Wales v Ireland Match Thread

[Luckless Pedestrian]

First topic message reminder :

Seeing as there isn't one yet, and the teams have been named:

Six Nations 2021: Wales v Ireland

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Sunday, 7 February Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Hallam Amos; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Will Rowlands, Josh Navidi, Gareth Davies, Callum Sheedy, Nick Tompkins.

Ireland: Keenan, Earls, Ringrose; Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Herring, Porter, Beirne, Ryan, O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Stander.

Replacements: Kelleher, Kilcoyne, Furlong, Henderson, Connors, Gibson Park, Burns, Larmour.

[Duty281]

Was it Wales who actually got a man sent off?

[Gooseberry]

The worst part of this is that as an England fan I cant even laugh at the Welsh

[Gooseberry]

POM always does that, not sure why Ireland still pick him. For what it’s worth I think he was committed to the clearout and couldn’t pull put of it, a bit unlucky in that regard, but head is head. Hope it doesn’t ruin the game.

Charging into the ruck is foul play in itself so its not really mitigation

Did you ever clear someone out? I was involved a lot on the occasions I played flanker and used to love trying to hurt people in the ruck. If you don’t go in 100% then you don’t generate quick ball. Admittedly, POM has history and should be able to manage it better, being a pro and all.

I used to enjoy sticking my leg out when they opposition flash git back made me look like a goose but it doesn't make it legal. Do you still have a Free Bakies Botha armband?

Well you said charging into the ruck as foul play when it isn’t, so long as you don’t dive off your feet. The foul play was head contact.

9.20.a
A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.

[Collapse2005]

Barnes was dead right, defo red. Pom you absolute moron. That said Barnes may have done us a favour by getting rid of him, he is crap anyway. Lydiate was probably a bigger loss for Wales.

[mikey_dragon]

Pretty much what I said, Goose? As how do you bind onto a player if you’re off your feet. See Healy’s legal charge into the ruck, good clear out. It was your choice of words btw, not mine.

[tigertattie]

Really odd game this.

Can Ireland hold on for another 40 mins? Do wales have the ability/confidence to get back in front?

[mikey_dragon]

The knives are out for Pivac again, can’t say I’m surprised.

[westisbest]

Great to be a ahead at half time with 14 men.
Be a tough second half. Hopefully we can push on

[eirebilly]

Cant blame Pivac for this performance, this is purely down to on field game management and that is seriously lacking for Wales.

[JDizzle]

Wales were quite good for the first 15/20 minutes. Then as soon as Ireland lost a man, they have dominated. Bizarre.

Wales just need some ball. And we will go from there.

[mikey_dragon]

Cant blame Pivac for this performance, this is purely down to on field game management and that is seriously lacking for Wales.

Of course we can blame Pivac. Biggar isn’t controlling or kicking well though. Scrum and lineout a bit shaky again - forwards coach and selections have a lot to do with that.

[Shifty]

Pivac should have been sacked after the last 6 Nations, people are talking about Covid and difficult circumstances, but it doesn't alter the fact Wales have gone into free fall since Gatland left.  Wales have literally been handed a gift from the gods in playing nearly 70 minutes of an international with a man advantage and Wales will be lucky to finish second in this game.  

Pivac is the coach, and the buck stops with him.
What is Wales game plan?
What are they trying to accomplish when they have the ball?  
Do Wales actually do any training?
Why are our set pieces so hopelessly poor?
Why does Wales decision making look so inept with so many experienced players on the field?
Do Wales do any defensive training, why do we look like we'd struggle to stop a 5 year old on a tricycle most of the time?

[mikey_dragon]

Well didn’t he say judge us on Sunday? So far we are doing just that. Wales have been mostly depressing to watch since Pivac came in.

[eirebilly]

Its the discipline in this match that is costing Wales. Pivac may not be the man to lead Wales but he cannot be blamed for this performance as it is on field game management that is letting Wales down.

[eirebilly]

Henderson has been simply sublime today for Ireland.

[eirebilly]

Good try for Wales, this could be it for Ireland as the tiredness is beginning to show.

[mikey_dragon]

Great to know I was right about North being a better attacking threat from 13 again, after someone almost blew a fuse over it.

[RiscaGame]

Get in George. He is looking dangerous. Need to get him on the ball more. Good to see us play with some tempo, albeit off a turnover.

[mikey_dragon]

Its the discipline in this match that is costing Wales. Pivac may not be the man to lead Wales but he cannot be blamed for this performance as it is on field game management that is letting Wales down.

Yeah totally agree with that. Biggar isn’t great as alluded to, but Pivac keeps sticking with him. Pivac actually left out someone who is very good at managing a game (Webb).

[No 7&1/2]

Ireland tiring. Making poor decisions.

[mikey_dragon]

Biggar just doesn’t attack the line well enough, Sheedy anyone?

[Guest]

How did we mess that up?! The miss pass to 1/2p the wrong decision there.

[eirebilly]

That was some finish

[Shifty]

Wales just don't have basic set piece play, if you don't have that you can't build momentum in games. It's like watching Wales in the 90's when Garin Jenkins couldn't throw straight and Gareth Llewellyn was our only line out option.

[Collapse2005]

Earls completely at fault for that score, two really dumb decisions from him.

[king_carlos]

LZR is some player. Just a fabulous finish.

[RiscaGame]

Great finish.

[tigertattie]

Great finish by LRZ

Wales are making very hard working this. Puff May run out for Ireland.

[eirebilly]

Earls completely at fault for that score, two really dumb decisions from him.

Earls?

More like James Lowe...

[eirebilly]

Bad call against Beirne there, the ball was out. A fair contest for me.

[asoreleftshoulder]

Joke penalty there ,a man down we need those calls going our way.

[Collapse2005]

Earls completely at fault for that score, two really dumb decisions from him.

Earls?

More like James Lowe...

Earls gave away a pen by taking a Wales guy out in the air then kicked it out out on the full. Two dreadful errors that handed the ball to Wales on our own line from all the way up in Wales territory.

[asoreleftshoulder]

No matter what happens here I'm pretty happy with our performance. Our breakdown and attacking especially in yhe centre has come on hugely. If we can sort out our line-out then we're progressing.

[eirebilly]

Earls completely at fault for that score, two really dumb decisions from him.

Earls?

More like James Lowe...

Earls gave away a pen by taking a Wales guy out in the air then kicked it out out on the full. Two dreadful errors that handed the ball to Wales on our own line from all the way up in Wales territory.

So the fact that Lowe's defending has indirectly led to two tries for Wales is not an issue for you?

Granted that Earls has not had the best game and has been a contributing factor but he is not alone in mistakes...

[eirebilly]

No matter what happens here I'm pretty happy with our performance. Our breakdown and attacking especially in yhe centre has come on hugely. If we can sort out our line-out then we're progressing.

The breakdown play has been a real positive. Beirne and VDF have been outstanding, add in Henderson as well.

[RiscaGame]

Cheap shot on Sexton

I’ve deleted your first attempt at this. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and you can explain what Tipuric did wrong.

[eirebilly]

Cheap shot on Sexton

I’ve deleted your first attempt at this. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and you can explain what Tipuric did wrong.

Rugby incident, nothing in it.

[mikey_dragon]

I think Beirne could get POTM, he’s a cracker.

[Guest]

I think Wales are gonna stuff this up.

[TightHEAD]

Why kick that?

[No 7&1/2]

I think Wales are gonna stuff this up.

Nah. Ireland are knackered.

[Maine man]

I think Beirne could get POTM, he’s a cracker.

He's been very impressive. Henderson has played well since coming on

[TightHEAD]

Billy burns brain fart.

[king_carlos]

Cheap shot on Sexton

I’ve deleted your first attempt at this. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and you can explain what Tipuric did wrong.

Probably something to do with Tipuric accidentally colliding with Sexton being the reason Bath lost this weekend. Throw in "biased ref" and "Stuart Hooper stole my lunch money" then you've got the entire album.

[Collapse2005]

Earls completely at fault for that score, two really dumb decisions from him.

Earls?

More like James Lowe...

Earls gave away a pen by taking a Wales guy out in the air then kicked it out out on the full. Two dreadful errors that handed the ball to Wales on our own line from all the way up in Wales territory.

So the fact that Lowe's defending has indirectly led to two tries for Wales is not an issue for you?

Granted that Earls has not had the best game and has been a contributing factor but he is not alone in mistakes...

The critical errors in this game were made by Earls and Pom. Id drop them both for good.

[mikey_dragon]

I think Beirne could get POTM, he’s a cracker.

Wyn Jones , I wonder what some see in him that I don’t.

[eirebilly]

Of course you would Collapse, of course you would.

Nice deflection away from Lowe's defending inabilities, would you drop him too?

[king_carlos]

I think Beirne could get POTM, he’s a cracker.

He's surely cemented the starting berth alongside Ryan.

Excellent lock depth for Ireland with some talented youngsters breaking through at the Provinces.

[Guest]

What the hell?!  Gareth Davies, one of the best break runners around, grubbers it when it looked like he had a run through.

[Collapse2005]

Of course you would Collapse, of course you would.

Nice deflection away from Lowe's defending inabilities, would you drop him too?

No he didn't do anything remotely as brain dead as Earls and Pom

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