Warren Gatland has announced the Wales team to play Ireland in the opening round of the 2016 Six Nations this weekend in Dublin.
Justin Tipuric is named in the number seven shirt with captain Sam Warburton shifting to the blindside; Dan Lydiate’s niggle means he has to settle for a spot on the bench. Gareth Anscombe is named at fullback, while Tom James is preferred to Alex Cuthbert on the wing.
In the front row, the Scarlets’ Rob Evans is a surprise inclusion on the loosehead ahead of Gethin Jenkins, who is named on the bench, and Paul James, who isn’t even in the squad.
“We are excited by the make-up of the squad, it’s very experienced along with one eye looking to the future,” said Gatland.
“Rob (Evans) gets a start at loose-head, he’s played well for us before and deserves a chance looking ahead to the next few years.
“We have been impressed with Tom James’ form for Cardiff Blues and we are excited by the mix of the back-row which has played well together before. It’s great to see Jonathan (Davies) back and alongside Jamie, which makes a pretty experienced midfield. Gareth (Anscombe) at full-back also gives us the option of having two first receivers.
“We have a very experienced bench, with a lot of caps there and hopefully they will come on and make an impact.”
“It’s going to be a physical game. Two years ago they strangled us out of the match and played well and we have to rise to that challenge on Sunday.”
WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND
Gareth Anscombe; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Tom James; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin, Samson Lee, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton (capt), Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Dan Lydiate, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Alex Cuthbert.
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
15 replies on “Six Nations 2016: Wales team to play Ireland”
Slightly concerned by this as an Englishman.
They’ve picked on form. James over Cuthbert and Evans over Jenkins are picks that go against Gatland of a couple years ago.
As well as that (maybe by accident), they’ve got a second distributer in the back line in the form of Anscombe.
Wales, in my opinion, have the best squad. If Gatland actually allows them to use their backs to stretch the pitch then Warbs/Tipuric will run riot at the breakdown and I honestly think Wales might dominate. That is quite a big IF based on the last few years under his coaching though.
Woohoo! I am that excited. This is a selection based on form, development and playing some rugby. Never dreamed is actually get this selection. Brilliant stuff. Delighted for Tom James especially who has almost single handedly brought the excitement back to CAP this year.
,….and no liam or scott williams who are 2 of the best line breakers in the 6n Oh yeah, lookin forward to this 6n , Scotland to take at least 2 scalps too imo
Nice looking team.
With Anscombe in, that back line might get going in a way that I’m not sure Biggar alone is capable of doing.
Tipuric and Warburton have the potential to be a combo as good as Pocock and Hooper. Lydiate is a great at what he does but I think these two together offers so much more
With players like Halfpenny, Webb and S and L Williams still to come back, Wales are looking in very good nick at the moment
Looks like an exciting team though I am surprised Liam Williams didn’t even make the bench , he is of course short of game time but was very impressive in the 60 mins he played last week. Also would have had M Morgan on the bench in place of Cuthbert mainly as cover for full back as I can’t see an obvious replacement there ?. Lot of people have worries about Tom James history of ‘bloops’ but hopefully he has improved in that area, he has been pretty good playing for the Blues recently and will obviously be even more potent in an international set-up.
I expect Priestland or Bigger is seen as the replacement fullback. Not that that’s an excuse for leaving out Morgan, though.
Too many question marks too many players here.
1:Rob Evans is in a Scarlets team that has really struggled in recent weeks. Why leave out Paul James for him?
2: Anscombe does not convince me at this level as fullback especially after the RWC 2015 and I expect the same on Sunday.
3 That utter waste of space C++tbutt is on the bench….OMG. Is Cementhead registered blind?
Gatland assured us the pony boy would be ‘played back into form during the RWC’…yeah that worked didn’t it?
What has this idiot got to do to get dropped??? Leave the Blues and he’ll be out as quick as a flash.
4:Tom James????
One of dullest people ever to play rugby for Wales and that takes some beating I can tell you. A great sprinter but not a great winger/rugby player. He was a great sprinter when last capped in 2010 and totally screwed up for Wales then and will do this week.
His positioning will be all over the place against Sexton/Kearney’s bombardment and his handling with the try at his mercy will go out of the window.
Just you wait for the errors that this village idiot will make v Ireland and then he’ll be replaced by that utter t+sser…. C++tbutt.
5: I’d sooner see Ken Owens start than Scott Baldwin
I just think Baldwin’s handling at crucial moments goes astray and his lineout throwing lets him down too often.
6: I hope Captain Charming is truly match fit as he has only played 1 game ( v Calvisano! That ws a tough won then) since e o November.
But we’ve been here before with Captain Darling such as v Ireland 2014 for example and look what happened in that game.. Wales got stuffed at the breakdown and Super Sam was clearly not fit to play.
Blues fans will be overjoyed to see so many of their regional players in the squad but look at what their regional team has done in the Pro12 and Europe in 2015-2016.
I just think it can all blow up in Gatland’s face especially at scrum time.
This makes dropping Paul James a seriously bad mistake to make. He is Wales’ best prop at scrum time presently and does not even make the 23.
If Gatland can justifiy picking ‘Captain Darling’ after 1 game then he can pick Liam Williams and Hallam Amos too. Of course he doesn’t because they don’t play for Cardiff or are mates of Rob Howley.
The powerful and ever present Cardiff lobby on Gatland’s coaching squad/At the WRU have won the day on selection and I just hope that it works out on Sunday.
I really hope the above is all wrong but I have a nasty feeling about this team.
“Blues fans will be overjoyed to see so many of their regional players in the squad but look at what their regional team has done in the Pro12 and Europe in 2015-2016.” -> Good point, because all of the other regions have been doing sooo much better. Knowing you hate Cardiff gives me an extra fillip of enjoyment from this selection, especially as you seem pretty clueless about rugby, so it’s a case of “If Enoch thinks it’s bad, then it’s good”.
…. you can be hated for coming from the wrong part of Wales almost as much as for coming from the wrong side of the bridge.
With so much hate I guess it helps to share it around a little. Thanks for sharing this burden with 53 million others.
Excellent team and solid replacements 16-21.
For Gareth Anscombe 2015……………read Iestyn Harris 2001
Another ‘super’ signing for Cardiff and fast tracked for Wales and that turned out even worse than Sam Burgess
Actually Brighty I just want people to be picked because they can do a proper job.
1: Surely you don’t think that C++tbutt should be anywhere near the Wales team?
Honestly you cannot.
2: I am afraid your faith in Tom James will come back to haunt you, it really will.
3: Anscombe does not give a damn about Wales. He’s also been out injured for almost as long as Hallam Amos or Liam Williams.
He only came over to Wales for a central contract and knows nothing about the history/drama etc of the 6n which you and I grew up with from when we were young.
He’s SH through and through. The red shirt mean nothing to him whatsoever.
4: Picking Captain Darling when he’s been out for 2 months whilst ignoring Hallam Amos or Liam Williams makes no sense given that No6 is a more demanding role physically than the Nice boys with big numbers on their backs.
Do you think he’s up to it for 80 mins after such a long lay off?
If he is then so are the other 2 guys who are so so much better than James and Anscombe?
5: Surely you are not going to claim that Gethin Jenkins is the best No1 Wales have? He got murdered in the 6n espec v England 2014 and 2015 and murdered at RWC 2015 too against the same team.
He was a great rugby player, fitness levels, over the ball at the break down etc and when it really mattered he threw away a try v SA in the RWC QTR final with THAT awful pass when the try went begging and he is now over the hill.
He gets pinged over and over and over again at scrum time and refs will look to penalise him because he is so weak in this aspect of a PROP’s game!!!!
You mark my words the selections of certain players is going to cost Wales victory on Sunday.
I want them to win..I want them to prove me wrong but I’ve got a nagging feeling that this is going to a cock-up because of the very guys highlighted above.
It seems that as far as selection is concerned if you play for the Blues you can guarantee getting picked. If you don’t then you can forget it.
Don’t tell me Howley’s got nothing to do with this sort of favouritism.
I much more exciting team than of late and players being picked on form – far less conservative and hopefully that’ll be reflected in the game plan. It’s finally looking like we’ve got some strength in depth – three test lions on the bench is a good position to be in!
The only concern I have is over Anscombe at fullback – I’m expecting he’s going to be bombarded and I’d much rather see Williams there. I’m assuming he’s not quite right yet. Hopefully Anscombe will come in to first receiver in the opposition 22 and get the ball to the outside backs!
Good team, but I’d be worried by having Priestland and Cuthbert on the bench. Priestland hasn’t been great for Bath IMO. Still positive signs that Gatland wants to play a more expansive game with the inclusion of a second playmaker in the backs. Despite the media love in over Biggar, I’ve not been overly impressed with his playmaking and distribution.
If it is a choice between Biggar or P+sshand………… you just throw away the coin.
P+sshand has let Wales down far far too many times and does not deserve to be 1st choice under any circumstances whatsoever.
He’s gone back on his word to his employers saying he’d take an 18 month sabbatical from international duty and hey presto….he U turns on that very very quickly.
Gatland is in love with him for whatever reason and I just don’t see why. He is just rubbish.
Like the Tipuric, Warburton pairing. Not so sure about the bench though. If the game needs changing, who can make an impact? Gethin?