Warren Gatland Says Wales Will Target Two Irish Players In Particular This Weekend

The dynamite duo.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland says his side must target Ireland’s world class halfback pairing of Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray this weekend if they’re to have any chance of winning.

Gatland coached both men on last summer’s Lions tour of New Zealand and says Wales must “attack them. He’s also highlighted the running power of CJ Stander, another man that toured with the British and Irish Lions under Gatland.

The Kiwi says Wales’ defensive line-speed needs to be good, and they must put Murray’s kicking game under pressure.

“We’ve got to attack them,” said Gatland

“We have had some pretty good success not allowing Johnny too much time and space on the ball. Our line-speed defensively has got to be good.

“We have got to put Conor and his kicking game under pressure. We have to be prepared to be pretty physical against them.

“We have got to be physical against them up-front and stop the running power of someone like CJ Stander, and stop allowing Murray and Sexton to dominate the game. If we can do that, we have got a chance.

“They are comfortable playing through lots of phases, they’ve got an excellent kicking game, their nine and 10 combination is probably one of the best in world rugby. We’ve got a job to do to try and shut them down.”

Gatland has been able to call on three Lions himself this weekend. Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Biggar and Liam Williams have all returned to his starting line-up for the crucial fixture.

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