[2025 Six Nations] Wales vs Ireland - 22/02/25

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

A couple injuries and an emotional Welsh team could make this a better game than previously anticipated.

Don't think Wales have the quality and cohesion needed to beat us at the very start of what is hopefully their journey back to being competitive.

Will be in the Millenium for the first time. Can't wait. And we better keep the roof closed! (Which I think we will)

 

[Groundhog]

I don't think it's arrogant to say it would be a historical flop if we let the Welsh get anything from this. Team could look slightly different this week, but we should be a couple of levels above where this Welsh team are, even with home advantage and the potential of a 'no Gats bounce'

 

[Saintjay]

A couple injuries and an emotional Welsh team could make this a better game than previously anticipated.

Don't think Wales have the quality and cohesion needed to beat us at the very start of what is hopefully their journey back to being competitive.

Will be in the Millenium for the first time. Can't wait. And we better keep the roof closed! (Which I think we will)

Don't think you get a choice now.

Think the welsh default is closed and then scare you to death with crowd noise, daffodil hats and male voice choirs.

 

[AlRums]

Don't think you get a choice now.

Think the welsh default is closed and then scare you to death with crowd noise, daffodil hats and male voice choirs.

Better than that Irish singer who wouldn't shut up.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Anymore complaining and we'll double our national anthems.

 

[Amiga500]

Anymore complaining and we'll double our national anthems.

As long as they don't go near Phil Coulter...

 

[BPM]

I don't think it's arrogant to say it would be a historical flop if we let the Welsh get anything from this. Team could look slightly different this week, but we should be a couple of levels above where this Welsh team are, even with home advantage and the potential of a 'no Gats bounce'

Well I think it would have to be an incredible bounce for them to get anything from the game.

Their best chance is if Ireland are complacent but I don't think this Irish team is particularly prone to that.

 

[Dean Cooperfield-West]

Ireland is safe. England is the team who will come crashing down. Beating us will be the magic medication for the taffies

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Well I think it would have to be an incredible bounce for them to get anything from the game.

Their best chance is if Ireland are complacent but I don't think this Irish team is particularly prone to that.

Aye, don't really think this is a set up that gets complacent. Pretty ruthless in fact and have probably won more games than they should have in the last four years as a result. When they have lost, it's been in some of the biggest games but that comes with the territory.

Last year against England it was an accusation but mostly off the back of Stringer and Heaslip spouting nonsense. There was a leadership gap that day and a few lads were taught a lesson on playing away from home which they hadn't properly experienced but I think it's fair to say that those demons were banished a few months later in South Africa and the leadership hole has been plugged well by Doris, JGP and Lowe.

The players will also be aware of the potential turnover in squad and starting team places, a lot of lads who had been knocking on the door will get increased chances to impress with club and country whilst most of the 23 are away with the Lions and on extended stand down after.

2015 won't be dead in the memory of the squad either with a few vets qho went to Cardiff heavily favoured and were sent packing with no grand slam.

 

[OllyM97]

Wales 17 - 38 Ireland - Think it will be very much like the game between these two last year in Dublin. Wales will actually attack this week and have the odd decent spell in the game but the result will never feel in doubt. Comfortable win for Ireland but not a humiliation for Wales.

 

[The Seeker]

All Ireland, 38-15.

 

[dirty harry]

Wales 17 - 38 Ireland - Think it will be very much like the game between these two last year in Dublin. Wales will actually attack this week and have the odd decent spell in the game but the result will never feel in doubt. Comfortable win for Ireland but not a humiliation for Wales.

I actually think this is optimistic...

My preview against France lends itself here perfectly, after 2 games the selection and game plan seemed the exact opposite of what was needed.

Wales have no power up front, noone who can kick a ball deep or accurate, and next to no weapons on the backline outside of 9.

Wales Scrum has been much better than expected, but the lineouts a mess.

If I was Sherat, I would talk all week about this being the greatest opportunity for an upset in 6N history, and maybe the greatest welsh performance in 5 years...

However behind the scenes I would be setting to keep the score down, and stay solid first,l and foremost.

If the lineout can be solid, Wales have a set peice, that's at least something to hold onto. The catch and drive is a decent weapon, that should have been utilised much more in the last 2 games but wasn't until too late for some reason.

I would almost forget open, wide, attacking play, and focus on field position only. I'd look at our best kicking options in most positions, Edward's, Murray, Thomas all have to play.

I'd also focus on chances, Sherat needs to make his opportunity other players opportunity also, have them and the public to buy into the new coach new Wales ethos...

We don't need to win, but we desperately need green shoots, and that's all Sherat has to aim for.

The only green shoot so far has been the scrum, Jones seemingly being an effective coach there.

For me the pack picks itself, we don't have many options...

However I'd look to spoil in the back row, and forget about ball carriers, or lineout options (I know I know).

My team would be:

1.Thomas
2. Lloyd
3.Thomas
4.Jenkins
5.Freddie
6.Reffel
7.Morgan
8.Wainright
9.Tomos
10.Edward's
11.Llewellyn
12. Thomas
13.James / Roberts
14. Murray
15. Rogers

I know I know, no Falatau, Anscombe, Adams, Tompkins, Smith etc...

My priority would be good feelings, play the players in the position they want to be considered for, and are playing regularly. I will never understand why Roger's didn't play FB last week, and Ben Thomas has never showed anything near int quality at 10.

So there will be a good feeling before game, with youngsters and players who are in good form in their positions, Roger's, James, Llewellyn, Edward's, Freddie T etc...

Then early 2nd half the experienced heads all come on, get the stadium jumping, for what will hopefully be a better end to the game, giving the fans and critics something to look forward to going forward. I know it's a gimic, playing the youngsters with older heads giving a boost, but look Sherat has 3 games to make a mark, he has no time with the squad, no time to instigate any strategy, all he can do is keep with most of the systems already in place, play a territorial game and play the best players in their best positions and hope some of them can really hammer home how good they are.

I'm going uber optimistic for my score prediction, a bouncing MS, a fresh mindset, new energy and young players eager to prove themselves...

Wales 15 Ireland 29 hahahaha

What I would say, is the worst thing Sherat could do, is select the same old tired faces, hoping experience will keep the score down, Dee, Rowlands, Falatau, Anscombe, Tompkins, Adam's etc would all be a mistake IMHO. None of them have excelled for club or country for at least 2-3 seasons now!

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'd like to see

Boyle (with Porter on around 30)
Sheehan
Furlong (Bealham if not fit)
Ryan
Beirne
POM
VdF
Conan
JGP
Crowley / Prendergast
Lowe
Aki
Ringrose
Nash
Keenan

McCarthy, Porter, Clarkson, McCarthy, Baird, Murray, C / P, Osborne

I don't love round 3 for rotation but a few guys need a look / runout. Umfortunate Doris is injured because giving someone a run at 7 would have been nice.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Honestly, if we can score a couple of tries and keep the loss within 20-25 points that's a win, as sad as that is to say. If we can make the game competitive first half, or even an hour, then that would be dream land kind of stuff. We probably should lose this game by 40 points. I don't see how Ireland don't score at least 5 or 6 tries but I'm hoping we can get a couple.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Starting to think Furlong is dead and the IRFU are covering it up.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Starting to think Furlong is dead and the IRFU are covering it up.

Think they saw the Ospreys Leinster game and the Cardiff Connaught match and got scared. Don't blame them. Cymru am byth.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Think they saw the Ospreys Leinster game and the Cardiff Connaught match and got scared. Don't blame them. Cymru am byth.

Rumours of Rab O'Slimani amd Ronán Garret Snyman being called up to bail them out.

Personally I've never heard of either.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Wales have been practicing "your mother was a hamster" and other similar zingers to provoke the Irish into getting 10 red cards, then they might be able to scrape a draw.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

We mustn't forget Wales can still win the triple crown