Team for Ireland

[Numbers]

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Liam Williams, Scott Williams, Hadleigh Parkes, Steff Evans; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Samson Lee; Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones (C); Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi, Ross Moriarty.

Reps: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Justin Tipuric, Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe, George North.

[normanski]

I suppose the only real shock is Biggar coming in and no Patchell on the bench.

That must be a gamble with his lack of match fitness but I guess he’s there to help counter the aerial barrage we expect from Sexton and Murray.

[Numbers]

I feel sorry for Patchell, harsh not being in the 23 but I can see the reasoning for Biggar with the inevitable box kicking of Ireland and I supose Anscombe is seen as a better impact player.

[wayneha50]

An unwelcome return to Warrenball already by the looks of it.

[bruce]

No Falatau? Lack of game time presumably? Disappointed we've reverted back to Biggar, hopefully we don't revert the style of play.

[Son of Mathonwy]

An unwelcome return to Warrenball already by the looks of it.

Gatland is nothing if not conservative.

I certainly wouldn't be rushing Biggar back to the starting team with no match time for a month.

Good to have Liam back though... if a couple of weeks late.

Good team, in general.... I think we should win this. Of course, to make things exciting we'll probably let a couple of tries in at the start, which might have some impact on the final result.

[francoisfou]

Tough on Patchell who given time (which Gatland sadly ain't prepared to give him) could be the number 1 stand off at the World Cup.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Tough on Patchell who given time (which Gatland sadly ain't prepared to give him) could be the number 1 stand off at the World Cup.

Yes, sadly Patchell seems to be no part of Gatland's plans, merely forced into the side by injury.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

I've got to say lads, you are a right bunch of whinging feckers. I just read down that team sheet and shat myself!

[wayneha50]

An unwelcome return to Warrenball already by the looks of it.

Gatland is nothing if not conservative.

I certainly wouldn't be rushing Biggar back to the starting team with no match time for a month.

Good to have Liam back though... if a couple of weeks late.

Good team, in general.... I think we should win this. Of course, to make things exciting we'll probably let a couple of tries in at the start, which might have some impact on the final result.

I'm not so sure. Picking Biggar does seem a backward step back to the turgid, risk-free gameplan thats been failing for the past 2/3 years.

Very harsh on Patchell.

[Son of Mathonwy]

An unwelcome return to Warrenball already by the looks of it.

Gatland is nothing if not conservative.

I certainly wouldn't be rushing Biggar back to the starting team with no match time for a month.

Good to have Liam back though... if a couple of weeks late.

Good team, in general.... I think we should win this. Of course, to make things exciting we'll probably let a couple of tries in at the start, which might have some impact on the final result.

I'm not so sure. Picking Biggar does seem a backward step back to the turgid, risk-free gameplan thats been failing for the past 2/3 years.

Very harsh on Patchell.

I agree, but I think we still have enough Scarlets in the backs to give us a slight edge.

Probably daft to call a Wales/Ireland match though... anything can happen.

[Digby]

I don't know it's that harsh on Patchell when he didn't play well last time out, but it is disappointing, and one does wonder whether Patchell shouldn't have 20 if not 30 more starts by now. Interesting to see though how Biggar now plays, he hasn't always stood that flat, and given the current structure it almost looks easier to put him at 12 outside wither Davies or Patchell and accept some short term issues in his defence there. Maybe Biggar will go and stand closer to the line and do well there, he is a good player, it's just not a norm for him to challenge a defence so

[normanski]

What worries me with him standing flat is that he’s likely to give away interception passes.

[normanski]

I've got to say lads, you are a right bunch of whinging feckers. I just read down that team sheet and shat myself!

We were doing the same this side of the Irish Sea when we look at the strength in depth you have in your team. Porter looks the real deal if a little raw and I imagine he’ll hold his end up in the scrum to help give a solid platform. That’s before we start thinking about your Lions’ half backs.

There is, however, a very interesting article on Wales-online (I’d post a link if I knew how!) which shows that over the last 34 years the away side in the Ireland/Wales fixture has had far more wins than losses. In every other series of games between the six nations teams the home side wins far more often.

Ireland and Wales are the only exception to this.

Suddenly I feel a little more confident about the result knowing this.

[Spiffy]

I've got to say lads, you are a right bunch of whinging feckers. I just read down that team sheet and shat myself!

We were doing the same this side of the Irish Sea when we look at the strength in depth you have in your team. Porter looks the real deal if a little raw and I imagine he’ll hold his end up in the scrum to help give a solid platform. That’s before we start thinking about your Lions’ half backs.

There is, however, a very interesting article on Wales-online (I’d post a link if I knew how!) which shows that over the last 34 years the away side in the Ireland/Wales fixture has had far more wins than losses. In every other series of games between the six nations teams the home side wins far more often.

Ireland and Wales are the only exception to this.

Suddenly I feel a little more confident about the result knowing this.

You should be feeling confident - we have R.Kearney at fullback

[Sandydragon]

So we have Biggar to keep hints nice and night before Anscombe runs on to pester a tired defence.

Nice theory.

[Digby]

So we have Biggar to keep hints nice and night before Anscombe runs on to pester a tired defence.

Nice theory.

More odd than nice

[normanski]

So we have Biggar to keep hints nice and night before Anscombe runs on to pester a tired defence.

Nice theory.

More odd than nice

I think he meant to write: to keep things nice and tight.

Predictive texting has a lot to answer for, or was he tight as a tick when he wrote that!

[Numbers]

I see Furlong and Henderson are both out of the match which is a big blow for Ireland.

[Graigwen]

It is certainly a blow for the Irish to loose an ace tight head like Furlong. I rate him as very very good indeed.

[Numbers]

It is certainly a blow for the Irish to loose an ace tight head like Furlong. I rate him as very very good indeed.

Aye, I'd say Henderson is their best 2nd row too.

[Sandydragon]

I see Furlong and Henderson are both out of the match which is a big blow for Ireland.

2 big losses. That said we are missing a lot of top quality players still.

Quite looking forward to this game. I think Ireland are favourites but it should be a good game.

[Spiffy]

I see Furlong and Henderson are both out of the match which is a big blow for Ireland.

So is the loss of midfielder Henshaw - three of the team's best players. It will be a good test of their strength in depth but the replacements do not look so good. Wales were in the same boat against England. The return of Biggar/Halfpenny/Liam Williams will certainly improve Wales' chances in this game.

[welshsaint]

Just to let you know, there is no chance of Wales winning. I've stuck my usual £20 at 3-1 with little expectation of a return.

[welshsaint]

I see Furlong and Henderson are both out of the match which is a big blow for Ireland.

2 big losses. That said we are missing a lot of top quality players still.

Quite looking forward to this game. I think Ireland are favourites but it should be a good game.

Ireland to win 2/5

Draw 28/1

Wales to win 3/1