Ireland vs Wales LIVE: Six Nations rugby line-ups and team news ahead of opener in Dublin
Follow all the action as Ireland and Wales kick-off the 2022 edition of the Six Nations.
Andy Farrell’s side head into the championship in tremendous form after a clean sweep of their autumn series internationals, including a momentous 29-20 victory over New Zealand. Farrell’s only change to the backline sees Mack Hansen debut on the wing, with the head coach effusive in his praise for the Australian-born 23-year-old. “He’s a smart rugby player,” Farrel said. “He makes things happen.” Johnny Sexton will captain the side while an imposing Leinster dominated pack are likely to prove a force difficult for Wales to withstand.
Wales are suffering from a number of notable absences, with senior players Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Taulupe Faletau all ruled out. It leaves Wayne Pivac’s side as clear underdogs, although the head coach insists the odds that lack of pressure will work to Wales’s benefit. “Where we are with the bookies is the same position we were in last year,” he said. “Everything to gain and nothing to lose. That’s the attitude.”
Follow all the latest updates from the Aviva Stadium in Dublin:
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Wales team
Starting XV: Wales: 15. Liam Williams 14. Johnny McNicholl 13. Josh Adams 12. Nick Tompkins 11. Louis Rees-Zammit 10. Dan Biggar 9. Tomos Williams 1. Wyn Jones 2. Ryan Elias 3. Tomas 4. Will Rowlands 5. Adam Beard 6. Ellis Jenkins 7. Taine Basham 8. Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: 16. Dewi Lake 17. Gareth Thomas 18. Dillon Lewis 19. Seb Davies 20. Ross Moriarty 21. Gareth Davies 22. Callum Sheedy 23. Owen Watkin.
Gloucester star Louis Rees-Zammit in action for Wales
Ireland team
Starting XV: 15. Hugo Keenan 14. Andrew Conway 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Bundee Aki 11. Mack Hansen 10. Johnny Sexton 9. Jamison Gibson Park 1. Andrew Porter 2. Ronan Kelleher 3. Tadhg Furlong 4. Tadhg Beirne 5. James Ryan 6. Caelan Doris 7. Josh van der Flier 8. Jack Conan.
Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan 17. Cian Healy 18. Finlay Bealham 19. Ryan Baird 20. Peter O’Mahony 21. Conor Murray 22. Joey Carbery 23. James Hume.
Ireland centre Bundee Aki starts
Six Nations: Ireland vs Wales
Welcome along to live coverage of the opening Six Nations match of the championship, between Ireland and Wales in Dublin.
Wales may be the reigning champions but they travel across the Irish Sea as slight underdogs after Ireland’s stellar autumn campaign in which Andy Farrell’s side took down the All Blacks in a clean sweep of victories. Wales also carry plenty of injuries with Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, Ken Owens, Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Taulupe Faletau all ruled out.
Follow all the action as it happens.
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