrote:

Poorfour wrote:Well done Wales - a sustained performance, enormous commitment in defence and taking chances when they were available. Very similar to the performance against England but sustained for the full 80.

Ireland seemed to struggle with the intensity - bad mistakes at key moments (including a couple that betrayed a lack of awareness of the rules), and some poor tactical decisions. I thought Heaslip had a particularly poor game, running obvious lines into heavy traffic again and again. Billy V can get away with that, but very few others can.

A couple of tough decisions went against the men in green, though - I thought Sexton's yellow was quite harsh given how he was clearly and deliberately pinned in by the Welsh - but that very few referees give any leeway for that.

A player can only be pinned in if they are in the wrong place in the first place. He stopped Wales playing it quickly. Once he had done that the Welsh held him their to make it obvious. It was a clear yellow.

He wasnt in the wrong place though he got himself into the right position and Davies rolled on top of him

marty2086 wrote:

Exiledinborders wrote:

Poorfour wrote:Well done Wales - a sustained performance, enormous commitment in defence and taking chances when they were available. Very similar to the performance against England but sustained for the full 80.

Ireland seemed to struggle with the intensity - bad mistakes at key moments (including a couple that betrayed a lack of awareness of the rules), and some poor tactical decisions. I thought Heaslip had a particularly poor game, running obvious lines into heavy traffic again and again. Billy V can get away with that, but very few others can.

A couple of tough decisions went against the men in green, though - I thought Sexton's yellow was quite harsh given how he was clearly and deliberately pinned in by the Welsh - but that very few referees give any leeway for that.

A player can only be pinned in if they are in the wrong place in the first place. He stopped Wales playing it quickly. Once he had done that the Welsh held him their to make it obvious. It was a clear yellow.

He wasnt in the wrong place though he got himself into the right position and Davies rolled on top of him

Yellow card every time. Barnes was spot on

TightHEAD wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Exiledinborders wrote:

Poorfour wrote:Well done Wales - a sustained performance, enormous commitment in defence and taking chances when they were available. Very similar to the performance against England but sustained for the full 80.

Ireland seemed to struggle with the intensity - bad mistakes at key moments (including a couple that betrayed a lack of awareness of the rules), and some poor tactical decisions. I thought Heaslip had a particularly poor game, running obvious lines into heavy traffic again and again. Billy V can get away with that, but very few others can.

A couple of tough decisions went against the men in green, though - I thought Sexton's yellow was quite harsh given how he was clearly and deliberately pinned in by the Welsh - but that very few referees give any leeway for that.

A player can only be pinned in if they are in the wrong place in the first place. He stopped Wales playing it quickly. Once he had done that the Welsh held him their to make it obvious. It was a clear yellow.

He wasnt in the wrong place though he got himself into the right position and Davies rolled on top of him

Yellow card every time. Barnes was spot on

You mean except for when Wales did it?

Must have been looking down a pint glass for that one! Lol

SecretFly wrote:Total destruction.  Congratulations Wales.  Wonderful spite and effort.  Not a competition at all.  Humbling for the Irish team.  Non-existent embarrassing pretence attack.  Non-existent emotion too.  Wales were at war in their drive and intensity.  Ireland couldn't meet it.  We even had players laughing long before the game was over.  For me that's not nearly the right attitude.  Ireland almost accepted defeat because of the yellow card.  They had their excuse.  Pressure off.  
Raw Irish emotion needs to be kicked back into this Irish team again because year by year now we're losing it.  We need a primary Irish coach in there to growl and get more than a technical mood into that side.  

There'll be Irish boys that come on here and suggest it's just a blip and just one game, that we can still win in Dublin.  Yeah, we can win in Dublin, it's possible - but this isn't a blip and the complaints that will come about today from fans and journalists were there even when we were winning.  This Irish team needs to almost completely change now from 11 to 15.  There is nothing there; nothing that pushes the opposition to second guess what we're going to do.  So they just keep to their defensive lines as we pound and pound and pound until our ears ring.  Pound, pound. pound, pound, pound, pound...pound.

It's just not rugby at the highest level.  It's elementary stuff.  Bang, Bang, Bang, no brain - win a few, lose a few, bob's your uncle

Of course there's no passion. They've been turned into obedient robots. The Schmidtoids.

So just to clarify Howely is great and there will be a fair few Welsh Lions just as we were all saying yesterday.

Beware England the wounded Irish in Dublin next week. Just like Wales were wounded tonight from their performance against Scotland. Plenty of people (on BBC forum, not knowledgeable folk like on 606) not giving us a chance tonight. Well done boys fir putting some pride back in the Jersey.

Not surprised by that result, Wales rarely lose both home games in a 6N.

The Welsh also seemed to suss out the three irish back rowers operating in separate pods and snuffed out their ball carrying and importantly matched the set piece.
Sexton was a little unlucky but every ref would give a yellow for that tackle situation all day long.
Usual story, if you can get to the opposition half backs you give your team a good chance of victory and Wales did well. England should do the same to Scotland tomorrow.

Funny enough, complaints from the Welsh fans are very similar. Gatlandball sometimes works in their favour but often doesn't. They want to see more creativity and invention and it has been particularly frustrating with Howley as interim coach.

Gatlandball almost always trumps Schmidtball though. They are very similar styles of play and Wales are much better at it.

TightHEAD wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Regardless.. One of the great games of 5/6 nations rugby!

That's why we love this competition!  

It was good, but really?

Maybe it was just me then but I thought it was fantastic.

Recwatcher16 wrote:Not surprised by that result, Wales rarely lose both home games in a 6N.

The Welsh also seemed to suss out the three irish back rowers operating in separate pods and snuffed out their ball carrying and importantly matched the set piece.
Sexton was a little unlucky but every ref would give a yellow for that tackle situation all day long.
Usual story, if you can get to the opposition half backs you give your team a good chance of victory and Wales did well. England should do the same to Scotland tomorrow.

It honestly happens every single flipping time we play Wales, and yet we persist in doing so. Kidney was crucified for it. Schmidt gets a free pass with many fans.

Ok phase one is complete. Phase 2 starts tomorrow, and Ireland will be considerably salty and ready to execute phase 3 next week...

tatterd wrote:Beware England the wounded Irish in Dublin next week. Just like Wales were wounded tonight from their performance against Scotland. Plenty of people (on BBC forum, not knowledgeable folk like on 606) not giving us a chance tonight. Well done boys fir putting some pride back in the Jersey.

Really don't care as long as we beat Scotland tomorrow. Plus I'm away on a business trip next weekend so I can't watch it anyway.