RWC Quarter Final: Ireland - Wales (08-10-2011, 18:00)

[TVH11]

well I don't think i should have watched the Scrum V WC Special from Sunday night. As if I wasn't exited and optimistic enough for saturdays game, its made me realize that for some reason we seem to have a real belief in ourselves regarding these knock out stages. The players seemed to have "peeked" at the right time, we've learned our lessons from SA match and I believe that we've applied what we've learned in the matches that followed.

Saturdays gonna be a huge huge match!!! I think its gonna be a very tense affair, with very evenly matched sides coming head to head (I really wouldn't mind this being the final due to the balance between the two sides). We really need to keep a cool head for first 20. Back row battle will be immense, cant wait to see Warburton square up against O'Brien!

I'd hope that Gatland keeps a similar side to Fiji, they're high on confidence and seem like the closest to best XV we have. I personally would love to see Hook and Shane come off the bench, can you imagine the impact of those two players in last 20 mins against "tired" legs. I hope Jon Davies doesn't play, i think Scott Williams and Roberts seem to work well together (even if it was against a "2nd string" fiji side).

My team for Saturday would be

1. Gethin Jenkins
2.
3. Adam Jones
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Luke Charteris
6. Dan Lydiate (if fit)
7. Sam Warburton
8. Toby Falatau
9. Mike Phillips (wouldn't mind seeing Lloyd Williams given a game, but he'd be highly useful off the bench)
10. Rhys Priestland (seems very comfortable and played well in groups; should be rewarded for it - hope he can work on his drop goals though
11. George North
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Scott Williams
14. Leigh Halfpenny
15. Lee Byrne

16. Paul James
17. Ken Owens
18. Andy Powell
19. Ryan Jones
20. Lloyd Williams
21. James Hook
22. Shane Williams

As I said, form should be rewarded and i think having the trio of Shane, Hook and Lloyd Williams coming off the bench would be electric for the pace of the game! Also Powell has shown he can create a great impact coming off the bench, with Ryan being very consistent and solid also.

I'm soooooo frikin exited for this match!!!! I can't wait for Saturday morning

 

[King_D'Arcy]

UGH Scrum V is rubbish.. They'd say Wales were gonna win the world cup if they lost 66-0 to Fiji

 

[Peat]

Not really, because Faletau and Warburton are excellent defenders aswell. Faletau in particular is great around the fringes, while Warburton is often the man leading the defensive charge. O'Brien is a great player, and he needs to be kept quiet, I think Lydiate is just the man to do this (Kaino aswell if the two meet).

I'm not knocking the defensive abilities of any of the Welsh back-rows, but my point is you can't just focus on one of the Irish back-rows as a linebreaker. Partially because all of them have the ability (Ferris was the better carrier of him and O'Brien against Italy), and partially because Ireland rotate them around the ball carrying roles and its hard to say who'll be taking the ball on at any particular moment or place.

Generally I'd say the best way of stopping them is a blitz with two guys targeting their channels... but if O'Gara's playing, I'm not sure the blitz is a terribly clever idea. Mike Phillips might be required to do a lot of sweeping.

Happily for everyone involved, I'm not paid to work that out, Gatland is.

 

[munstermuffin]

I think the good thing from Ireland point of view is we can be very versatile which isn't something we could say in recent years

 

[TRF_Cymro]

This thread has amused me no end today ... particularly the ones who are subtlety putting that Wales somehow cannot compete with Ireland and Wales have no chance. More fool you if you think this is the case. Same goes for the players, the way some are talking its amusing.

Oh and I won't be posting my thoughts on the Welsh team because it seemingly offends one or two. Sad times indeed.

 

[Saintjay]

This is like the Boks, Australia game. Far to close to call. I think Ireland might just edge it in the forwards, but then you have to allow Wales are not to bad either and Warbuton.

I think the Wales backs just edge it at the moment for attacking play and despite a great win for Ireland over Australia I keep thinking back to there warm up games where they were shocking.

The beasting that Wales got in Poland seems to have brought them closer together and they look to be improving every game.

 

[i tickle ur tum]

this game is not for the feint hearted & it will be a huge battle from start to finish. i had picked wales as my 2nd fav team to support(always have) in this rwc but im screwed now coz 1 must leave on sat morning(evening)! wales look sublime @ the mo & have every right to feel confident going into sat game but deep down i feel ireland will just want this more but its on the day that counts!! extra time a real possibility

 

[lucky number 7]

This thread has amused me no end today ... particularly the ones who are subtlety putting that Wales somehow cannot compete with Ireland and Wales have no chance. More fool you if you think this is the case. Same goes for the players, the way some are talking its amusing.

Oh and I won't be posting my thoughts on the Welsh team because it seemingly offends some. Sad times indeed.

Who exaclt is gettingn offended on your opinion of the Welsh team ? I haven't really read through the thread but I haven't seen anyone taking the welsh lightly so far.

 

[Jockstap]

Anybody know who our ref is gonna be?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Craig Joubert

 

[j-dawg]

This is Ireland's biggest lingerie section I understand

 

[TRF_Olyy]

This is Ireland's biggest lingerie section I understand

 

[shtove]

Who exaclt is gettingn offended on your opinion of the Welsh team ? I haven't really read through the thread but I haven't seen anyone taking the welsh lightly so far.

He is Warran Gatland. Stirring it.

I'm waiting for an Ireland match I'm tempted not to watch because of my nerves. This isn't the one - not yet.

One thing I've noticed with Ireland over the summer is they keep saying: We just want to make the last quarter with a chance to win - BOD has said that a couple of times. In the post-match interview Deccie says, "Well, we did alright. 'Twasn't the end of the world. And there was a nice cup of tea waiting for us in the changing rooms. But no sugar for the lads ..."

 

[Darwin]

Really looking forward to this game, as I don't know which way it will go. Should be a good battle up front: I would have thought Ireland may have had a slight edge in the scrum (mainly as I'm not sure whether Jenkins/Jones are fully fit), but if Best is out I expect it will be pretty even. Lineouts look pretty evenly matched to me. I can't remember Ireland losing many lineouts at all, while Wales lineout has been solid too (especially with Charteris). The battle in the loose will be the highlight of the game for me. Ireland obviously have a stronger ball running trio, but I think Wales should have the edge at the breakdown.

There are some good matchups in the backline too - Wales obviously have a big size advantage in most positions. I will make my prediction once I've seen the teams named, as I really don't know who I'm favoring at this stage.

 

[kicklikeaprop]

Out of interest when are the teams being named

 

[Steveomac]

This thread has amused me no end today ... particularly the ones who are subtlety putting that Wales somehow cannot compete with Ireland and Wales have no chance. More fool you if you think this is the case. Same goes for the players, the way some are talking its amusing.Oh and I won't be posting my thoughts on the Welsh team because it seemingly offends one or two. Sad times indeed.

Where are you seeing these threads? From what I see most people have it 50:50 or one side edging it.......

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Out of interest when are the teams being named

Thursday, I imagine

 

[i tickle ur tum]

Thursday, I imagine

i actually think it is tomorrow but i could be wrong!

 

[nato]

They were saying, that rory best might still be able to play because his shoulder popped out of his socket and then they popped it back in.

 

[ckell]

I'd imagine we'd know the teams on Thursday morning, because for Ireland's Sunday games we found out the team by Friday morning.