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Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Guinness Six Nations match between Ireland and Wales at Aviva Stadium.
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Hers are some key talking points heading into the match in Dublin.
Wales one win away from new Six Nations record
Wales are unbeaten in the tournament since Ireland defeated them in Dublin two years ago. Following that 37-27 loss, Wales have embarked on a run of eight successive Six Nations wins, equalling their best run in the competition that was set between 2007 and 2009.
(Continue reading below…)
Nick Tompkins can’t wait to start for Wales against Ireland
It comes following a 14-match sequence undefeated in all competitions under former head coach Warren Gatland, which briefly elevated them to number one in the world last year. Wales, unquestionably, have a winning habit.
Are Ireland’s players still affected by a Cardiff calamity last season?
It was all on the line for Wales in March last year, facing Ireland at the Principality Stadium with a Six Nations title and Grand Slam hovering tantalisingly close. Most pundits struggled to call it beforehand, but Wales never looked back once centre Hadleigh Parkes scored an early try, while Gareth Anscombe kicked 20 points in a 25-7 victory.
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It was comfortably more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests, as Ireland delivered one of their worst displays under Joe Schmidt. They were outclassed in every department, and Wales will hope the nightmare still lingers.
Your teams for Saturday's clash at the Aviva Stadium. #SixNations2020 #Ireland #Wales pic.twitter.com/rbkevRozti
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 6, 2020
Nick Tompkins – the centre of attention
Saracens centre Tompkins has been promoted for his first Test start following a memorable try-scoring contribution off the bench in a 42-0 drubbing of Italy last weekend.
He looked at ease in the international environment, but this weekend will be a considerable step up as he opposes a highly-experienced Ireland midfield pairing in Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki. If he goes well on Saturday, then Wales head coach Wayne Pivac really has unearthed a gem.
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New Wales boss Wayne Pivac is braced for “a massive step up” in next Saturday’s Six Nations showdown against Ireland following their comfortable victory over Italy. #SixNations https://t.co/cKovRh78oj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 2, 2020
Ireland hold the upper hand in Dublin
The opening round of this season’s Six Nations showed exactly how tough it is to win away in the tournament, with England, Scotland and Italy all going down to defeats on their travels.
Wales have found it tough going at the Aviva Stadium during recent seasons, suffering Six Nations losses either side of a draw in 2016.
Apart from a World Cup warm-up victory there the previous summer, Wales have not triumphed on Irish soil since 2012, which underlines how big a task they face this weekend.
It's been all sweetness and light heading into this round two encounter in Dublin https://t.co/AKTg7YkbWO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 8, 2020
Perfect 10s – Johnny Sexton and Dan Biggar
If anyone doubted the influence of Ireland captain Sexton and Wales talisman Biggar on their teams, then look no further than last Saturday’s opening round of action.
Sexton scored all 19 points in his team’s victory over Scotland, while Biggar performed superbly against Ireland, highlighted by him flicking an audacious pass between his legs for wing Josh Adams’ second try.
They have 169 caps between them for their countries and amassed a combined total of more than 1,200 Test points. Both nations would be lost without them, such is their enduring quality and match-winning ability.
WATCH: The Rugby Pod previews the second round fixtures in the Guinness Six Nations
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments