Wales v Ireland

[Peat]

Spence can and does play wing. The only back 3 position he doesn't play is full-back where I doubt Murphy would have been standing anyway, not with Duffy there.

 

[munstermuffin]

I can accept that and Johne is only their as cover and offers more options for training like I'm realistic to say none of these will get game

 

[Peat]

Dominic Ryan covers less positions than McCarthy as well; its the same principle. Pick the guy who will take the most away from the environment and promises the most in the future.

 

[munstermuffin]

Well their I'd disagree because McCarthy is selected for his backrow positions only but agree with your principal

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

To be fair, O'Leary, though in poor form, is still playing better than Mike phillips so no matter who you pick, you're likely to have the edge.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Wales fret over injured quartet before Ireland visit

Wales have injury concerns over captain Matthew Rees, James Hook, Ryan Jones and Morgan Stoddart before Saturday's Six Nations match with Ireland.

Back-up hooker Richard Hibbard picked up a should injury playing for the Ospreys on Saturday, so regional team-mate Huw Bennett has been called up.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

So that'd be Hibbard starting, Huw Bennet bench
Jones flyhalf, Roberts/Davies midfield, Priestland flyhalf cover,
Powell at 8, bench unchanged
Halfpenny start, North (?) bench

Going on the squad/who Gatland likes, anyhow

Still a good team, with the exception of Bennet on the bench, Stoddart being out probably improves Wales chances - and there's more chance of Priestland getting some game time

 

[TRF_Cymro]

So that'd be Hibbard starting, Huw Bennet bench
Jones flyhalf, Roberts/Davies midfield, Priestland flyhalf cover,
Powell at 8, bench unchanged
Halfpenny start, North (?) bench

Going on the squad/who Gatland likes, anyhow

Still a good team, with the exception of Bennet on the bench, Stoddart being out probably improves Wales chances - and there's more chance of Priestland getting some game time

:lol: Hibbard is out, bloody hell Olyy Aber must be proud to have you on their course when you can't read

North and Adam Jones have not been called up, mentions further on down the article. They do expect Hook and Jones to be fit however.

 

[Draggs]

I'd pick TRT, Gareth Williams, and Steve Jones ahead of Huw.
Bloody hell Ken, why did you have to get injured?

Halfpenny starting, regardless of Stoddart, IMO.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Aye, not a fan of Huw at all, but he's bound to be the one to be involved

 

[Draggs]

Aye, not a fan of Huw at all, but he's bound to be the one to be involved

Must have good pics then.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Must have good pics then.

 

[Draggs]

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Adam Jones has ruled himself out of starting, but says he'd be happy to be a replacement or carry the bags on Saturday.

None of them are out, just 'concerns'. Jonathan Thomas also has a knock according to the WRU website.

 

[lucky number 7]

west side is bettah !!

 

[coonor]

My Ireland team from the Ireland senior squad:

1) C. Healy (He has impressed me in the loose and scrum over the past two matches)
2) R. Best
3) M. Ross (doesn't give away penalties and our scrum has improved. Imagine how our scrum would be if he had played in the autumn)
4) L. Cullen (deserves a chance)
5) P. O'Connell
6) S. O'Brien
7) D. Wallace
8) J. Heaslip
9) E. Reddan
10) J. Sexton (O'Gara has proven something but Sexton would have learned alot and didn't really deserved to be dropped anyway)
11) K. Earls
12) F. McFadden (had a great game for Leinster at 12 on Friday)
13) B. O'Driscoll (C)
14) T. Bowe
15) L. Fitzgerald

16) S. Cronin
17) T. Court
18) D. O'Callaghan
19) R. Ruddock
20) P. Stringer
21) R. O'Gara
22) G. D'Arcy

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wales team:

Wales:
15. Lee Byrne (Ospreys);
14. Leigh Halfpenny (Blues),
13. Jamie Roberts (Blues),
12. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets),
11. Shane Williams (Ospreys);
10. James Hook (Ospreys),
9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys);
1. Paul James (Ospreys),
2. Matthew Rees (Scarlets, capt),
3. Craig Mitchell (Ospreys),
4. Bradley Davies (Blues),
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys),
6. Dan Lydiate (Dragons),
7. Sam Warburton (Blues),
8. Ryan Jones (Ospreys).

Replacements:
Richard Hibbard (Ospreys),
John Yapp (Blues)
- two from: Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andy Powell (London Wasps), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys) -
Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks),
Stephen Jones (Scarlets),
Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets)


Not a bad team, think Roberts and Davies should switch round, and Priestland should be on the bench over Stoddart
Reckon the bench will be JT and Powell
Good to see Peel in the mix, though he should be starting with Knoyle on the bench (or vice versa)

 

[munstermuffin]

Ireland unchanged even subs so TOL isn't in 22 and ROG keeps 10 shirt. I'm happy I suppose and well seen the Welsh team I feel this is going to be a battle as I didn't expect Hook at 10

 

[lynam1104]

NO TOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. ok now mommet of joy over but the only problem i have is D'Arcy hes not plying well the 12 shirt should be witch Wallace or McFadden

 

[dullonien]

That's a decent team. I'm of course upset that Phillips is starting again, but at least Peel is on the bench. As Ollyy, the centres should be the other way round, but that's a minor issue.

I'm sooo glad Hibbard is fit, he was awesome for the Ospreys on the weekend, and is miles better than Bennett. Gatland should certainly bring him on with 20+ minutes to go, his scrummaging will cause some problems. I'm a little disapointed that Turnbull isn't on the bench. I feel it's important to have a propper openside on the bench, as it's such a specialist position, especially when there are two backrows on the bench! Out of those three though, I'd like McCusker and Powell, at least Powell offers some kind of impact, unlike Jon Thomas!

Ultimately, I think it's quite good that Mitchell has retained his place. He'll have no trouble dealing with the Irish front-row scrum time, and the more experience he get's the better. Adam Jones simply doesn't make sense as a replacement, as he doesn't cover looshead, nor does Mitchell. Considering Paul James is capable of shifting to tighthead a looshead makes best sense on the bench. Just wish that looshead wasn't Yapp. Bevington had an absolute stormer for the O's on the weekend, much better player than Yapp in every department.

Stoddart is probably a decent shout on the bench, as he covers the entire back three. The problem with having Priestland, is that he'd only be there to cover fullback considering Stephen Jones is there for fly-half cover. There's a possibility that if Byrne get's injured, Stoddart would actually come onto the wing with Halfpenny going back to fullback anyway, and I'm happy with that. Would prefer North to be on the bench ideally though.