| Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 4 February Kick-off: 14:15 GMT |
| Coverage: Live on BBC One Wales, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and Radio 5 Sports Extra; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app. Highlights and analysis, Scrum V Six Nations, BBC Two Wales, Sunday, 5 February from 18:00 GMT and later on demand. |
There was an experienced look to the Wales XV BBC Sport online voters wanted Warren Gatland to pick for Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Ireland.
You would have recalled both Liam Williams and Wyn Jones if fit, as well as bringing back Dan Biggar.
In all voters in our online poll would have made seven changes from Wayne Pivac’s final game in charge against Australia in November.
However, Gatland’s selection on Tuesday showed four differences to yours.
He recalled Leigh Halfpenny at full-back, included wing Rio Dyer and centre Joe Hawkins along with loose-head prop Gareth Thomas.
The back row was the one unit you wanted to leave unchanged from the 34-39 defeat to the Wallabies, with Taulupe Faletau the most popular choice named in over 96% of selections.
Jac Morgan and Justin Tipuric remain your favoured flankers – a back row trio which Gatland has agreed with.
In your team skipper Ken Owens also received 96% backing as hooker in a front row where you agreed to the recall of tight-head Tomas Francis but also wanted to see loose-head Jones.
Despite younger options in Gatland’s squad, you backed 37-year-old Alun Wyn Jones who will be winning his 156th Wales cap alongside Adam Beard in the second row.
Beard, Tipuric, outside-half Biggar, centre George North, wing Josh Adams and full-back Williams all polled over 80% of your votes
Louis Rees-Zammit (55.61%) was the second most popular wing choice ahead of Rio Dyer (24.48%) having been included in Gatland’s squad despite the doubts over the Gloucester flyer’s fitness because of an ankle injury.
Tomos Williams (55.63%) was your choice at scrum-half ahead of Rhys Webb (35.87%).
You can still pick your XV but your selections won’t be counted towards the result – don’t forget to share your picks on social media using #bbcrugby.
