Wales team to face Ireland

[pompey-zebra]

Wales: 15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. Josh Adams, 13. George North, 12. Joe Hawkins, 11. Rio Dyer, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Tomos Williams; 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Ken Owens (capt), 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Adam Beard, 5. Alun Wyn Jones, 6. Jac Morgan, 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16. Scott Baldwin, 17. Rhys Carre, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Dafydd Jenkins, 20. Tommy Reffell, 21. Rhys Webb, 22. Owen Williams, 23. Alex Cuthbert.

[Tuco Ramirez]

Conservative from Gatland. Leigh halfpenny ffs

[pompey-zebra]

Apart from Hawkins, Dyer, Thomas and Morgan it could be a team picked from the previous Gatland era. I guess given the short time he's had he's gone with a team who he's familiar with and is familiar with him.

[UKHamlet]

Surprised at Dyer (but pleased) - surprised at HP (and concerned).

[Wallpaperman]

Interesting selection, this would have been a really tough game even if everyone was fit, and Lake, LRZ, Rowlands etc were available. Hopefully a Gatland environment will result in a better mindset for Wales.

I like the front row

He’s gone for experience in the second row. AWJ and Beard have shown up well against some big sides of late, I have been very pleased with Beard in particular, since the Autumn. AWJ will need to be able to play at 100% for a good hour on Saturday, which is a big ask.

Really good back row. Morgan is obviously on the small side for a 6, but he tackles hard, carries well, and is excellent in the tackle area. Tipuric has been outstanding of late, hopefully he can impose his all round game on Saturday.

Williams has been erratic at 9 for a while. He will appreciate having the experience of the players picked at 8 and 10. Gatland was always going to go for Biggar at 10, and in fairness he is one of those players who thrives in the big matches. I would have like Owen Williams to start, but can see the logic in starting Biggar.

Centre is a risk. Hawkins and North are going to have to do a lot of tackling on Saturday. It’s quite a departure for Gatland to choose the ball playing 12 (although he was very keen on Henson). I also prefer seeing someone experienced alongside North to put him right positionally. North needs to have his best game for quite a while imho, both for his own chances of keeping the jersey, and for Wales.

Happy with the wings in the absence of LRZ. Adams is outstanding and Dyer is the next best. Don’t know how much ball they will see.

I can see why he has gone with the consistent Halfpenny at 15, over Williams. There’s no getting away from the fact though that while Halfpenny was once genuinely one of the best players in the world, that was about 10 years, and a few serious injuries, ago.

On the assumption that Ireland haven’t got a really good scrummaging replacement tight head (they usually pick Bealham), I’m happy with the replacement front row. Baldwin’s lineout throwing has been a little flaky of late, he needs to be 100% on Saturday. Bradley Roberts is unlucky.

Big call to pick Dafydd Jenkins as the only replacement second row, especially with no hybrid second row/6 in the 23. He must have impressed Gatland in training.

Reffell provides great back row cover, what a player to have on the bench.

As stated above, I like Owen Williams, happy to see him involved.

Webb is a gamble again. Stacks of experience but I’ve thought for a while that he is now too slow for the top level. Hope I’m wrong on Saturday.

Not sure about Cuthbert as an impact sub, I always like to see some top end pace off the bench. Again he has looked good recently.

[pompey-zebra]

Surprised at Dyer (but pleased) - surprised at HP (and concerned).

According to Gatland in the Fail, halfpenny has a tight hip and is being monitored. If he pulls out liam Williams will be back, assuming he too is passed fit to play!

[Tuco Ramirez]

Great servany Halpenny.... but be honest... when was the last time he did anything on the pitch to considered for the Wales XV.

[normanski]

Surprised at Dyer (but pleased) - surprised at HP (and concerned).

According to Gatland in the Fail, halfpenny has a tight hip and is being monitored. If he pulls out liam Williams will be back, assuming he too is passed fit to play!

I wonder if Gats is playing the first of his mind games with Ireland having to guess right up to kickoff who they will be facing as the Wales fullback.

[Son of Mathonwy]

A strong and not unexpected selection.

Issues:
Morgan, Tipuric and Reffell are world class sevens but picking all of them for the 23 means we don't have a big 6/lock cover and if (hopefully unlikely) Faletau doesn't finish the match, we'll have an entire back row of sevens.

No surprise Gatland turns to Biggar - I'm not a fan - I just hope Owen Williams gets more than 5 minutes at the end. Biggar is obviously the safe option though. Hope he brings his best high-ball game.

Hawkins is talented but he's not a game-changer like Keiran Williams - has Gatland watched any Ospreys matches this season?

Would much prefer Sanjay to 1/2p but if he's not up to speed then I guess that's OK (since O'Brien and McNichol aren't in the squad). Halfpenny has looked good for the scarlets recently.

Great to see Webb back.

Given the XV, Keiran Williams would have been my choice for the 23 shirt. He brings more than Cuthbert and he deserves a chance to show what he can do.

[Sandydragon]

Surprised at Dyer (but pleased) - surprised at HP (and concerned).

Will he even make it to kick off this time? Obviously valuing his defensive expertise and place kicking for this one. But then again Liam has been injured and there’s no one else who has any experience there, barring Adams who was OK but it would be a big ask for him bs Ireland.

Two open sides is fair enough but I wonder if a big bruiser at six was a better option for this one. But the form of both Morgan and Tips makes it hard to ignore either (plus Reffel on the bench).

Front five need to step up big time. Faletau picks himself and the halfbacks are self explanatory (although no reserve fly half on the bench so pray Biggar doesn’t get injured).

Hawkins is an interesting selection but did well versus Australia and North is fairly settled at outside centre now, albeit he is far from being the complete 13. Wings are obvious selections given LRZ injury.

No significant rabbits out of the hat. Hopefully Gatland can get the best out of this lot otherwise it will be a long afternoon.

[pompey-zebra]

Surprised at Dyer (but pleased) - surprised at HP (and concerned).

the halfbacks are self explanatory (although no reserve fly half on the bench so pray Biggar doesn’t get injured).

Is not Owen Williams the reserve fly half? Granted, he could cover 12 as well but I'm sure I read that Gatland sees him as a 10 now.
We dont have FB cover so presumably Adams will move to 15 and cuthbert on the wing.

[Graigwen]

I think this was a very difficult selection for Gatland. We are up against the best side in the World. He needs information for the World Cup squad, but can't be very experimental as he will be slated if we get hammered. Even if this match will be very difficult to win, he must deliver some kind of improved outcome in the 6N.

Assuming there are no injuries there is going to be a bit of creative thinking behind second half substitutes. How does Reffel compare to Morgan? Where can Owen Williams best be used? Is there any point in Cuthbert if nobody backs up his mazey runs and he gets penalised for hanging on after being tackled. Is Daf Jenkins really ready? Will Hawkins do? Has Carre started to turn his potential into reality?

There are plenty of alternatives waiting in the wings. If we do badly there could be a lot of changes for the next game.

I think Halfpenny, Biggar, AWJ and Baldwin are rational cautious choices,

.

[Sandydragon]

Surprised at Dyer (but pleased) - surprised at HP (and concerned).

the halfbacks are self explanatory (although no reserve fly half on the bench so pray Biggar doesn’t get injured).

Is not Owen Williams the reserve fly half? Granted, he could cover 12 as well but I'm sure I read that Gatland sees him as a 10 now.
We dont have FB cover so presumably Adams will move to 15 and cuthbert on the wing.

You're completely correct, I misread that as Owen Watkin. My bad.

[Sandydragon]

I think this was a very difficult selection for Gatland. We are up against the best side in the World. He needs information for the World Cup squad, but can't be very experimental as he will be slated if we get hammered. Even if this match will be very difficult to win, he must deliver some kind of improved outcome in the 6N.

Assuming there are no injuries there is going to be a bit of creative thinking behind second half substitutes. How does Reffel compare to Morgan? Where can Owen Williams best be used? Is there any point in Cuthbert if nobody backs up his mazey runs and he gets penalised for hanging on after being tackled. Is Daf Jenkins really ready? Will Hawkins do? Has Carre started to turn his potential into reality?

There are plenty of alternatives waiting in the wings. If we do badly there could be a lot of changes for the next game.

I think Halfpenny, Biggar, AWJ and Baldwin are rational cautious choices,

.

Agreed. This wasn't going to be a revolution, but with some selections he is rewarding form (Morgan) and potential (Hawkins). The Reffell debate is an interesting one and I personally would have started him with Tipuric on the bench, but then Tips is a great line out operator and that will surely be important in what will probably be a kicking contest, especially early on.

Halfpenny aside (who apparently has a minor thigh niggle) then theres not too much to be surprised at here. Hopefully Gatland can get them performing to a higher level than Privac managed.

[Banquo]

I think this was a very difficult selection for Gatland. We are up against the best side in the World.
.

I thought you were playing Ireland?

[normanski]

I think this was a very difficult selection for Gatland. We are up against the best side in the World.
.

I thought you were playing Ireland?

HaHa!

[Spiffy]

I think this was a very difficult selection for Gatland. We are up against the best side in the World.
.

I thought you were playing Ireland?

What ! They're really playing England?

[Sourdust]

HP out, surprise surprise, so if anyone out there owns a 15 shirt, head for Cardiff on Saturday...

Furlong out for them - which hardly hands us the match, but I'll happily take it.

[Spiffy]

HP out, surprise surprise, so if anyone out there owns a 15 shirt, head for Cardiff on Saturday...

Furlong out for them - which hardly hands us the match, but I'll happily take it.

HP's replacement by Williams will probably strengthen the team.

Furlong's replacement, Bealham, seems quite an underrated player outside Irish rugby. He's a tough scrummager and good around the pitch. He's played well off the bench in recent internationals.

[Son of Mathonwy]

HP out, surprise surprise, so if anyone out there owns a 15 shirt, head for Cardiff on Saturday...

Furlong out for them - which hardly hands us the match, but I'll happily take it.

Maybe Gatland can persuade Holmes to return to Wales.

[Banquo]

HP out, surprise surprise, so if anyone out there owns a 15 shirt, head for Cardiff on Saturday...

Furlong out for them - which hardly hands us the match, but I'll happily take it.

Maybe Gatland can persuade Holmes to return to Wales.

Terry?

[Sandydragon]

HP out, surprise surprise, so if anyone out there owns a 15 shirt, head for Cardiff on Saturday...

Furlong out for them - which hardly hands us the match, but I'll happily take it.

Safe bet really.

[Son of Mathonwy]

HP out, surprise surprise, so if anyone out there owns a 15 shirt, head for Cardiff on Saturday...

Furlong out for them - which hardly hands us the match, but I'll happily take it.

Maybe Gatland can persuade Holmes to return to Wales.

Terry?

Nah man, he went North, can't bring him back.

[Sandydragon]

Gotta wonder what Angus Obrian needs to do in order to get an opportunity. He has been in very good form for the Dragons this season. With Halfpenny continually pulling up lame (surely this must be the end for him) and Liam also prone to injury, Gatland must look at other proven full backs, or else just pick Adams there and give him chance to develop.

[paddy no 11]

Hennessey be in world cup squad?

Hooker played great too

Gym monkey's won out