RugbyRebels

Now confirmed as

"5. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 5 caps)
14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 7 caps)
13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 5 caps)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 9 caps)
11. Ellis Mee (Scarlets – uncapped)
10. Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby – 39 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 61 caps)
1. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 51 caps)
2. Elliot Dee (Dragons | Dreigiau – 53 caps)
3. WillGriff John (Sale Sharks – 2 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 38 caps)
5. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 20 caps)
6. Jac Morgan (Ospreys– 20 caps) – captain
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 24 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 105 caps)

Replacements

16. Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
17. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 37 caps)
18. Henry Thomas (Scarlets – 6 caps)
19. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 3 caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 54 caps)
21. Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 7 caps)
22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 8 caps)
23. Joe Roberts (Scarlets – 2 caps) "

Not sure about WillGriff John at 3. I haven't seen much of him of late, but that's mostly because there's barely been anything to see - he's only had 2 club starts in 2 seasons and he's played a grand total of 26 minutes in the last month. Is he really better than the current starting Scarlets tighthead?!

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:50 pm Not sure about WillGriff John at 3. I haven't seen much of him of late, but that's mostly because there's barely been anything to see - he's only had 2 club starts in 2 seasons and he's played a grand total of 26 minutes in the last month. Is he really better than the current starting Scarlets tighthead?!

Puja

WillGriff John has acquired a reputation for solidity. The recent basis for that reputation is somewhat unclear, perhaps one good game against a French side.

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He would have started 1st game onl for concussion protocol, he was OK at club for the game and a bit before the concussion, I guess he's there to do 1 job!

Tight head is a strange selection.

I’m not entirely keen on two open sides either. Wainwright to provide carrying when the game opens up is fair enough, but we seem to be putting our hope in the ability of two open sides to slow down the Irish ball significantly.

Some changes in the backline which make sense . Players actually in position and Ben Thomas deserves an opportunity to play at IC.

Apparently Adams was not selected because..

Sherratt: "He’s picked up a slight hamstring injury. We haven’t got any clarity on it. It happened yesterday."

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Fingers crossed for an improved performance. Going into this with slightly more positivity, but still expect a late humping.

Sandydragon wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 2:09 pm Tight head is a strange selection.

I’m not entirely keen on two open sides either. Wainwright to provide carrying when the game opens up is fair enough, but we seem to be putting our hope in the ability of two open sides to slow down the Irish ball significantly.

Some changes in the backline which make sense . Players actually in position and Ben Thomas deserves an opportunity to play at IC.

No, I dont think i'd have gone for two open sides either, but aside from that it does look like for the most part he's put round pegs in round holes. I like the fact that Jarrod Evans is on bench, so if anscombe does get injured or subbed, we're not back to playing Ben Thomas at 10.

A much more sensible team than Gatland has been playing. I'm happy with most of it except:

I'd switch both props with the bench.
Switch Reffell and Wainwright. I hate seeing Morgan out of position. Why play with two sevens and leave a six on the bench?
(I'm glad we have Mee instead of Adams, regardless of injury.)
I'd have James instead of Roberts on the bench.

So, broadly speaking, I'm happier with the backs than the forwards.

The game will be interesting. Realistically, a team playing Gatland's systems with players who never beat Leinster is unlikely to win. But let's hope for some improvement, to give us some hope for England and Scotland.

Hope Anscombe doesn't break again.

Training should involve watching a video of Harris Deaves from last week and saying play like this guy for 83 minutes.

U20s up 14-0. I suspect that won't hold.

17-12 for about 30 minutes now

Going to be a tight last 5

1st win over Ireland since 2018, well deserved on the 30 minutes I saw

Commentators saying Ireland butchered a few scores 1st half?

Adds a bit of interest to tomorrow aswell

20-12 an astonishing win!

paddy no 11 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 9:40 pm 1st win over Ireland since 2018, well deserved on the 30 minutes I saw

Commentators saying Ireland butchered a few scores 1st half?

Adds a bit of interest to tomorrow aswell

It was very difficult to believe that Wales might win that until the last couple of minutes. Ireland clearly had the possession and power to win, but failed to press their advantage home. There were also two tries disallowed, correctly as far as I could see.

Beddall made 34 tackles!

What wouldn’t we give for that result tomorrow.

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Ridiculous defensive effort. Fantastic work! Something positive for the seniors to take into tomorrow.

When did an Irish team last get beaten at Rodney Parade???!



* I hit the smilies limit otherwise there would have been more!

Although Ireland were a more powerful side all round, our scrum did very well and our loose head caused them a lot of problems.

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A good omen!