Combined XV: Wales v Ireland

Combined XV: Wales v Ireland

A massive clash between Wales and Ireland will decide the 2019 Six Nations, Wales are looking to win the Grand Slam while Ireland will look to hold onto their slim chances of retaining the title Six Nations title.

Ireland needs to beat Wales and hope Scotland beat England to retain the title while a win for Wales will see them left the Six Nations trophy.

Here is our Combined XV from the two sides:

1. Cian Healy - Ireland

The experienced loosehead just gets the edge his opposite number with Evans enjoying a fine Six Nations but not doing enough to get him over a nod over Healy.


2. Ken Owens - Wales

Two experienced leaders on either side of the scrum, Owens just gets the nod over Rory Best. Two exceptional hookers but Owens form recently just gives him the edge over the Irish captain. 


3. Tadhg Furlong - Ireland

One of the finest tightheads in the game, Furlong is one of the toughest customers in the scrum. He is extremely mobile for his size getting him the nod over Tomas Francis. 

4. Alun-Wyn Jones - Wales

The vastly experienced Welsh captain become the joint most-capped Wales player this weekend. Jones is one of the finest second rowers to play the game and has an incredible work rate. He beats Tadgh Beirne, who will make his first Six Nations start for Ireland.

5. James Ryan - Wales

A superbly talented youngster, Ryan has rapidly risen to the top of test rugby and continues to make strides towards becoming one of the best second rowers to play for Ireland. He beats Adam Beard to a place in the side with the Welshman still yet to lose a test match.

6. Peter O'Mahony - Ireland

Easily one of the best blindside flankers in the game, O'Mahony is one of the leaders in the Irish squad and beats the hugely impressive Josh Navidi to a spot in the XV.

7. Justin Tipuric - Wales

An incredibly difficult call to make with Tipuric just getting the nod over Sean O'Brien. Tipuric's sensational form over the past six months gives him the edge over O'Brien who has been a mainstay, when fit, in Ireland's starting XV over the past few years for Ireland.

8. CJ Stander - Ireland

Yet another close call with Moriarty putting in a number of massive shifts for Wales recently but Stander just takes the jersey. The strong ball carrying forward has been consistently superb for Ireland since making his debut in South Africa.

9. Conor Murray - Ireland

Still one of the finest scrum-halves in the game, Murray's crisp passing and pinpoint kicking gets him the side alongside his fellow halfback partner Jonathan Sexton. 

10. Jonathan Sexton - Ireland

Wales have two excellent flyhalves in Gareth Anscombe and Dan Biggar but Sexton has shown time and time again that he is a world-class flyhalf and a match winner. 

11. Jacob Stockdale - Ireland

Josh Adams' stellar form in the Six Nations had us tempted to place the Welshman in the squad but Stockdale is one of the best finishers in the game and gets in the side ahead of the form Welsh winger.

12. Hadleigh Parkes - Wales

Parkes' Six Nations form gets him in the side ahead of Bundee Aki who looks to have nailed the #12 jersey for Ireland. Parkes has been sensational defensively for Wales and has linked up superbly with Jonathan Davies.

13. Jonathan Davies - Wales

Still one of the finest outside centres in the game, Davies has shown his class for Wales setting the likes of George North and Josh Adams up for tries. Garry Ringrose will certainly give the veteran a few headaches on Saturday.

14. George North - Wales

Two incredible wingers going head to head for the #14 jersey. Earls has a superb step and a knack for the try line while North brings a strong ball carrying game to the front. 

In the end, we have gone with the 26-year-old Welshman who has scored two tries so far in the competition.

15. Liam Williams - Wales

Another close call between Kearney and Williams, both players are excellent under the high ball and a potent running game. In the end, Williams is another player who benefits from his form during the competition.

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