Campaign Sport
Jones must match Lydiate's workrate
10:10am Saturday 4th February 2012
IRELAND V WALES (Tomorrow KO 3pm)
GIVEN the importance that Warren Gatland places on preparation it’s telling that the Wales coach was happy to make an exception for his Six Nations opener.
Yesterday the New Zealander named his 22 for the clash with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, an announcement that was pushed back 48 hours because of injury concerns.
In the past Gatland has ruled out players because of their inability to take a full part in training, yet such is the importance of several of his struggling charges that he wanted to give them every chance of trotting out onto the Dublin turf tomorrow.
On Tuesday second-in-command Rob Howley admitted that flanker Dan Lydiate and fly-half Rhys Priestland had been limited in terms of their participation at the Polish training camp while it was “uncertain” whether centre Jamie Roberts could feature.
But given that Wales face arguably their sternest test of the tournament first up it was deemed worth waiting.
As it turns out, Lydiate won’t feature but Roberts and Priestland will start.
Wales are heading to the home of a fired-up Ireland who will come flying out of the blocks just as they did to leave England’s Grand Slam hopes in tatters last season.
It’s all about physicality on such occasions and it’s no surprise that two of the men Gatland was prepared to wait for are big hitters.
Ryan Jones replaces Lydiate to join captain Sam Warburton and Toby Faletau in the back row.
Perhaps not as balanced a trio as that with Lydiate, but Jones does bring bags of experience.
They will be up against an equally impressive Irish back row.
Stephen Ferris, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip have thrived on the international and European scene. When the rampaging trio are allowed to build up a head of steam they carry their sides to victory.
But they were stopped in their tracks when Wales beat Ireland in October’s World Cup quarter-final, managing just 44 metres in ball carrying distance between them, a paltry figure by their standards.
The back row battle will once again be key and Ryan Jones must try to match Lydiate’s appetite for donkey work.
In the World Cup Lydiate was defence coach Sean Edwards’ favourite player because of his defensive work ethic. The midfield tussle will also be important with Wales keen to make the most of the absence of Brian O’Driscoll, whose shoulder injury deprives the hosts of their lynchpin in attack and defence.
Ireland plumped for the diminutive Keith Earls alongside Gordon D’Arcy on the back of some strong Heineken Cup displays for Munster. But he has now been withdrawn for personal reasons and is replaced by Fergus McFadden, who has the unenviable task of stopping powerhouse Jamie Roberts.
Wales’ man mountain centre forces his opponent into making punishing tackles that need to be carefully judged. He is a key component of the attack and his strong bursts prevent Wales from stagnating. Howley said this week that they would have no qualms about throwing uncapped Ospreys starlet Ashley Beck into the side, yet it is with some relief that it hasn’t come to that.
Those with bulk will be key tomorrow and Ireland have named the same front eight from that last-eight defeat in New Zealand, with a warning not to get outmuscled again ringing in their cauliflower ears.
And such consistency of selection is something that will make Gatland green with envy in his Emerald Isle hotel room this evening.
The bookies have Ireland as favourites but the odds for a Welsh win would not be so lengthy were it not for a damaging list of walking wounded.
The retirement of Shane Williams leaves a gaping hole in the attack yet the loss of the work rate and set piece prowess of loosehead Gethin Jenkins, hooker Matthew Rees and locks Luke Charteris and Alun Wyn Jones is just as harmful.
The second row combo of Ian Evans and Bradley Davies in particular gives cause for concern against a well-drilled Ireland.
It promises to be a tight encounter that Ireland will probably edge by a score, a result that would kill off Grand Slam and Triple Crown hopes after just 80 minutes.
The presence of the names Warburton, Faletau, North, Halfpenny, Phillips and Jones (A) on the team sheet means that all is not lost.
But the overwhelming feeling is that Wales will be ruefully reflecting on their key absentees come the final whistle at 5pm tomorrow.