Six Nations Preview: Wales Seeks Redemption Against Unbeaten Ireland
Six Nations Preview: Wales Seeks Redemption Against Unbeaten Ireland
Wales hosts Ireland in a crucial Six Nations clash. Can Wales end its slump, or will Ireland edge closer to another Grand Slam? Key matchups & predictions!
A tale of two teams on very different paths is set to unfold Saturday afternoon in Cardiff, as Wales welcomes Ireland to town for a Round 3 Guinness Six Nations clash.
Entering the fixture on vastly different form lines, Wales will be looking to snap a losing streak of 14 consecutive tests.
Ireland, on the flip side, will be looking to take a step closer to a third consecutive Six Nations title and second Grand Slam in three years.
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Realistically, this clash could be written off as a no-contest, given the challenges Welsh Rugby has faced with head coach Warren Gatland departing following a loss to Italy in Round 2.
Yet, this is not the cloth from which Welsh Rugby players are cut, a fact Ireland head coach Simon Easterby and his squad will be all too aware of soon.
Team News
Based in Wales full-time, Easterby knows more than most of the passion Welsh people hold for the sport of rugby.
A former player and coach for the Scarlets, and married to Welsh TV star Sara Elgan, Easterby will be looking to avoid a homecoming ambush Saturday.
On the other side of the ledger, fellow interim head coach Matt Sherratt already has put his stamp on the Welsh squad with the recall of Gareth Anscombe, Jarrod Evans and Max Llewellyn to the matchday 23.
Starting the Gloucester pair of Anscombe and Llewellyn alongside their clubmate Tomos Williams offers the Welsh backline a spine of players who are familiar with one another.
Anscombe’s return sees Sherratt’s Cardiff star Ben Thomas shift back to inside center, having started the first two matches at fly-half. Completing the backline are the ultra-dangerous trio of debutant Ellis Mee, Tom Rogers and Blair Murray.
In the pack, Sherratt has opted for two poachers in the back row, with captain Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell partnering with Taulupe Faletau.
Up front, Nicky Smith, WillGriff John and Elliot Dee form the front row, with Will Rowlands and Dafydd Jenkins linking up in the second row.
For Ireland, captain Caelan Doris is injured, as are the front-row pairing of Tadhg Furlong and Ronan Kelleher.
In their place, hooker Dan Sheehan returns to the starting lineup to captain the side, with Thomas Clarkson starting at tighthead and Andrew Porter at loosehead.
Powering the engine room will be the returning Joe McCarthy, who features for the first time in this year’s championship alongside Tadhg Beirne.
Completing the pack will be former captain Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan in the back row.
Retaining their places in the halfbacks, Leinster duo Jamison Gibson-Park and Sam Prendergast start.
Just outside of Prendergast are his provincial teammates Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, who reunite in the midfield for the first time this championship.
Out wide, James Lowe continues on the left wing, with Mack Hansen returning from injury to replace Calvin Nash on the right. Jamie Osborne will be making his first Six Nations appearance at fullback.
Key Matchup
Spearheaded for the first time this championship by a natural fly-half, Wales will without a doubt, be boosted by the return of Gareth Anscombe.
Rather than being left out of the initial squad due to his age (33), the Gloucester pivot has been in top form thus far this season for the Premiership side. His presence alone should bring more direction to a to date a rather blunt attack.
Renowned for his running game, Anscombe will likely command more control for the Welsh backline, which struggled to hold shape past the first phase in the opening two rounds.
His ability to execute explosive set-piece plays, for which Sherratt is renowned, could see Wales present Ireland with patterns they have yet to see.
Facing him is young upstart Prendergast, who the Irish management have once again backed ahead of fellow youngster Crowley to start.
Receiving mixed reviews for his opening-round performance against England, Prendergast came back strong in Round 2 with a dominant display against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Offering a special ability to find the right pass at the last second, a pinpoint long passing and kicking game and a clear big match temperament. Prendergast will have another learning experience against a playmaker who has seen it all in Anscombe.
Should the Irish pack get on top, expect Prendergast to start finding soft shoulders for his powerful ball carriers, namely Lowe, Conan, McCarthy and Henshaw. When the spaces open up out wide, Prendergast already has proven his willingness and ability to get the ball there at a rapid rate.
From the bench, Ireland once again will look to unleash Crowley as an impact player, depending on how the fixture is playing out.
For Wales, Harlequins playmaker Jarrod Evans offers an experienced hand should he be required either at flyhalf or inside center later in the match.
Prediction
A wounded animal always comes out fighting, and Wales will be no different this week.
Taking their lumps from all sides, the Welsh have no choice but to respond with a better performance than they have shown through the opening two rounds.
For them to do so, they will need to gain parity at set piece time, something that Nicky Smith, in particular, will back himself to do against young Thomas Clarkson.
While this uptick could see Wales pose a few problems for Ireland, it is hard to see Wales sustaining it for a full 80 minutes against one of the best teams in the world.
Built around a ruthless defense, lethal set plays and explosive power, Ireland at this stage, should have too much for the hosts. Throw into the mix Ireland’s consistency over the past four years, and it is hard to see anything but an Irish win. Ireland by 20.
Team Lineups
Ireland
15. Jamie Osborne, 14. Mack Hansen, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. James Lowe, 10. Sam Prendergast, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan (captain), 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Peter O’Mahony, 7. Josh van der Flier, 9. Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16. Gus McCarthy, 17. Jack Boyle, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. James Ryan, 20. Cian Prendergast, 21. Conor Murray, 22. Jack Crowley, 23. Bundee Aki.
Wales
15. Blair Murray, 14. Tom Rogers, 13. Max Llewellyn, 12. Ben Thomas, 11. Ellis Mee, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 9. Tomos Williams; 1. Nicky Smith, 2. Elliot Dee, 3. WillGriff John, 4. Will Rowlands, 5. Dafydd Jenkins, 6. Jac Morgan (captain), 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16. Evan Lloyd, 17. Gareth Thomas, 18. Henry Thomas, 19. Teddy Williams, 20. Aaron Wainwright, 21. Rhodri Williams, 22. Jarrod Evans, 23. Joe Roberts.
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