Who is playing, when and where?
After a week’s break, Ireland face Wales in their third match of the Six Nations on Saturday, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Kick-off is at 2.15pm.
How can I watch it?
You can watch the game on Virgin Media One in Ireland, coverage starts at 1pm. In the UK and if you prefer alternative coverage, you can watch the game on BBC One.
Who has been added to Ireland’s Six Nations squad and why?
Who else is playing this weekend?
England will play Scotland at Twickenham at 4.45pm (live on RTÉ2, ITV), while Italy will play France at the Stadio Olimpico at 3pm (live on Virgin Media One, ITV)
How have the teams done so far?
Great for Ireland, poor for Wales. The only small blemish for Ireland was letting England score two late tries for a losing bonus point in the opening game, otherwise it was the perfect start with victories over Steve Borthwick’s side and Scotland. For Wales, it was the opposite, a losing bonus point against Italy is their only point on the board after defeats to France and Italy. Against France they were beaten without getting a single score.
Ireland team to play Wales: Live updates as Simon Easterby makes seven changes for Six Nations clash in Cardiff
Jack Conan on self-criticism: ‘No one ever got better from not playing’
Dan Sheehan set to captain Ireland for Six Nations clash against Wales
Ross Byrne will leave Leinster after agreeing three-year Gloucester deal
What is at stake?
Victory over Wales would give Ireland the Triple Crown, although they have their eyes more firmly focused on a record third successive Six Nations title, and a fifth Grand Slam in their history is within sight.
For Wales, the objective is, essentially, to just stop losing. They have now lost an incredible 14 straight Test matches, a historic low, and the odds are on that increasing to 17 by the end of the championship unless they see a serious improvement. They will hope that improvement will come with a new manager bounce, as Warren Gatland left his role as head coach after the Italy game, to be replaced by Cardiff’s head coach Matt Sherratt for the remainder of the tournament.
Last five meetings
Ireland 31 Wales 7, Aviva Stadium, 2024 Six Nations
Wales 10 Ireland 34, Principality Stadium, 2023 Six Nations
Ireland 29 Wales 7, Aviva Stadium, 2022 Six Nations
Wales 21 Ireland 16, Principality Stadium, 2021 Six Nations
Ireland 32 Wales 9, Aviva Stadium, 2020 Autumn Nations Cup
What is the team news?
The starting teams will be updated here when they are announced on Thursday.
Captain Caelan Doris, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong will miss out on Saturday’s game having failed their fitness tests ahead of the squad selection. Ireland assistant coach Andrew Goodman said the it is hoped the trio will be available for the game against France on March 8th. “They are just going through their processess with the physio but they are making good progress,” he added.
Meanwhile, winger Mack Hansen and lock Joe McCarthy have been back training with the squad following their respective injuries, and are expected to be available for selection. round game against England, are back training with the squad.
Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby has also added six players to the squad; Munster’s Gavin Coombes and John Hodnett, Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney, and Leinster’s Diarmuid Mangan.
Munster scrumhalf Craig Casey has also joined the Ireland camp this week as he bids to return to action over the coming months following a knee injury.
Ireland’s squad:
Backs: Bundee Aki, Caolin Blade, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Jacob Stockdale, Garry Ringrose.
Forwards: Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Gavin Coombes, Caelan Doris*, Tadhg Furlong*, Cian Healy, Rob Herring, John Hodnett, Rónan Kelleher*, Diarmuid Mangan, Gus McCarthy, Joe McCarthy, Peter O’Mahony, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier.
*Unavailable for Saturday’s game
