A look at the Wales team
15Kevin Morgan
Dragons
Age: 29 Height: 5ft 10in
Caps: 39 Weight: 13st 4lb
A good tackler and an excellent counterattacker. Kicking not a strong point.
14 Hal Luscombe
Harlequins
Age: 25 Height: 6ft 3in
Caps: 15 Weight: 15st 9lb
Switched from outside centre to the right wing, he's quick and strong.
13 Jamie Robinson
Cardiff
Age: 26 Height: 6ft 2in
Caps: 15 Weight: 15st
An accomplished attacking player, but his defensive qualities will be tested.
12 James Hook
Ospreys
Age: 21 Height: 6ft
Caps: 6 Weight: 12st 11lb
The new golden boy of Welsh rugby. Has plenty of ability: good hands, good kicking game. Marking D'Arcy is a step up.
11 Chris Czekaj
Cardiff
Age: 21. ...
Height: 6ft 3in
Caps: 2
Weight: 15st 12lb
Big and fast, he's shown himself to be a consummate finisher.
10 Stephen Jones
Llanelli, captain
Age: 29 Height: 6ft 1in
Caps: 58 Weight: 14st 12lbs
A real leader in every sense of the word. If Wales are to win, then he'll have a major role to play in driving his team on. Good tackler.
9Dwayne Peel
Llanelli
Age: 25 Height: 5ft 9in
Caps: 48 Weight: 13st 8lb
The best scrumhalf in the Six Nations Championship with an all-round game. A snappy delivery and an eye for a gap make him tough to catch. A big threat.
1 Gethin Jenkins
Cardiff
Age: 26 Height: 6ft 2in
Caps: 40 Weight: 19st
Quick for a big man, as Ronan O'Gara found to his cost here two years ago. Strong in the scrum and a willing and effective ball-carrier.
2 Rhys Thomas
Cardiff
Age: 24 Height: 6ft
Caps: 14 Weight: 16st 6lb
Ireland will look to put his lineout throwing under pressure and it's an area in which he's fallible. Mobile, hardworking and productive in other facets of the game.
3 Chris Horsman
Worcester
Age: 29 Height: 6ft 3in
Caps: 5 Weight: 17st 6lb
Has been picked to specifically target the Irish scrum as he carries a serious reputation in the tight. Technically very good.
4 Ian Gough
Dragons
Age: 30 Height: 6ft 5in
Caps: 35 Weight: 17st 4lb
Abrasive athlete who occasionally lets the red mist descend. He is very mobile and a decent lineout option. Makes many tackles.
5Alun Wyn Jones
Ospreys
Age: 21 Height: 6ft 5in
Caps: 5 Weight: 17st
A young player of whom great things are expected. Very comfortable on the ball, he is also productive out of touch. Good around the pitch.
6 Alix Popham
Llanelli
Age: 27 Height: 6ft 3in
Caps: 19 Weight: 17st 4lb
Operates on a hair-trigger temper that has led to more than his fair share of runs-in with officials. Despite this he is an excellent player with or without the ball.
7 Martyn Williams
Cardiff
Age: 31 Height: 6ft
Caps: 64 Weight: 15st 8lb
The scourge of opposing teams, he has the knack of pinching or at least slowing down quick ruck ball. Ireland will have to neutralise this groundhog if they are to thrive.
8 Ryan Jones
Ospreys
Age: 25 Height: 6ft 5in
Caps: 11 Weight: 17st 10lb
One of the best footballing forwards in
the tournament, he is happily restored to
full health following injury. Can do almost everything and will be a key performer for
the home side.
Wales
John O'Sullivan
