Ireland and Wales feeling the heat ahead of pivotal Six Nations opener

Ireland and Wales feeling the heat ahead of their pivotal Six Nations opener with both sides looking to capitalise on England’s shock loss and mount a title challenge… but defeat for either side could spell disaster

  • Ireland kick off their 2021 Six Nations campaign against Wales on Sunday
  • Both camps are feeling the pressure ahead of a pivotal clash at the Principality 
  • England’s shock defeat could give either side reason to mount a title challenge
  • Defeat will heap further pressure on both teams who are already feeling the heat

Ireland begin their 2021 Six Nations campaign against Wales in Cardiff on Sunday afternoon knowing that both camps are feeling the pressure ahead of a pivotal clash at the Principality Stadium.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and his Wales counterpart Wayne Pivac are overseeing their second tournaments in charge on the back of patchy 2020 campaigns, while Johnny Sexton and Alun Wyn Jones (both 35) are captains who do not have time on their side.

Scotland’s shock victory over England in Twickenham on Saturday has blown the Six Nations title chase wide open on the opening weekend and the victorious side on Sunday will have reason to mount a serious title challenge in the coming months. Defeat will heap further pressure on both coaching teams, who are feeling the heat.


Ireland head coach Andy Farrell (left) and his Wales counterpart Wayne Pivac (right) are both feeling the heat ahead of their pivotal Six Nations opener at the Principality on Sunday

Pivac, who has lost his seven of his first 10 games in charge, has selected the most experienced Wales team in history while Farrell has placed his trust in seasoned campaigners such as Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray, Cian Healy and Peter O’Mahony.

Ireland are seeking their first Six Nations victory on Welsh soil since 2013 but Simon Easterby denied that the hosts are there for the taking after their poor showings last year.

‘They’ll be desperate to improve on recent performances and results,’ said the Ireland defence coach.

‘It’s a new tournament, an opportunity to start afresh. They’ve had a year together, a lot of things will be embedded, they’ll feel they’re in a much stronger place than they were the last time we played them.

England’s shock defeat by Scotland could give either side reason to mount a title challenge

‘We expect a team that’s going to play against us with confidence. They’re at home but not with 70,000 Welsh supporting them.

‘The way they liked to play at Scarlets when they were winning things, they were attack minded, threats across the park in attack and I expect that to be no different tomorrow.’

Slow starts have derailed Ireland’s last three visits to Cardiff especially their last visit to this venue in 2019 when the found themselves 16-0 down at half-time before Wales romped to victory and a Grand Slam.

‘On a number of times we’ve done that,’ Easterby admitted.

‘Most recently in 2019 when they won the Grand Slam, they got ahead of us. Obviously the conditions were slightly different. There was a lot of rain and it was hard to chase the game, but we can’t afford to give a side like Wales – with home advantage – the 10,12, 15-point head start which we have done in the past.

‘It’s about making sure that we win those little battles early on. The game isn’t won in the first 20 but it can difficult to win it if you don’t get on top of things and you give sides the type of start that we have here.’

Ireland got the better of Wales the last time the two sides met in the Autumn Nations Cup

Wales have named the reliable backrow trio of Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau while George North shifts to centre to form a heavyweight midfield with Johnny Williams.

And Easterby is expecting a physical onslaught from the hosts this afternoon.

‘We can expect that they’re going to come after us with the ball in the hand.’

‘They’re going to look to be disruptive in defence with the size they’ve got in that midfield.

‘It poses us lots of questions and I’m sure they will pose us problems.’




Share this article

Source: Read Full Article