RECAP: Ireland v Wales
READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to the World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and Wales in Dublin.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt and captain Rory Best will experience their last taste of a home rugby Test match on Saturday against Wales and Andy Farrell says he hopes the players produce a performance worthy of the occasion.
Schmidt, who has been in charge since 2013, and Best have overseen a purple patch for the national side since the disappointment of the 2015 World Cup when an injury-hit side was run ragged by Argentina in the quarterfinals.
Two historic wins over world champions New Zealand – their first-ever in Chicago in 2016 and then a home win last November – and the 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam, only the third in their history speaks volumes for Schmidt’s coaching ability and Best’s captaincy.
Recent results:
2019: Ireland won 22-17, Cardiff
2019: Wales won 25-7, Cardiff
2018: Ireland won 37-27, Dublin
2017: Wales won 22-9, Cardiff
2016: 16-16 draw, Dublin
2015: Wales won 16-10, Dublin
2015: Ireland won 35-21, Cardiff
2015: Wales won 23-16, Cardiff
2014: Ireland won 26-3, Dublin
2013: Ireland won 30-22, Cardiff
Prediction: Ireland
Margin: Seven
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#HALFTIME @IrishRugby 7 (1 try, 1 con) @WelshRugbyUnion 10 (1 try, 1 con, 1 pen) @rugbyworldcup #IREvWALhttps://t.co/vPabWR7f4S
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) September 7, 2019
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Teams:
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Jordan Larmour, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Christiaan Stander, 5 Jean Kleyn, 4 James Ryan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rory Best (captain), 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Garry Ringrose.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Jake Ball, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Wyn Jones.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owen, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Liam Williams.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Luke Pearce (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
