Rob Howley has backed the same players who lost to England and Scotland to come good against Ireland on Friday. Robin Davey predicted as much, but it’s still enough to drain the colour from his cheeks.
A grey Wednesday and two decidedly grey announcements by two markedly grey individuals. I give you Wales interim rugby coach Rob Howley and Chancellor Philip Hammond.
Two announcements – an unremarkable Wales team to face Ireland on Friday night at the Principality Stadium and an equally predictable Budget. Maybe the pair were in a race to discover who could be the most boring.
I’d say it was a dead heat with little in the way of sweeteners on the political or sporting front.
Obviously, this column is about the rugby and no-one but no-one expected anything remotely adventurous from Howley against the Irish.
There has been a season-long clamour from an increasingly fed-up public for the introduction of a few new faces like Sam Davies or Keelan Giles, or Steff Evans.
But not a bit of it. Exactly as predicted here last week, Howley has gone for the tried and tested, banking on experience to do the job and deciding that a pressure cooker game against Ireland is not the occasion to blood any young talent.
Wales may be out of the running for the Six Nations title having lost to England and Scotland, but there is more at stake, mainly World Cup ranking points.
They cannot afford to lose against Ireland and then France in the finale a week Saturday or they will tumble out of the top eight in world rugby which would mean them being in a so-called group of death again at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
It happened in 2015, or course, when Wales were paired with England and Australia, but they escaped well enough with a shock victory over hosts England. But to ask for a repeat really would be tempting fate.
So, victory in their home game against Ireland is absolutely vital which is where Howley’s natural conservative nature takes over in his team selection.
If there is a mild surprise or two then oddly enough it’s in the experience he has chosen to leave on the bench. Both Taulupe Faletau and Luke Charteris are fit again after suffering knee and hand injuries, respectively, but they have not been brought back in.
Instead, Howley has kept faith with Jake Ball, who has been pretty consistent, and Ross Moriarty, assuming he was the one at risk with Faletau back in the hunt again. Some were calling for a back row of Moriarty, Faletau and Warburton for their physical presence, which would have meant leaving out Justin Tipuric instead of awarding him a 50th cap.
It has to be a gamble to leave out a world class player and athlete like Faletau, though. And Charteris, too, for that matter, for his line-out and mauling expertise. Shaun Edwards has said this week that sometimes the best players are on the bench. I’m still trying to get my head around that one!
As for the actual game, Ireland have no fears about playing at the stadium. They are used to winning there and they are sure to take Wales on everywhere, chasing a title showdown against all-conquering England in Dublin a week on Saturday.
They have pretty much recovered from their surprise opening defeat at the hands of Scotland, thrashing Italy and getting the better of France in a physical battle.
They excel on that front and back row trio of Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip and CJ Stander, backed up by scrum-half Conor Murray, present an immense challenge which Wales will do well to withstand.
And they possess another ace in outside-half Johnny Sexton, who is sure to kick the goals and test George North’s defences in particular.
North has come in for some heavy criticism since being exposed against Scotland and you can bet Ireland will put him under the pump.
Wales, roared on by their home crowd, will need to come out of the blocks fast or they will live to regret it. Scrum-half Rhys Webb is probably their main thret and his individual battle against Murray is sure to be a highlight.
But at the end of the day,I reckon Ireland will have too much for Wales. Then, at least Howley’s face will be red, even if the rest of him remains as grey as Philip Hammond.
