{"id":23491,"date":"2019-03-15T14:49:54","date_gmt":"2019-03-15T14:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/cjsnews\/?p=23491"},"modified":"2019-03-15T14:49:54","modified_gmt":"2019-03-15T14:49:54","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-tomorrows-wales-v-ireland-grand-slam-showdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/cjsnews\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-tomorrows-wales-v-ireland-grand-slam-showdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything you need to know about tomorrow's Wales v Ireland Grand Slam showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ireland are hoping to destroy Wales’s Grand Slam dreams.<\/strong>
\n
\nAn estimated 275,000 rugby fans will flood into Cardiff this weekend to see if Wales can pull-off a Grand Slam victory against Ireland.
\nThe match kicks-off at 2pm with the Principality at full capacity and a further 200,000 people estimated to be watching in venues around the city.
\nWales are on their greatest ever winning streak<\/a> and a further win would crown them Six Nations Champions. However, Ireland hope to derail Wales’s success, as they can still snatch the championship after winning a bonus point against France.
\n\"\"

The Teams:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Wales: <\/strong><\/span>A W Jones (Captain),\u00a0<\/em>North, Parkes, G Davies, Williams, Adams, Anscombe, G Davies, Evans, Owens, Francis, Beard, Navidi, Moriarty, Tipuric.<\/em><\/span>
\nReplacements:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Dee, Smith, Lewis, Ball, Wainwright, A Davies, D Biggar, O Watkin.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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▶️\u00a0“It’s an opportunity to create history,” Warren Gatland tells WRU TV. Mae Warren eisiau Cymru i gipio’r moment a rhoi popeth yn erbyn Iwerddon\u200b. #ForTheJersey<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/j05DgmSt9I<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 14, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ireland<\/strong>: Best (Captain), Kearney,\u00a0 Ringrose, Aki, Stockdale, Murray, Earls, Sexton, Healy, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O\u2019Mahony, Stander, O\u2019Brien.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\nReplacements<\/strong>: Lamour, Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter, Roux, Conan, Marmion, Carty.<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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#GuinnessSixNations<\/a><\/p>\n

Here’s the Ireland team for the final round of the @SixNationsRugby<\/a> Championship.#TeamOfUs<\/a> #WALvIRE<\/a> #ShoulderToShoulder<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Y1KZDYfb7Y<\/a>
\n\u2014 Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 14, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

After Scott Williams was brought-off during last Saturday’s clash with Scotland, he’s been an injury doubt. He’s since been confirmed at number 15 in the starting lineup.<\/p>\n

Controversy:<\/h3>\n

Last week’s controversy over the proposed Scarlets and Ospreys merger<\/a> left Warren Gatland’s men distracted before facing Scotland up in Murrayfield.
\nBut this weekend’s match is fresh with new controversy, as Ireland have forced Wales to keep the roof of the Principality Stadium open during the Grand Slam decider. Wales wanted to keep the roof shut after complaining that the pitch was too wet during their last match.
\nThere are two weather warnings in place for Wales on Saturday, including heavy rain and strong winds. It may be unpleasant inside the stadium, but fans are warned that golfing umbrellas are strictly banned under the stadium’s enhanced security. Fans should also plan travel arrangements ahead of time<\/a> due to the bad weather and sheer volume of fans.
\n“WRU should cut the choir and the band during the anthem on Saturday” – some Welsh rugby fans say the choir and band who perform at the Principality Stadium on match days drown out the sound of the crowd and the atmosphere would be better without them.
\nThe Secretary for Pendyrus Male Choir says: “I think it’s disgusting really. I think if they got rid of choirs you’d lose all the entertainment. The Welsh people wouldn’t have it.”
\nBut Matt Southcombe, a Welsh rugby fan thinks the choir should be cut halfway through the anthem to let the fans finish it off. He said, “They do it at Murrayfield in Scotland and it really does make for a brilliant and incredible atmosphere.”<\/p>\n

Fan Advice:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cardiff Council, Transport for Wales<\/em> and other transport companies have also issued advice for those travelling to Cardiff for the match. There will be a lot of travel disruption in the city, including:<\/p>\n