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Wales Online
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Jon Doel

The Wales team Warren Gatland should pick for the Six Nations match against Ireland

When it comes to the selection of the Wales team to play Ireland in the Six Nations opener on February 4 only one man's opinion really counts.

Warren Gatland will already have his thoughts on who he will turn to over three years after the last time he selected a Welsh side, but it doesn't stop the millions of other Wales selectors in the country having their own opinions.

We asked rugby correspondents Steffan Thomas and Ben James to pick the 23 they think Gatland should look to.

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Start with Halfpenny - Steffan Thomas

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Liam Williams, George North, Owen Williams, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Rhys Carre, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty, Jac Morgan (captain), Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Dewi Lake, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lewis, Rhys Davies, Christ Tsihunza, Justin Tipuric, Tomos Williams, Mason Grady.

If Wales are to beat the world's number one ranked team they simply must win the physical battle, negate Ireland's threat at the breakdown, and dominate the aerial game.

I've selected a side which I believe has the best chance of achieving those aims. Many readers will sneer at my selection of a 34-year-old Leigh Halfpenny but he remains one of the best positional full-back's in world rugby, while including Liam Williams in the same back-three can help negate Ireland's kicking game.

Owen Williams at 12 could also give Wales a different dimension in attack. Warren Gatland tried this ploy back in 2017 and it worked reasonably well. The Ospreys man is strong defensively, can take the ball to the line, has a good kicking game but more importantly his distribution skills could get the best out of Wales' outside backs.

Up-front I've filled the pack with ball carriers. Rhys Carre just gets the nod over destructive scrummager Nicky Smith for his carrying, while the experience of Alun Wyn Jones has won him the nod to start.

Dropping Justin Tipuric is tantamount to high treason in Welsh rugby circles but I've opted for a more physical back-row to combat the breakdown and carrying threat of the likes of Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony, and Caelan Doris.

Jac Morgan is arguably the best exponent of breakdown play in Welsh rugby while Ross Moriarty is the type of no-nonsense bully you need against Ireland.

This test match will be immensely physical and my 6-2 bench split between forwards and backs is testament to that. I'm confident the likes of Dewi Lake, Smith, Christ Tshiunza, and Tipuric will make a big impact while it's time to unleash Mason Grady onto the international circuit.

Who would you pick in the Wales team? Have your say in the comments section below

Let's see what Jenkins has got - Ben James

Wales: Liam Williams; Josh Adams, George North, Joe Hawkins, Rio Dyer; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Daf Jenkins, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau

Replacements: Ken Owens, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Rhys Davies, Ross Moriarty, Thomas Young, Dane Blacker, Nick Tompkins

There's a real temptation to get someone fresh like Keiran Williams or Mason Grady in the side. Certainly, I'd be trying to use the tournament to slowly bed them in.

But, off the bat, North and Williams probably aren't a partnership that would work. So, let's stick with Joe Hawkins - who can shunt it up, but also offer that second-playmaking role Wales need.

Elsewhere, the backline is pretty simple. It's largely the same as the Pivac era, but it's going to be tasked with doing the basics well first and foremost. The halfbacks are the best available, as is the back-three.

In the pack, six of the eight come from the Ospreys . Dewi Lake played a crucial role in splintering Leinster's scrum on Saturday and that gets him the nod over Ken Owens.

Who partners Adam Beard is the key question. For now, I'd opt for Daf Jenkins, with Rhys Davies worthy of a bench spot after recent performances.

In terms of replacements, a 6-2 split could help add some ball-carrying power to a side desperately unsure how to win collisions. Owens, Carre and Moriarty will provide that, while the likes of Lewis and Young can cause problems at the breakdown.

Read more:

England pick two of Wales' brightest prospects for Six Nations amid fears they could be lost

Welsh rugby team score 'try of the season' with move from the Gods

Today's rugby news as shock Gregor Townsend story emerges and coach says Gatland 'keen to watch' youngster

Warren Gatland's likely new full Wales coaching team as things stand

The life and tragic death of Carwyn James, the lonely Welsh rugby genius who worked as a spy

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