Wales and Ireland will seek to underline their credentials as potential Six Nations contenders when they meet today after a series of equally patchy performances.
Both sides have flattered to deceive with some disappointingly flat displays in a tournament now topped by the unbeaten English.
Ireland struggled past Italy (13-11) and Scotland (21-18), and went down 25-22 to France, while Wales convincingly beat Scotland (24-6), failed to impress in a victory against Italy (24-16) and lost to England (26-19).
Photo: AFP
Declan Kidney’s Irish team, who won their first Grand Slam since 1948 in beating the Welsh in Cardiff in 2009, will have history on their side today at the Millennium Stadium, having lost only once in Cardiff since 1983.
In the Welsh camp, coach Warren Gatland moved the versatile James Hook back to outside-half, with Stephen Jones dropping to the bench.
Fit-again center Jonathan Davies returns to midfield alongside Jamie Roberts and wing Leigh Halfpenny is preferred to the unlucky Morgan Stoddart, a try-scorer against England and Italy.
Kidney, who has demanded that the stadium roof be kept open, kept faith with the side that defeated Scotland at Murrayfield in the knowledge that a win would keep alive their hopes of winning the Triple Crown.
“There’s not a whole lot between us,” Kidney said. “Going to Cardiff is always a daunting task. I know we’re in for a huge game. Two years ago there was one kick of a ball between us. At this level and with the fact that the two teams know each other so well, space is going to be at a premium. It will be one of those games that whoever takes their chances will come out on top.”
ITALY V FRANCE
AFP, ROME
Italy will be looking to defy the tide of history when they host France in the Six Nations match they fear most at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico today.
While Italy have on occasions kept things reasonably close in Paris since they were admitted to the Six Nations, at home they have suffered one thrashing after another.
Three times in their five games at home to the French in this competition, they have conceded more than 50 points.
Italy have even seemed to be getting worse, having lost 42-31 and 30-19 in their first two Six Nations efforts against the French.
In 2005, they were humiliated 56-13 at home and two years ago it was just one point less embarrassing as they succumbed to a 50-8 reverse.
The last two years alone have seen them give up 96 points in a game somewhat pointlessly played for the honor of holding aloft the Garibaldi trophy, first awarded in 2007 and so far won only by France.
In fact, Italy have only beaten France once in 32 previous encounters and that dates back to when they were still amateur, in 1997.
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