6N's! Wales! I see Gatland is tinkering again! What is your opinions on the team to face Ireland?

Question

Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).

Replacements: Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Gareth Delve (Gloucester), Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets), James Hook (Ospreys), Sonny Parker (Ospreys).

Answer 1

the only surprise there is that it's exactly the same team as I thought he'd pick. That looks like our first choice team and I can see it staying that way for a good few years, although I still prefer Delve to Thomas in the back row.

Answer 2

he knows what he is doing.and also i suspect this is going to be a grudge game to bury his old ghost when he was with ireland.cymru am byth.

Answer 3

I like that he has decided to start with Jones over Hook.. I think Jones is a very under rated  first five, and his tactical kicking is still more accurate than Mr Hook's. Good chance for Jones to show his class and out smart with a quality well timed kicking game.

Answer 4

You've gotta be happy with that side !!!!

Answer 5

well we r tinkering to beat the Irish team, come on u red dragon boys, we r going to win the 6N's 2008. well good team player as new faces boys are good and strong , better that last year games they hav.Stephen Jones good kicking and hope our Hook will be play in second half games with Peel too. good luck to u boys for this wkends games.

Answer 6

Bring it on!

Answer 7

I don't think Gatland is tinkering! He is starting the best he has to go out against Ireland!! I would have put Stephen and not Hook to start cos he has more experience against O'Gara!!! He's played against him enough and he is on form. I'd bring James Hook on in second half, in the last 20 mins! As for Huw Bennet, great choice, Matthew Rees 's lineouts were c**p against Italy!! Bennet is better hooker!

Mike Phillips is playing fab, Peel has lost it a bit in my opinion! Lee Byrne has had a fantastic 6 nations! He has upped his game so much . Fab guy!  

Well , obviously Shane and Mark on the wings , Shanklin, Martyn Williams  and Henson! Three of them have been playing brilliant!

Good choice Gatland! I'm also glad Adam Jones is in.

Last bit, Ryan Jones is A GREAT CAPTAIN!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

AAAAnd once again the ospreys make up 65% of the national team...I don't see why they don't just rename the national side already!

I hope they win, if only because I think Ryan Jones is a good captain, and a really decent bloke.  Plus, his face whenever the national anthem comes on just makes you want to see him do well.  Haha.

Answer 9

Great choice. Give the lads a taste of International Matches.

Wales is my bet for Saturday.

Answer 10

Gatland is playing players he thinks are best suited to play against the current Irish team. A good coach analysis the other team and the players they are playing and put in players that will play well or even better than the other team. It's a good and encouraging move so that most of the players gets playing time .

Answer 11

I think regardless of the team that is put out, Ireland in Crokers is no easy feat and it will be one fantastic game.

Answer 12

I'm surprised he put Philips on instead of Peel.  Peel and Jones are good together, and have shown that they play well together...plus, Peel is a world class scrum half, and after Philips' c**k-ups against Italy (he lost wales a try!) I would have thought Dwayne Peel would start.

I think it's a good idea to have Jones on instead of Hook, though.  I think Hook is an awesome player, but for the match against Ireland I think Wales should be going with experience over youth, and Jones has proven again and again why he should be first choice fly half.  Plus, having captained Wales previously he is a good leader to have on the field.

Not at all surprised that Rees has been replaced by Bennett: he had a disastrous match last weekend!  And I'm glad to see that one of the hair bear twins is on, although I sort of wish Jenkins was of and Duncan Jones was on.  Good to see Alun Wyn-Jones back from injury too...never been too keen on Evans...

All in all, I think it's a decent selection and it should be a good match this weekend!!

Answer 13

This is defaniatly going to be a good game. I think that with the number of Osprey players that are being used Wales is making a statement. They are ready for whatever Ireland can bring them and they want to win.

I cant wait to see this game.

Answer 14

My connections inside the top echelons of the irish camp (ok i read a post on planet rugby, by a guy from swansea who knows someone who knows someone etc)... tells me that the irish are preparing and training all week...to make this one fiery   encounter..

Glad we have Mike Phillips to calm it down.