- Ireland -9 on the h'cap v Wales
- Jacob Stockdale anytime try-scorer (5/2)
With the number of sudden departures within the Wales set-up, it feels like a case of ‘last one turn out the lights.’ Most Wales fans probably feel like lying down in a dark room as things stand anyway, given their team’s fall from grace.
Once, albeit very briefly, they were the world’s number one ranked team, and now they head to Dublin ranked eighth on the back of a five-game losing streak.
If new head coach Wayne Pivac was promised a honeymoon period, he should demand a refund.
Aviva derchi
Playing Ireland at the Aviva does not immediately spring to mind as a pick-me-up type of fixture and it is hard to see the men in red stopping the rot on Friday night.
Andy Farrell has named a strong side – one that we expect to cover the 9-point handicap (10/11, Unibet and Boyle Sports) – as Ireland look to make it 19 wins out of their last 20 at their Dublin base.
Ireland have been well disciplined under Farrell in terms of keeping the penalty count down, and if they can maintain that trend, and keep the prolific boots of Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Biggar out of the game, it is hard to see Wales scoring that many points.
With Munster men Conor Murray and Keith Earls on the bench, Ireland could continue their habit of finishing with a late flourish. In the Six Nations, seven of their 17 tries were scored in the last quarter.
Jacob’s rising stock?
Full-back Jacob Stockdale has been the topic of much discussion in the week, with Johnny Sexton coming out in support of his team-mate.
“We just need him to keep being himself because you saw what he can do against Italy, you’ve seen what he can do, especially at full-back, over the season with Ulster,” the fly-half said.
Stockdale has scored 10 tries in just 12 Tests at the Aviva Stadium, so it’s as good a place as any for him to answer the critics with a try (5/2 anytime).
