A measure of the respect Wales have for Ireland in the buildup to Saturday’s Six Nations match at the Millennium Stadium is that there has not been the slightest hint of a mind game: no baiting over a closed roof at the ground, no suggestions of a conservative gameplan and every opportunity taken to compliment the champions and leaders.
The Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, who once held the same position with Ireland, has in the past tried to unsettle the men in green verbally. Not this week, before a match his side need to win to remain in contention for the title, against the only opponents he does not have at least a 50% record against in the Six Nations since he took charge in 2007.
Gatland has named an unchanged side from the team against France in Paris in the last round, deciding not to delay his selection until Thursday when Ireland will be announcing their team, one which will probably include the Lions Jonathan Sexton, Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien who were passed fit on Tuesday.
“The two sets of players know each other well and there is great rivalry,” Gatland said. “They play against each other often and it is like going up against your brother in the back yard: you want to beat him as often as possible. Last weekend was the first time since 2010 that our four regions all beat Irish provinces and that gave us a big boost.
“Ireland have a settled side and they play a game that’s been very successful which is why they are third in the world having won 10 games in a row. We are under no illusions about what we face and we have to be able to cope with the pressure they put on us. It is a massive game because if we win we are still in the competition going to Italy on the final day.
“In the past when we have played Ireland we have not always been on the edge enough and the challenge is to make sure the players are mentally prepared for what will be an incredibly tough game. We were a bit surprised by the way Ireland played last year and we have to impose our game on them. We have to cope with their aerial threat and discipline will be important.”
Sam Warburton will lead Wales for the 34th time, breaking Ryan Jones’s record. “It has never been a motivation of mine but it is a nice accolade to have,” he said. “My focus is, as always, on the team and I would rather a win over Ireland than any record.”
George North retains his place on the wing having been told by the coaches before the start of the Six Nations to improve his work rate. His only try in his last seven Tests was against Fiji.
“It’s never good if the head coach is not happy with you,” he said. “That’s when you start getting dropped. I felt that Paris was a step forward for me and I hope to reward his trust.”
Wales are in the same World Cup pool as England and Gatland was not impressed by a tweet this week from the chief executive of World Rugby, Brett Gosper, who remarked after England’s elimination from the Cricket World Cup at the group stage he hoped the same did not happen in rugby. “It is his personal view but we were a bit surprised by it,” Gatland said. “Probably the head of World Rugby does not need to be doing that. If England are guaranteed to be one of the sides going through I hope we are the other.”
Wales team
L Halfpenny (Toulon); G North (Northampton), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Racing Métro), L Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), S Baldwin (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets), L Charteris (Racing Métro), AW Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements R Hibbard (Gloucester), R Evans (Scarlets), A Jarvis (Ospreys), J Ball (Scarlets), J Tipuric (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Métro), R Priestland (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets).
