WALES HEAD COACH Warren Gatland has named veteran fullback Leigh Halfpenny in his starting XV to face Ireland on Saturday in the Six Nations [KO 2.15pm, Virgin Media].
34-year-old Halfpenny gets the nod in Gatland’s first team since returning as Wales boss, meaning he will make his first start for the Welsh since the summer of 2021. Halfpenny was previously a key man during Gatland’s first tenure. The 81-times capped Cardiff fullback Liam Williams has missed out on selection altogether.
Experienced hooker Ken Owens captains the team that will take on Andy Farrell’s Ireland this weekend at the sold-out Principality Stadium.
The Welsh backline includes once-capped centre Joe Hawkins and three-times capped wing Rio Dyer, although there is a familiar look to the halfback pairing of Tomos Williams and Dan Biggar.
Advertisement
Owens is joined in the front row by Ospreys pair Gareth Thomas and Tomas Francis, while Alun Wyn Jones and Adam Beard make up the second row. The in-form Jac Morgan lines up with Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau in the back row.
Hawkins partners George North in the midfield, as Dyer and Halfpenny form the back three with Josh Adams. The pacy Louis Rees-Zammit misses out through injury.
There are some relatively fresh faces on the Welsh bench, including 20-year-old Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins and Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell. Three-times capped out-half Owen Williams returns to the Welsh squad for the first time since 2017, as does hooker Scott Baldwin. Alex Cuthbert and Rhys Webb, who last played for Wales in the autumn of 2020, also return to the matchday 23.
“Ireland are the number one team in the world, so they’re going to be coming here with a lot of confidence,” said Gatland.
“You don’t become the number one team in the world without having some pretty consistent performances. We know how good they are and we’re expecting a really tough contest. It’s important for us that we start well, but we need to be in the game at the last 20 minutes.
“We’ve only had a couple of weeks together but I’m confident that the guys will go out and give a good account of themselves. They’re pretty excited about playing this first game at home.”
Ireland are due to name their matchday 23 on Thursday morning.
Wales (v Ireland):
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Josh Adams
13. George North
12. Joe Hawkins
11. Rio Dyer
10. Dan Biggar
9. Tomos Williams
1. Gareth Thomas
2. Ken Owens (captain)
3. Tomas Francis
4. Adam Beard
5. Alun Wyn Jones
6. Jac Morgan
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Taulupe Faletau
Replacements:
16. Scott Baldwin
17. Rhys Carre
18. Dillon Lewis
19. Dafydd Jenkins
20. Tommy Reffell
21. Rhys Webb
22. Owen Williams
23. Alex Cuthbert
Get instant updates on your province on The42 app. With Laya Healthcare, official health and wellbeing partner to Leinster, Munster and Connacht Rugby.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
16 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Gatland names 34-year-old Halfpenny to start against Ireland
WALES HEAD COACH Warren Gatland has named veteran fullback Leigh Halfpenny in his starting XV to face Ireland on Saturday in the Six Nations [KO 2.15pm, Virgin Media].
34-year-old Halfpenny gets the nod in Gatland’s first team since returning as Wales boss, meaning he will make his first start for the Welsh since the summer of 2021. Halfpenny was previously a key man during Gatland’s first tenure. The 81-times capped Cardiff fullback Liam Williams has missed out on selection altogether.
Experienced hooker Ken Owens captains the team that will take on Andy Farrell’s Ireland this weekend at the sold-out Principality Stadium.
The Welsh backline includes once-capped centre Joe Hawkins and three-times capped wing Rio Dyer, although there is a familiar look to the halfback pairing of Tomos Williams and Dan Biggar.
Owens is joined in the front row by Ospreys pair Gareth Thomas and Tomas Francis, while Alun Wyn Jones and Adam Beard make up the second row. The in-form Jac Morgan lines up with Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau in the back row.
Hawkins partners George North in the midfield, as Dyer and Halfpenny form the back three with Josh Adams. The pacy Louis Rees-Zammit misses out through injury.
There are some relatively fresh faces on the Welsh bench, including 20-year-old Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins and Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell. Three-times capped out-half Owen Williams returns to the Welsh squad for the first time since 2017, as does hooker Scott Baldwin. Alex Cuthbert and Rhys Webb, who last played for Wales in the autumn of 2020, also return to the matchday 23.
“Ireland are the number one team in the world, so they’re going to be coming here with a lot of confidence,” said Gatland.
“You don’t become the number one team in the world without having some pretty consistent performances. We know how good they are and we’re expecting a really tough contest. It’s important for us that we start well, but we need to be in the game at the last 20 minutes.
“We’ve only had a couple of weeks together but I’m confident that the guys will go out and give a good account of themselves. They’re pretty excited about playing this first game at home.”
Ireland are due to name their matchday 23 on Thursday morning.
Wales (v Ireland):
Replacements:
Get instant updates on your province on The42 app. With Laya Healthcare, official health and wellbeing partner to Leinster, Munster and Connacht Rugby.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Six Nations Ireland Team news Wales Warren Gatland