Ireland’s most capped scrum-half, Peter Stringer, has warned his countrymen to be wary of a Wales team who will “play from anywhere” in the Six Nations clash in Dublin this Saturday.
“You can never write Wales off,” Stringer told Sport360 from Dublin this week.
“I’ve watched them play over the years, I know a lot of the guys.
“I’ve played against them a number of times when we would have been the heavily favoured side to win the game and they’ve produced these unbelievable performances.”
Such a performance was Stringer’s first match against Wales at Lansdowne Road in the inaugural Six Nations in 2000, just his fourth Test match.
A star studded Ireland team, bidding for the runners-up spot and their first four match winning run since their grand slam season of 1948, fell to a shock 19-23 loss.
So the 98-Test No9 knows first hand how dangerous Wales can be.
“They’ve got these star quality players,” says the super-fit 40-year-old. “Leigh Halfpenny’s back, Liam Williams on the wing.
Stringer says Liam Williams will be a danger for Wales.
“They’ve got a backline there that are very very exciting and they’ve got a set of forwards that are able to play rugby and throw the ball around as well.”
The Munsterman was in Cardiff to take a close look at the current Wales line-up in their comprehensive 34-7 thrashing of Scotland on the first weekend of this year’s tournament.
“I was commentating at the Wales – Scotland game,” Stringer explains, “and I was very impressed right across the field, their players one to 15 look really really comfortable on the ball.
“Their fitness levels, and I think it’s a big thing they talk about, they really back their fitness.”
Stringer says this was also noticeable in Wales’ narrow 12-6 loss to England at Twickenham, although the result could have been different if a dis-allowed Dragons try to Gareth Anscombe had been correctly awarded.
“In the last twenty minutes you could see that (fitness) against England as well,” he says.
“Even though they didn’t win the game they were the better side in the last twenty, twenty-five minutes, they were pushing for that score.
“Ireland will be a very fit side and well-drilled side as well, but I think Wales are a kind of side very much off the cuff.
“From club level, playing against Scarlets – who have a high representation in the Welsh team – they will throw the ball around.
“They’ll try to play from anywhere and I think Ireland has got to be wary of that.”
Conor Murray is the current Ireland No9
Despite Wales’ strengths Stringer still predicts Ireland to edge it and go on to battle England for the title at Twickenham on the final weekend.
“I still think Ireland will win. I just feel Ireland will be that bit more structured, they know what they’re doing.
“When it comes down to it Ireland will be that that bit more street smart, particularly at home, on a good vein of form at the moment – two good wins (over France and Italy.)
“They’ll be feeling confident, but I’m definitely not writing Wales off. I think it will be a great game.”
If you want to watch the game with Stringer and hear his expert thoughts as play unfolds head down to McGettigans at JLT this Saturday for the big Six Nations clash. The match kicks off at 18.15 with doors open from 15:00 and a Q&A with Stringer starting at 16:00 plus his half time analysis. Entry is free and seating is on a first come, first served basis.
