Wales team V Ireland Predictions

[Tuco Ramirez]

Team for Ireland based on new squad.... Back row going to be interesting after Reffell and Tipuric performances....
Here go's mine...
Thomas
Owens
Francis
Beard (not a fan but Gatland loves him)
I think he could go for a rookie here at 5
Tipuric
Reffell
Faletau
Webb
Biggar
Adams
Grady (Perfect for Gatland style)
Tompkins
North
Williams

[normanski]

Good to see you back Tuco! I can’t see Gatland playing Reffell and Tipuric. It has to be Tipuric because he’s on top form at the moment but I wouldn’t be surprised if the six slot is taken by Morgan or young Christ.

[Sandydragon]

I think Morgan as blindside, with Reffell at open and Tips on the bench (probably a 6/2 split). Ireland will come at us very physically so we will need to man the barricades for long periods. I think Tips later on could help us to open up their defence.

Perhaps Christ may even get a nod at blindside, but Morgan has been playing very well and is probably ahead in the form stakes.

[Tuco Ramirez]

Good to see you back Tuco! I can’t see Gatland playing Reffell and Tipuric. It has to be Tipuric because he’s on top form at the moment but I wouldn’t be surprised if the six slot is taken by Morgan or young Christ.

Did you see Reffell on Friday

[Sandydragon]

Good to see you back Tuco! I can’t see Gatland playing Reffell and Tipuric. It has to be Tipuric because he’s on top form at the moment but I wouldn’t be surprised if the six slot is taken by Morgan or young Christ.

Did you see Reffell on Friday

To be fair, Morgan has been in bloody good form as well. Open side is a real position of strength.

[Son of Mathonwy]

My prediction:

Thomas
Owens
Francis
Beard
Rhys Davies
Morgan
Tipuric
Faletau
Tomos Williams
Biggar
Adams
Keiran Williams
North
Dyer
Liam Williams

Bench: Carre, Lewis, Lake, AWJ, Tshiunza, Webb, Owen Williams, Halfpenny


My choice would be similar - I'd just have O Williams at 10, Patchell at 22, Hawkins at 23 and switch Webb and Tomos.

[normanski]

My prediction:

Thomas
Owens
Francis
Beard
Rhys Davies
Morgan
Tipuric
Faletau
Tomos Williams
Biggar
Adams
Keiran Williams
North
Dyer
Liam Williams

Bench: Carre, Lewis, Lake, AWJ, Tshiunza, Webb, Owen Williams, Halfpenny


My choice would be similar - I'd just have O Williams at 10, Patchell at 22, Hawkins at 23 and switch Webb and Tomos.

It’s interesting that Gatland has so much talent at his disposal except in a few key positions like tight head.

Rory Best is quoted as saying he thinks the opening match is a banana skin game for Ireland who will be without key players Sexton and Furlong - both helping to tip the balance our way. This game is eminently winnable and if we manage it then the momentum will be with Gatland.

He’s done it before! Let’s hope the force is with him.

[Sourdust]

We know how this goes. Gats will make selections that none of us really want, but most of us will grudgingly admit are probably the correct percentage calls.

Even as a Biggar advocate of more than a decade's standing, I'd start Williams ahead of him now. But Gatland won't, and he's probably right.

The interesting part for me, is that all three #12s have one cap between them, and Gats' record on trusting youth is... less of a record, more of a 2-track demo tape. On top of that, the capped one is also the least Warrenball-y option.

What's the money on him trying to play North & Tomkins together?

I'm annoyed that LRZ being out derails the Adams at 15 experiment, because Sanjay hasn't had time to play himself into form. ½p is at least looking more solid lately, but IMO we're horribly over-reliant on "class is permanent" where fullbacks are concerned.

[UKHamlet]

Thomas
Owens
Francis
Beard
AWJ
Tipuric
Morgan / Tshiunza
Faletau
Williams (T)
Biggar
Adams
Hawkins
North
Cuthbert
Williams

I think Gatland will go big, which is why I've omitted Tomkins and Dyer, who would be in my selection. Tomos gets the nod over the other SHs because he's a more complete player than the others, although if Webb was 5 years younger ... Morgan gets the nod over Reffel because he can play 6 well and he's a wrecking ball, but Christ Tshiunza might get an outing because he's a monster.

[Banquo]

crikey, lots of very good players, but that's a pretty old team?

[Son of Mathonwy]

crikey, lots of very good players, but that's a pretty old team?

Not going to worry about that so close to the world cup.

[Banquo]

crikey, lots of very good players, but that's a pretty old team?

Not going to worry about that so close to the world cup.

fair point, but it'll be quite the re build and hopefully the legs can keep going through the 6N as well

[Son of Mathonwy]

crikey, lots of very good players, but that's a pretty old team?

Not going to worry about that so close to the world cup.

fair point, but it'll be quite the re build and hopefully the legs can keep going through the 6N as well

True. Hope all those arthritic joints survive the next couple of months!

[Sourdust]

crikey, lots of very good players, but that's a pretty old team?

Not going to worry about that so close to the world cup.

Quite.

There will be a major clear-out next year, whether by design or not. There are plenty who will jump without needing to be pushed.

It would be extraordinary if November did not see the international retirements of AWJ, Owens, Lydiate, Tipuric, Webb, Biggar, Halfpenny, JD2, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb.

No great surprise if Faletau, E. Jenkins, Navidi, Anscombe, G Davies, McNicholl and Sanjay went too.

You can probably name more!

[Sandydragon]

crikey, lots of very good players, but that's a pretty old team?

Not going to worry about that so close to the world cup.

Quite.

There will be a major clear-out next year, whether by design or not. There are plenty who will jump without needing to be pushed.

It would be extraordinary if November did not see the international retirements of AWJ, Owens, Lydiate, Tipuric, Webb, Biggar, Halfpenny, JD2, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb.

No great surprise if Faletau, E. Jenkins, Navidi, Anscombe, G Davies, McNicholl and Sanjay went too.

You can probably name more!

Tips and Biggar might carry on for a few more years and given his current form Faletau will probably keep going for a while. Some of the others you have listed have been injury hit of late so potentially it will be a mass exodus but one where theres a number of younger players already coming through. Full back is a big concern given the dominance of Halfpence and Sanjay over the past decade plus. Hopefully Adams can step up there. We will also have a real issue in the boiler room if eligible players become ineligible due to overseas moves.You feel the 60 cap rule needs a rethink quickly.

[Banquo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64443949

beeb users XV

[UKHamlet]

Thomas
Owens
Francis
Beard
AWJ
Tipuric
Morgan / Tshiunza
Faletau
Williams (T)
Biggar
Adams
Hawkins
North
Cuthbert
Williams

I think Gatland will go big, which is why I've omitted Tomkins and Dyer, who would be in my selection. Tomos gets the nod over the other SHs because he's a more complete player than the others, although if Webb was 5 years younger ... Morgan gets the nod over Reffel because he can play 6 well and he's a wrecking ball, but Christ Tshiunza might get an outing because he's a monster.

On the money except for Dyer/Cuthbert and HP/Williams, both of whom surprised.

[normanski]

Given the injuries it’s pretty much as forecast. There’s some ‘dog’ in the team and enough to just get past Ireland.

Back row and replacement looks tasty.

If Sexton starts I wonder how long his battered body will last. While he’s a tough cookie he’s been picking up more and more niggling injuries in recent years. I can see Tipuric and Morgan giving him some treatment.

[SDHoneymonster]

Is Tshiunza injured? Mad he's not in the matchday 23 IMO, although appreciate it's always difficult to break into Wales' back row.

[Sandydragon]

Is Tshiunza injured? Mad he's not in the matchday 23 IMO, although appreciate it's always difficult to break into Wales' back row.

I think it may be because Morgan, Reffel and Tipuric have been superb of late and really hard not to pick them, especially as Morgan seems fairly comfortable at blind side.