[2015 Six Nations] Wales vs Ireland (Round 4)

[munstermuffin]

Probably just Lee, AWJ and Faletau really unless SOB is pushed across to 6 to accommodate Warburton . My combined XV would be

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Lee (touch and go with Ross)
4. O'Connell
5. AWJ
6. SOB
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. North
12. Henshaw
13. Davies
14. Bowe
15. Halfpenny (kicking gets him in for me although it's a tight call)

So mines 8 to Ireland 7 to Wales . Although I've given both the tight calls to Wales . It's probably more like a 9/6 to Ireland with Kearney in instead of Halfpenny

But for example I'd not take any of Welsh backrow in if Heaslip was fit but that's my view and everyone will be different as it depends on style of play etc. AWJ and Lee just for me. Backs id probably go same or Roberts/Henshaw but as I say margins are so tight it's balanced regardless. There's no massive difference overall

 

[valley commando]

Probably just Lee, AWJ and Faletau really unless SOB is pushed across to 6 to accommodate Warburton . My combined XV would be

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Lee (touch and go with Ross)
4. O'Connell
5. AWJ
6. SOB
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Murray
10. Sexton
11. North
12. Henshaw
13. Davies
14. Bowe
15. Halfpenny (kicking gets him in for me although it's a tight call)

So mines 8 to Ireland 7 to Wales . Although I've given both the tight calls to Wales . It's probably more like a 9/6 to Ireland with Kearney in instead of Halfpenny

I'd go as above except ROSS FOR LEE, TIPS FOR WARBS (rest his knee), LIAM WILLIAMS FOR NORTH, SCOTT WILLIAMS FOR HENSHAW. This would give a bit more fizz behind.

 

[big ginger 8]

Heaslip will possibly be back. They way Schmidt operates he's have to be training at the start of next week. So provided he does that he'd have recovered in half the estimated time. The guys a freak of nature.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/2015/0305/684750-ireland-training-update-jamie-heaslip/

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

15. Kearney (Halfpenny's kicking is the only thing that makes this a contest, with Sexton kicking like he is it needn't be taken into account)
14. Bowe
13. Henshaw
12. Roberts
11. North
10. Sexton
9. Murray
5. AWJ
4. PO'C
3. Lee
2. Best
1. Healy

There is no clear cut back row fro me.

PO'M - Heaslip - Tipuric
O'Brien - Murphy - Warbs
Lydiate - Faletau - O'Donnell

Those first two are Lions contenders with the last one being extremely effective, you'd have to pick it on how you want your back row to play and personal preference. The rest is clear cut if you ask me.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How can you say Healy is better when he's played about 90s of rugby this year?
Gethins in good form atm too

 

[Peat]

How can you say Healy is better when he's played about 90s of rugby this year?
Gethins in good form atm too

Because all history points to Healy playing better the moment he gets more than 90s of rugby? And this is the same Jenkins who was quite culpable in us beating them?

His assessment of Halfpenny and Kearney is the one that my eyebrows bouncing off of the ceiling.

 

[Barryboy]

I agree up to a point , but when you get 10 or upwards of a combined team from one country , then usually no amount of passion , chemistry , organisation or tactics will change the likely result. For example , Wales vs England in the nineties , apart of course from the odd fluke result ( Scott Gibbs at Wembley). This is because ability will normally count.

I think that there would be a roughly equal amount of Irish and Welsh in a combined team ( I have it just to Wales- 4 backs and 4 forwards) and I don't believe there will be much in it in chemistry or passsion ; which suggests to me that Ireland are favourites away from home largely because of the game plan , which they execute well and with which they are very comfortable.

In answer to the other question- Bowe for me!!

Also does anyone else except for me and Hansen now think that RU , at the top level , has become really boring and is quite often swung by arbitrary decisions of refs at the breakdown ; most of which could go either way.

 

[TheSaffycen]

1.McGrath
2.Best
3.Ross
4.O'Connell
5.AWJ
6.POM
7.SOB
8.Faletau
9.Murray
10.Sexton
11.North
12.Roberts
13.Henshaw
14.Bowe
15.Kearney

 

[munstermuffin]

I think looking at every ones teams the only Clear best combos are @ 2nd row POC/AWJ combo.
And 9/10 - Murray Sexton combo. After that it's all mixed. I think Cmac nailed it with his views on backrow.

Fun stat is:
When Ireland won grand slam in 2009. Steve Walsh was originally the ref and withdrew only to be replaced by Wayne Barnes for that game. Could be a lucky omen

 

[Jbobo]

Id go..

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Lee
4. O'Connell
5. AWJ
6. SOB
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Murray (Webb to come on second half)
10. Sexton (Biggar almost there tbh)
11. North
12. Roberts
13. Davies/Henshaw - Can't decide
14. Bowe
15. Halfpenny

Would be a very good tam.

 

[Jbobo]

Because all history points to Healy playing better the moment he gets more than 90s of rugby? And this is the same Jenkins who was quite culpable in us beating them?

His assessment of Halfpenny and Kearney is the one that my eyebrows bouncing off of the ceiling.

Proof?


Ooops, sorry for the double post.

 

[Maverick1987]

Proof?


Ooops, sorry for the double post.

I've got to agree that Healy is better than Jenkins . Better carrier and scrummager imo Jenkins probably has the edge at the breakdown getting over the ball but my team has SOB and Warburton in it so that's hardly needed

 

[Jbobo]

I've got to agree that Healy is better than Jenkins . Better carrier and scrummager imo Jenkins probably has the edge at the breakdown getting over the ball but my team has SOB and Warburton in it so that's hardly needed

I don't disagree that Healy is better atm, but at his height, Jenkins was amazing. Healy is coming to his prime, top player. Whether he will be regarded as a better player when the two retire? That remains to be seen, Jenkins is very nearly past it. I'd say 'historically' Jenkins has been the better player up until very recently. Just my opinion of course.

 

[Peat]

Proof?


Ooops, sorry for the double post.

Clarification - not that Healy's a better player than Jenkins ever was, but that he is currently a better player than Jenkins is.

 

[Jbobo]

Clarification - not that Healy's a better player than Jenkins ever was, but that he is currently a better player than Jenkins is.

Aye, i agree. He's in great form.

 

[corny]

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Lee (Assuming he holds up the scrum its not hard to offer more than Ross in open play)
4. POC
5. AWJ (Workrate can't be beaten by both SR's so they get the nod)
6. POM
7. SOB (Not gonna shift players around. O Brien brings more to the table than Warburton. Likewise O' Mahony's over Lydiate)
8. Heaslip (Faletau the better carrier V Heaslips higher work rate. Take your pick really)
9. Murray
10. Sexton (Big admirer of Biggar and what he's done in the last 6 months but no one touches Sexton and his all round ability at 10)
11. North
12. Roberts
13. Davies (Fitzgerald might actually be the best we have to offer. Nowhere near enough games at 13 though to be considered ahead of Davies)
14. Bowe
15. Halfpenny (he's better than Kearney)

Not much between the teams so take that with a pinch of salt.

On the game next week? Both teams are suffocating in defence so i'd imagine it won't be pretty. Wales will be hurting from the manner of their defeat last year but they were pretty much out thought and out fought by Ireland. Knowing Gatland i can't see much changing this year. With choke tackles and kicks to turn the wingers galore.....Ireland by 10.

 

[j'nuh]

Since we are all doing it

Healy, Best, Ross, AWJ, POC, SO'B, Warburton, Faletau, Murray, Sexton, L Williams, Henshaw, S Williams, Bowe, Halfpenny

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Kearney is a better footballer than Halfpenny. I'm not a fan of Kearney as a person but fielding, tactical kicking, counter attacking, kick chasing and positioning he's ahead. If it wasn't for his goal kicking HP would not be a cert in the Wales side.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Two very handsome fullbacks.

 

[lucky number 7]

Two very handsome fullbacks.

I think Halfpenny could be shading it.