Ireland name team for Wales game

Two games in and the doomsday scenario has not yet played out.

“Gatland was asked whether Ireland, as many say, have been the most impressive team this tournament and replied “no” and Schmidt for his part has brushed aside Gatland’s achievements”, said the former wing. They do so with a new cast blooded from recent exposure. No longer can Wales be accused of being shallow. Whoever is most effective in this area will most likely be victorious.

“We pride ourselves on how we scrummage and how we try to be effective, but we try to scrum square and scrum legally – or as legally as anyone can”, said Best.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Justin Tipuric, Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe, George North. He’s playing too well. It is about doing the things we have been doing in training and making sure we get more consistency into our performance. He let the subs run at the start and then the starters finished off.

“You don’t suddenly replace world-class players”, Schmidt says. “The unknown is always a fear for pretty much any human being and there is a little bit about the unknown going into this weekend”. I was a bit dubious because that England team is a well-oiled machine at the moment, but they are full of confidence.

“And we won a Grand Slam, which was brilliant”.

In his place is Garry Ringrose, who returns from his own absence, with John Cooney and Niall Scannell also added to the squad to face Wales.

“He doesn’t look overly young for the size of him”, said Best, of Porter, who will win just his fifth Test cap at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. The game against England wasn’t a great game with the weather coming down.

Wales, in particular, look very risky. Rory Best (captain), 3.

The game is live on ITV and you can also watch with Welsh commentary on S4C. It’s not ideal but you’re not down and out.

History does not favour Italy, who have beaten France just twice in 18 Six Nations contest – lifting the Giuseppe Garibaldi trophy in 2011 and 2013.

“Yes, we didn’t score a try in Paris [against France three weeks ago], but we found a way and in a Test match that’s what you have to do, sometimes”.

“Are we going to be able to test this Welsh defence, that is incredibly well drilled by Sean Edwards, who is a very shrewd, experienced operators in both codes (union and league), and he’ll have come up with a plan he believes will stop Ireland?”. “They’ve done it before and can definitely do it again”.

Ireland have started their campaign promisingly with two wins firing them into contention for the title.

You get the feeling that Schmidt would get considerable pleasure from defeating his fellow New Zealander’s team.