WALES v IRELAND 6 Nations International Championship

02.02.2013

Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium
Image thanks to tipsadvisor.com

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Preview
Wales begins its defence of the 6 Nations Championship with a home test against Ireland.

Wales’ 2012 season was in tatters by the beginning of December. A 3-nil series loss to Australia in Australia (where all results were lost by a point or so) and then the November Autumn internationals and a 3-0 loss meant that Wales were on the slippery slope and heading downwards.

Head Coach Warren Gatland has been absent for much of Wales’ 2012 test matches. An injury in New Zealand just before the tour of Wales meant that Rob Howley took the reigns and then his appointment as the coach of the 2013 British and Irish Lions team in Australia distracted him away from the Welsh side again. This must surely be having an effect on the team.

On the other Ireland boasted a big win over Argentina and a narrow loss to South Africa in its Autumn campaign. Their tails are up and Wales could be in for a rough game and another loss.

Last Five Encounters
05.02.2012 Wales 23-21 in Dublin (6 Nations)
08.10.2012 Wales 22-10 in Wellington (World Cup Quarter Final)
12.03.2011 Wales 19-13 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
13.03.2010 Ireland 27-12 in Dublin (6 Nations)
21.03.2009 Ireland 17-15 in Cardiff (6 Nations)

The 2009 result saw Ireland take the Championship and the ‘Grand Slam’.

For a complete list of all Ireland and Welsh international test rugby results go to www.rugbyinternational.net

Ireland Last Five P 5, W 1, L 4
24.11.2012 v Argentina W 46-24 in Dublin
10.11.2012 v South Africa L 12-16 in Dublin
23.06.2012 v New Zealand L 0-60 in Hamilton
16.06.2012 v New Zealand L 19-22 in Christchurch
09.06.2012 v New Zealand L 10-42 in Auckland

Wales Last Five P 5, L 5
01.12.2012 v Australia L 12-14 in Cardiff
24.11.2012 v New Zealand L10-33 in Cardiff
16.11.2012 v Samoa L19-26 in Cardiff
10.11.2012 v Argentina L 12-26 in Cardiff
23.06.2012 v Australia L 19-20 in Sydney

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Ireland 8th, Wales 11th
Europe Table-Wales 1st, Ireland 4th

IRB Ranking Points
Ireland 80.22, Wales 78.39

Prediction: Ireland by 3 points

TEAMS

Ireland

15		Robert Kearney	Leinster
14		Craig Gilroy	Ulster
13		Brian O'Driscoll	Leinster
12		Gordon D'Arcy	Leinster
11		Simon Zebo	Munster
10		Jonathan Sexton	Leinster
9		Conor Murray	Munster
8		James Heaslip (Capt.)	Leinster
7		Sean O'Brien	Leinster
6		Peter O'Mahony	Munster
5		Donnacha Ryan	Munster
4		Michael McCarthy	Connacht
3		Michael Ross	Leinster
2		Rory Best	Ulster
1		Cian Healy	Leinster
16		Sean Cronin	Leinster
17		David Kilcoyne	Munster
18		Declan Fitzpatrick	Ulster
19		Donncha O'Callaghan	Munster
20		Christopher Henry	Ulster
21		Eoin Reddan	Leinster
22		Ronan O'Gara	Munster
23		Keith Earls	Munster
		HEAD COACH: Declan Kidney

Adapted from http://www.irishrugby.ie/ireland/28232.php

Wales

15		Leigh Halfpenny	Cardiff Blues
14		Alexander Cuthbert	Cardiff Blues
13		Jonathan Davies	Llanelly Scarlets
12		James Roberts	Cardiff Blues
11		George North	Llanelly Scarlets
10		Daniel Biggar	Neath Swansea Ospreys
9		Michael Phillips	Bayonne, France
8		Tobias Faletau	Newport Gwent Dragons
7		Samuel Warburton (Capt.)	Neath Swansea Ospreys
6		Aaron Shingler	Llanelly Scarlets
5		Ian Evans	Neath Swansea Ospreys
4		Andrew Coombs	Newport Gwent Dragons
3		Adam Jones	Neath Swansea Ospreys
2		Matthew Rees	Llanelly Scarlets
1		Gethin Jenkins	Toulon, France
16		Kenneth Owens	Llanelly Scarlets
17		Paul James	Bath Rugby, England
18		Craig Mitchell	Exeter Chiefs, England
19		Oliver Kohn	London Harlequins, England
20		Justin Tupuric	Neath Swansea Ospreys
21		Lloyd Williams	Cardiff Blues
22		James Hook	Perpignan, France
23		Scott Williams	Llanelly Scarlets
		HEAD COACH: Robert Howley (Interim)

http://supporters.wru.co.uk/eng/news/24765.php