6 NATIONS RUGBY: Ireland in Wales

12.03.2011
Ireland v Wales in Cardiff (6 Nations)

Venue: Millennium Stadium

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

Preview
Wales and Ireland have a recent history of close encounters. There is never much between these two teams. Failing major hiccups with either England or France, these two teams are virtually out of contention for the main title this year. Ireland are still in with a chance to take the Triple Crown, the title for the best teams out of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.They will be playing for pride and a build up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup. There should be very little in it. I expect Ireland to just squeak in.

Last Five Encounters
13.03.2010 Ireland 27-12 in Dublin (6 Nations)
21.03.2009 Ireland 17-15 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
08.03.2008 Wales 16-12 in Dublin (6 Nations)
04.02.2007 Ireland 19-9 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
26.02.2006 Ireland 31-5 in Dublin (6 Nations)

Wales last defeated Ireland in Cardiff in 2005. The score was 32-20. This win has been the only Welsh victory against Ireland in Cardiff since 1983.

Ireland Last Five
27.02.2011 v Scotland W 21-18 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
13.02.2011 v France L 22-25 in Dublin (6 Nations)
05.02.2011 v Italy W 31-11 in Rome (6 Nations)
28.11.2010 v Argentina W 29-9 in Dublin
20.11.2010 v New Zealand L 18-38 in Dublin

Wales Last Five
26.02.2011 v Italy W 24-16 in Rome (6 Nations)
12.02.2011 v Scotland W 24-6 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
04.02.2011 v England L 19-26 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
27.11.2010 v New Zealand L 25-37 in Cardiff
19.11.2010 v Fiji in Cardiff D 16-16

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table- Wales 6th, Ireland 8th
Europe Table-Ireland 3rd, Wales 4th

IRB Ranking Points
Ireland 81.95, Wales 79.57

Prediction: Ireland by 3 points

Teams

Wales
15 Lee Byrne, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 James Roberts, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Michael Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Samuel Warburton,
6 Daniel Lydiate, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Craig Mitchell, 2 Matthew Rees, Capt,. 1 Paul James.
Replacements
16 Richard Hibbard, 17 John Yapp, 18 Jonathan Thomas, 19 Robert McCusker, 20 Dwayne Peel, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Morgan Stoddart.
Head Coach: Warren Gatland

Ireland
15 Luke Fitzgerald, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian 0'Driscoll, Capt. 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 James Heaslip, 7 David Wallace,
6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Michael Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements
16 Sean Cronin, 17 Thomas Court, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Patrick Wallace.
Head Coach: Declan Kidney