WITH the countdown to Wales' Triple Crown showdown with Ireland in Dublin getting ever closer, the Argus asked five supporters from Crumlin for their views.

We asked them for their thoughts on Wales' performance during the 47-8 hammering of Italy last weekend and for their forecast on team selection and predictions for the big game in Dublin's Croke Park a week on Saturday.

Today our panel consists of Steve Irwin, 47, an engineering inspector from Crumlin, Mike Johnson, 65, retired and from Blackwood, Charlie Burgwin, 64, an engineer from Crumlin, Tony Richards, 63, retired and from Crumlin and Derrick Williams, 67, retired and also from Crumlin.

Q: Were you pleased with the Welsh performance against Italy?

SI: Overall I was pleased. The first half was scrappy but Wales seemed to come out in the second half with the same will to win they showed against England. I think the game also changed when they brought Mike Phillips on.

MJ: Yes I was very pleased although Italy gave us our usual fright but I always had the feeling we would win.

But had Italy scored that try in the first half and not missed their kicks, it would have made it more interesting and more nerve-racking.

CB: I was a bit dubious about our line-out and that needs to be improved a lot. But if you compare it with the way Italy played against Ireland and England and ran them close, then yes it was a very good performance by Wales.

TR: I didn't think the first half was too bad. Wales' pack tired them out up front and finished them off in the second half.

DW: In the first half Italy stole a lot of our ball and stopped us playing.

But they got tired in the end and our fitness was tremendous. I don't think Matthew Rees played himself in to the side for Ireland though. I think Huw Bennett will start.

Q: Do you think this Wales team is a better side than the 2005 Grand Slam-winning team?

SI: No. I think rugby, like any other sport, is all about your mental approach. Warren Gatland, like Graham Henry before him, has come here without any preconceived ideas and is picking players for their strengths.

Back in the late 1970s, Nottingham Forest didn't have many international players but they won the European Cup twice because Brian Clough knew how to motivate them.

MJ: Only in the respect that this team seem more organised, disciplined and focussed than the 2005 side. In my opinion, in 2005 we rode our own luck.

CB: Apart from four or five players, it's the same team. Ruddock and now Gatland have instilled a winning mentality into them. Gareth Jenkins lost the plot in selection. He lost the players and the country when he said the defeat to England didn't matter and told people to judge him on the World Cup.

TR: Yes. We've got good strength in depth. When we've played in the past, we've had 15 players but one or two dicey ones had to come on the field. With this squad for example, we've got very good half backs on the bench as well as in the back row.

DW: This side have got to prove themselves yet. I played for Blaina for 14 years and know Mike Ruddock well and am an admirer of him. I like these coaches too and we've been waiting for men of their calibre for a few years.

If you do something wrong, you're out, but they explain to you why you've been dropped and give you a chance to redeem yourself.

Q: Now onto the $64,000 question. What's the best Welsh half-back pairing to face Ireland?

SI: Mike Phillips is like Dai Bishop with his aggression - he's like a ninth forward. I would probably play Stephen Jones in the first half and then bring James Hook on. Jones settles things down so it's nice and steady. Hook's the flair player when we need to turn things on.

MJ: You've got to leave that one to Gatland! Only he and his coaches know the kind of tactics they're going to play against Ireland so we've got to trust him. I would start with Jones and Phillips. I think the Irish could unsettle Hook and Peel is off his game.

CB: It's got to be Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones. Jones has got more experience. Hook is very good player with the skills but he's still on a learning curve.

TR: I think we should start with Jones and Phillips. The best player at scrum-half at the moment is Phillips. Peel has been ravaged by injury recently and I don't know if he can do it mentally at the moment.

DW: I would play Peel and Jones but we'd be in a nice position to have Phillips and Hook on the bench. I think Jones is the best tackling outside half we've got. And he made a real difference when he came on against Scotland in the second match.

Q: Alun Wyn Jones looks like he's going to be fit for the Irish match. Would you bring him back into the starting XV?

SI: Yes. Ian Evans hasn't done anything wrong but Jones is a bit more dynamic. Evans doesn't seem so agile around the field. And you can't drop Goughie. He has been playing out of his skin, he is a big presence - one of the old heads.

MJ: I would stick with Ian Evans and Gough. Again we don't know the mood in the camp and we don't know how fit Alun Wyn Jones is going to be and the game plan. I would stick with the same second rows.

CB: I would play Alun Wyn Jones. I don't think Ian Evans has got the work rate of Jones and Gough. Evans gives too many penalties away which you can't afford to do against Ireland.

TR: Yes. I think Alun Wyn Jones has been the best all-round forward in Wales this year.

DW: I thought Ian Evans did very well against Italy. I know it's a bit harsh but I would bring back Alun Wyn Jones. Ireland will come at us at 100mph and Jones offers a bit more.

Q: Who are the danger men for Ireland?

SI: Brian O'Driscoll, Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer, who I think is a lovely player - a bit like a Jack Russell. But Ireland are a team coming to the end of their days.

We've got to force them into mistakes like Popham's tackle created a try against England. We've got this blitz defence that can apply the pressure.

MJ: I think David Wallace is at the top of his game and O'Gara has got the experience to control the game well. The Irish will come at us like raving lunatics.

CB: They've got fine second rows in Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell and I think their backs are equal to ours. I think they will play their typical spoiling game.

TR: O'Gara without a shadow of a doubt is their key man but they have a pretty strong back row as well. I think the Welsh front row will attack the Irish front row and have a real go at John Hayes.

DW: O'Driscoll is their main man and O'Gara is a fine player. If we can stop O'Gara and his kicking game, we can stop Ireland.

Q: Finally, can Wales win and achieve their 19th Triple Crown a week on Saturday?

SI: I believe we will win the Triple Crown. We've probably got too much in the backs for them with the likes of Shane Williams and Lee Byrne has been immense. He's come on tremendously. Ireland have had their day.

MJ: We can certainly win it. With a little bit of luck, that all sides need, as long as we don't make many mistakes and weather the storm, there's no reason why not.

CB: Yes we can do it. Mike Phillips will bully either Eoin Reddan or make Peter Stringer lose his temper. Wales won't be daunted by Croke Park.

TR: Yes I think our all-round game is too good for them and Ireland won't trouble us much. After 60 minutes, Wales will cut loose and win comfortably by 15 points.

DW: I think we'll win. I'm pretty confident. I think our hardest game will be France. We'll scrape through against Ireland and then beat France for the Grand Slam.