THE Six Nations reaches crunch time for the Irish squad and coach Joe Schmidt this weekend. This championship has been targeted a long way out, with everyone focused on landing a Grand Slam.

That mightn’t be the case in 12 months time with a World Cup looming, when experimentation and depth are likely to be the main aim. Instead, 2018 offers a shot at silverware and the opportunity to go to Twickenham on St Patrick’s Day with everything to play for. Such games become standalone events, bring their own pressures, creating an atmosphere as big as a World Cup quarter-final or semi-final might be.

It’s also why our squad play the game and what management want to be involved for.

To set that up though, we must get over both the Welsh and Scots. That means a result against the Welsh is all that matters, regardless of performance.

It is inevitable that Warren Gatland will fire some rockets in the days leading up the game, probably trying to draw us out. He has tried that before with Joe Schmidt, indeed many have, but few get under his skin.

Gatland fancies himself as a shrewd media manipulator, but in truth that’s a sideshow to what happens on the field. He has a decent record against Ireland but we have become formidable at home in recent times.

The Welsh coach is also hampered by a long injury list and he doesn’t have the same depth as Schmidt. This makes the Welsh quite vulnerable in Dublin, despite their excellent showing in Twickenham.

Gatland does however have three players available again and one of them, Leigh Halfpenny, is probably the most consistent goal kicker in world rugby.

Home advantage has become crucial in this competition and what might have passed rugby fans by is the interesting statistic that under Joe Schmidt Ireland have never lost a Six Nations match in the Aviva Stadium. That stat will hopefully still be intact by late Saturday afternoon.

Naturally the Irish A&E waiting room has also gotten a little bit busier in the last few weeks and Robbie Henshaw’s loss will be felt, even if cushioned by the return of Garry Ringrose.

Ringrose’s own injury problems apeear to be behind him after suffering with an ankle problem through the winter and his ability to shake off any ring rust will decide whether it is he or Chris Farrell who starts alongside Bundee Aki.

Welsh tactics

The Welsh game sees their wingers join play infield regularly and they use the short side often. George North’s return adds extra physicality to that back three and when the Northampton giant is on top form he is nigh on unplayable. North has struggled for form and fitness recently though, something that will hopefully continue for one more weekend.

Up front, the Welsh are without captain Sam Warburton their most dynamic back rower, but welcome back the influential Taulupe Faletau. Ireland are in a similar boat through the absence of Sean O’Brien but our depth across the back row is unrivalled. O’Mahony and Stander are test Lions while Dan Leavy and Jack Conan are Leinster’s answer to Munster’s deadly duo.

More importantly, Ireland will be sweating on the fitness of Tadgh Furlong, regardless of Andrew Porter’s impressive cameo against the Italians. Furlong is one of our world class players and in games like this you need all of them.

While we may have run the ball almost all the time against Italy, four years ago our pack strangled the Welsh front eight to death in a 26-3 win and that should be close to the game plan Ireland bring on Saturday. Forget pretty, think points on the board.

For that reason, the most expansive rugby on offer might come from the visitors. For a couple of years now the Welsh have enjoyed open games, running from deep and capitalising when defences can become ragged.

With that in mind, the control exerted by Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton on this game is as crucial as ever. Set pieces will be our strength so we must not invite the opposing backs on to us. Touches must be found, box kicks need to hang and our defensive line must be rubber tight.

All of this is achievable. One of these performances that are often described as ‘professional’ will suffice.

The Welsh went to Twickenham and held the English to 12 points. If we can do that over there, we will win the championship.

It can’t be forgotten though that a solid home defence restricted Wales to just six points. If we can do similarly in Dublin, or something close to it, we go to London with a Grand Slam to play for. (Scotland for all their pluck are a level below the Welsh)

Home games have to be won and this will be our toughest. Let’s hope there aren’t any mishaps on Saturday.

Hurling action

This weekend is one of the busiest on the GAA calendar, as every county has national league commitments in both codes, while there is also an All-Ireland football club semi-final and the colleges hurling finals.

In the national hurling league a couple of sides will be down key players because of the Fitzgibbon final, with Tipperary and Clare worst affected. For the Banner the cushion here is that they are already certain of survival and likely a quarter-final too.

They travel to take on former leader Davy Fitz and Wexford. I’ll be at this one and will be seeing the Yellowbellies for the second weekend in a row. I was hugely impressed with their losing effort against Tipp – I left convinced they will be a force this summer.

Tipp and Kilkenny is a big game regardless of the time of year. The Cats got a win under their belts against Waterford last week, a much-needed result for a team many believe are in decline. Shorn of Jason Forde and John McGrath, Tipp could be in trouble

Whither the Deise? They looked stuck to the ground last week. Now they take a trip to Pairc Uí Choimh to play a Cork team that also lost last weekend. Waterford look bound for the relegation play-off and will hardly impede the Rebels’ efforts to avoid such a plight.

Every county is out this weekend in both senior codes (bar of course Kilkenny). The weather is set to be dry, so get some fresh air and shout your own on.

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