Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Ireland v Wales

Both squads’ batteries are fully recharged following last week’s break, as third-placed Ireland and bottom side Wales go head-to-head in the penultimate round of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 8.10pm).

2026 GUINNESS MEN’S SIX NATIONS – ROUND 4:

Friday, March 6 –

IRELAND (3rd) v WALES (6th), Aviva Stadium, kick-off 8.10pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/ITV 1/S4C/RTÉ Radio 1//BBC Radio Ulster/BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra/BBC Sounds/IRFU Live Blog)

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Team News: Following a record away win over England last time out, Andy Farrell’s Ireland team return home to continue their Championship campaign against Wales, with two players in line for milestone caps.

Jamison Gibson-Park, a debutant against Italy back in October 2020, will win his 50th cap in the green jersey, while uncapped Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak is set to make his Ireland debut off the bench.

Also among the replacements are Ulster hooker Tom Stewart and Munster centre Tom Farrell, who are poised to make their first Six Nations appearances.

For the first ever Six Nations match to take place on a Friday in Dublin, head coach Farrell has made five changes to the side that won in convincing fashion in Twickenham. Jacob Stockdale’s return on the left wing is the only back-line switch.

Jamie Osborne and Robert Baloucoune, Ireland’s top try scorers in this Six Nations with two each, feature again in the back-three, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey continue their partnership in the centre, as do Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley at half-back.

Nick Timoney is handed his first Six Nations start, at openside flanker, as one of five Ulster starters in the line-up. He will combine with Jack Conan and captain Caelan Doris in the back row, with Tadhg Beirne reverting to lock, and Josh van der Flier held in reserve.

Leinster second row James Ryan will win his 80th cap, and a refreshed front row has Tom O’Toole making only his third international start, and his first at loosehead prop. He replaces the injured Jeremy Loughman (calf), to pack down with Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong.

The home side have plenty of experience to call on off the bench as Stewart, Michael Milne, Thomas Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, and van der Flier make up the forward replacements, with backs Doak, Farrell, and Ciarán Frawley completing the matchday 23.

Speaking ahead of the game, Andy Farrell, who was on his Lions sabbatical when Ireland clinched the Triple Crown with a hard-fought 27-18 victory in Cardiff last year, said: “We have two special milestones in the squad this week at opposite ends of the scrum-half spectrum.

“I would firstly like to congratulate Nathan on his first international selection. He has been around a few Ireland camps in recent years and has impressed with the consistency and quality of his play in training and with Ulster over a longer period.

“I know how much this means to Nathan, and we are determined to make this a special few days for him and his family.

“Also, Jamison becomes the 61st Irish men’s international to reach the 50-cap mark which is an incredible achievement for a top-class professional. I’ve no doubt that both players are excited to get out in front of a packed Aviva Stadium on Friday night.”

Meanwhile, Wales head coach Steve Tandy has made three personnel changes for the trip to Dublin, with two of them enforced due to injuries to Sam Costelow (ankle) and Taine Plumtree (shoulder). The visitors will wear their alternate white and black kit.

Dan Edwards takes over from Costelow at out-half, and James Botham will make his first start of the 2026 Championship, coming in at openside flanker, with his Cardiff club-mate Alex Mann switching to the blindside berth.

Dragons number 8 Aaron Wainwright has recovered from a ‘bump’ he received in the 26-23 defeat to Scotland to complete the back row, while like Edwards, Scarlets youngster Ellis Mee will make his third appearance in this year’s Six Nations, slotting back in on the right wing.

Among the replacements, 21-year-old Bath back Louie Hennessey is in line to make his senior international debut, and Adam Beard and Olly Cracknell join the forward cover for the clash with Ireland.

Tandy commented: “There are a couple of enforced changes this week due to injury, and then Ellis had played well in the opening couple of rounds, so we feel he deserves the opportunity again.

“This week it’s about backing up the performance against Scotland. Going away from home is a different type of environment for our group, but the focus for us is really improving on what we did last game.

“I thought the defence against Scotland was much improved so we definitely want to double down on that. You see how Ireland keep the ball in possession, they play lots of passes so we know we’re going to have to build and improve from the other week.”

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures

Guinness Men’s Six Nations Table

IRELAND: Jamie Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster); Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen RFC/Ulster), Garry Ringrose (UCD RFC/Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Bangor RFC/Ulster), Jacob Stockdale (Lurgan RFC/Ulster); Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf FC/Leinster), James Ryan (UCD RFC/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne FC/Munster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Nick Timoney (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster) (capt).

Replacements: Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Michael Milne (Nenagh Ormond RFC/Munster), Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Josh van der Flier (UCD RFC/Leinster), Nathan Doak (Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Tom Farrell (Lansdowne FC/Munster), Ciarán Frawley (UCD RFC/Leinster).

WALES: Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears); Ellis Mee (Scarlets), Eddie James (Scarlets), Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby); Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby); Rhys Carré (Saracens), Dewi Lake (Ospreys) (capt), Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Carter (Dragons), Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby), James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).

Replacements: Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), Adam Beard (Montpellier), Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby).

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Damian Schneider (UAR)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Pre-Match Quotes:

Caelan Doris (Ireland) –

It is game by game. It’s about performances really, to be honest with you. It’s about building on what we showed in Twickenham.

“There’s a lot of hard work gone in over the last couple of weeks since then as well, and some really good training days. We trained here against the Under-20s, which was good to get a run against them.

“It’s just continuing the growth of this team. We’ve got a pretty clear plan of where we want to go in terms of structures and the way we want to play, and it’s about chasing that down week on week.

“I think Wales have grown throughout the tournament. You can see the progression game on game. Obviously they put it up to Scotland in the most recent fixture.

“They started well (that day against Scotland). They’ve clearly invested a lot of time in their attack. It is a good attack and it’s going to be a challenge for our defence.

“I’m sure they’ve built quite a bit of belief through how they’ve trained, through some of the pictures they’ve seen. It’s going to be a challenge. Friday night’s a pretty special time to do it as well.”

Dewi Lake (Wales) –

We haven’t put enough results together, we haven’t shown the team and the individuals we can be over the last 12 months.

“Obviously Ireland are a team that massively have grown and are a top-class team. It shows an obvious gulf at the minute. But, on our day, we believe we can beat anyone.

“That’s probably our favourite place to be really – the underdog. Being Welsh, we’ve always loved being the underdog.

“Nobody giving us an opportunity. I think nobody really gave us an opportunity in the last round (against Scotland), and we showed what we could do.

“I know ultimately we didn’t come away with a result in that game, but that game has given us belief and is only going to carry the momentum of this squad through this weekend.”

Pre-Match Interviews & Links –

Gibson-Park: Every Time I Just Want To Do My Best For The Team And The Country

‘Nathan’s Calm, He’s Got A Good Head On His Shoulders’ – Doris

Opta Facts: Guinness Men’s Six Nations – Ireland v Wales

Timoney: Faz Is Unbelievable At Giving You Belief In Yourself

‘Stacking Games On Games Definitely Helps’ – Osborne

O’Connell: For Us, It’s Just About Getting Better

Recent Meetings –

2023: Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Wales 10 Ireland 31, Principality Stadium

2024: Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Ireland 31 Wales 7, Aviva Stadium

2025: Guinness Men’s Six Nations: Wales 18 Ireland 27, Principality Stadium

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