Six Nations: Scott Quinnell looks ahead to Ireland v Wales this weekend
Friday 7 February 2014 12:43, UK
Image:Paul O'Connell: Centre of attention for Ireland
Scott Quinnell believes Ireland will attack Wales upfront rather than taking the battle out wide in this weekend's Six Nations clash.
Looking in a mirror
Quinnell says that is going to be a very physical and bruising encounter with the likes of Paul O'Connell, Peter O'Mahony and Cian Healy going up against Alun-Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton and Adam Jones in the pack. But it is at scrum-half where Quinnell thinks the biggest battle is going to be.
"Conor Murray against Mike Phillips is going to be very interesting indeed - it's like looking in a mirror for those two and they are going to have a real fiery battle," he said. "
"They both will want to run at each other, run over each other and smash each other up - it's going to be like two gladiators going hammer and tongues!
"The two back rows are wonderful too - who is going to win that battle? I'm not sure. Sam Warburton is back in the team and I think that shows how Wales are going to play - stop Ireland coming at them by using the big defensive displays of Warburton, Taulupe Faletau and of course Dan Lydiate.
"Wales will use their big ball carrying centres to get over the gain line and then drive around the close fringes. Ireland will need to counter that. It's going to be a very tight game but I will never go against Wales!"
