Wales Looks To Extend Six Nations Win Streak To 9 vs Ireland
Wales Looks To Extend Six Nations Win Streak To 9 vs Ireland
Wales meets Ireland in Dublin for a potential Six Nations deciding clash on Saturday, with the Welsh looking for a ninth straight Six Nations win.
Saracens centre Nick Tompkins will make his first Wales start in the Six Nations clash against Ireland on Saturday, in the only change to Wayne Pivac's line-up.
Tompkins, who made a try-scoring debut from the bench in Saturday's 42-0 mauling of Italy, will line up at outside centre, with George North moving to the wing for the clash in Dublin.
#IREvWAL TEAM ? One change to our starting XV to face Ireland on Saturday ??????? Cyfle mawr i Nick Tompkins, y canolwr o'r Saraseniaid, ar ôl ymddangosiad cyntaf i'w gofio. #HWFN
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 6, 2020
? - https://t.co/XDVoGJpIWB pic.twitter.com/L5QmXcH4cd
North will line up in an experienced back-three alongside Josh Adams and Leigh Halfpenny, while Tompkins will partner Hadleigh Parkes in the midfield.
Tomos Williams and Dan Biggar continue their partnership at half-back, with fit-again Gareth Davies replacing Rhys Webb as the back-up scrum-half.
Grand Slam champions Wales have named an unchanged pack with Wyn Jones, Ken Owens and Dillon Lewis in the front-row and Jake Ball lining up alongside captain Alun Wyn Jones.
Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau feature in the back-row.
"We've made just one change after a winning start last weekend," said head coach Pivac.
#IREvWAL in Dublin. This #GuinnessSixNations weekend is BIG.
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 7, 2020
⏲️ Cyfri'r oriau tan 14:15 dydd Sadwrn... #HWFN pic.twitter.com/GCgZVYKGDT
"Nick comes into the side. I thought he played exceptionally well when he came on last week so he deserves the start. George, who played really well last weekend at centre, moves back out to the wing."
Tompkins said life with Wales was "a nice distraction" following events at crisis-hit Saracens, who will be relegated from the English Premiership at the end of the season after salary cap breaches.
The 24-year-old, who is Welsh-qualified through his grandmother, played for England Under-20s but said there was no contact from England coach Eddie Jones.
"I just had contact with Wayne," he said. "He called me, and I was more than happy to meet him and get the opportunity. I couldn't have accepted it quick enough.
"I wasn't expecting to play for Wales at international level but then I don't know if I was expecting to play international rugby at all. But when it came along, there was no chance of me saying no to it."
New Zealander Pivac has made changes to his replacements with Johnny McNicholl, who started on the wing against Italy, joined on the bench by prop Rhys Carre.
Record run
Victory over Italy in Cardiff saw Wales equal their national record of eight successive Six Nations wins since losing to Ireland two years ago.
But they have not won a Six Nations match at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, formerly Lansdowne Road, since 2012.
"They (Ireland) are a very physical team, and if you let them get on the front foot they are very dangerous," said Pivac.
"We've got to be careful with the areas in which we play and make sure we match that physicality that is going to be there.
"We know it's not an easy place to go -- the record speaks for itself there."
Ireland, who won 19-12 at home to Scotland in their tournament opener, named their side on Tuesday, with coach Andy Farrell recalling flanker Peter O'Mahony in place of the injured Caelan Doris.
@Agence France-Presse
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