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Guinness Six Nations Preview: Wales v Ireland

The Ireland and Wales squads stand together for the anthems prior to last November's Autumn Nations Cup game at the Aviva Stadium ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Could it be a hat-trick of away wins in the opening round of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations? Andy Farrell’s Ireland are hoping to make it so when they take on Wales in their crowd-less Cardiff cauldron.

2021 GUINNESS SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sunday, February 7

WALES v IRELAND, Principality Stadium, 3pm (live Virgin Media One/BBC One/S4C/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio Ulster/BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra/BBC Radio Wales/IRFU Live Blog)

Team News: Kicking off his second season at Ireland’s helm, head coach Andy Farrell has named a strong team to begin the 2021 Championship away to Celtic rivals Wales.

Cian Healy will make his 50th Six Nations appearance as he wins his 105th cap for Ireland. He is joined in the front row by Rob Herring and Andrew Porter, with Tadhg Furlong – absent from Test rugby since last February due to injuries – set for a bench role.

The in-form Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan form the lock partnership with Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier and CJ Stander featuring together in the back row. Stander reverts to number 8 in place of the injured Caelan Doris.

Out-half Jonathan Sexton, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, will captain the side as he competes in his twelfth Six Nations tournament.

He is joined at half-back by Conor Murray who is one of five players from the matchday squad who played in Ireland’s last Six Nations victory in Cardiff in 2013. Healy, O’Mahony, Sexton and Keith Earls are the others.

Leinster duo Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw get the nod in midfield having last started a Test match together in the quarter-final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Hugo Keenan is selected at full-back with Earls and the fit-again James Lowe, who makes his Six Nations debut, offering plenty of threat on the wings.

Joining Furlong among the replacements are Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Iain Henderson, Will Connors, Jamison Gibson-Park, Billy Burns and Jordan Larmour.

Meanwhile, Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate is rewarded for his club form as he makes his first start for Wales since November 2018. He features in the loose forwards alongside Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.

Head coach Wayne Pivac’s selection also sees Adam Beard return to the second row where he partners captain Alun Wyn Jones, who will run out for his 144th Wales appearance.

Scarlets skipper Ken Owens returns to the side after missing the autumn campaign due to injury and lines up alongside Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis in the front row.

Tomos Williams will make his first appearance since last year’s tournament after injury, combining with Northampton Saints’ Dan Biggar at half-back.

The twice-capped Johnny Williams partners George North in the centre, with North winning his 99th Wales cap. Leigh Halfpenny leads the back-three, along with Hallam Amos and Louis Rees-Zammit.

Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones and Leon Brown provide the hosts’ front row cover, with Will Rowlands and Josh Navidi completing the forward contingent. Gareth Davies, Callum Sheedy and Nick Tompkins are the replacement backs.

Guinness Six Nations Fixtures/Results

Guinness Six Nations Table

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), George North (Ospreys), Johnny Williams (Scarlets), Hallam Amos (Cardiff Blues); Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues); Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (capt), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Bath).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Rhodri Jones (Ospreys), Leon Brown (Dragons), Will Rowlands (Wasps), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears), Nick Tompkins (Dragons).

IRELAND: Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster); Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary’s College/Leinster) (capt), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster); Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster).

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Dave Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster), Will Connors (UCD/Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Billy Burns (Ulster), Jordan Larmour (St. Mary’s College/Leinster).

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Television Match Official: Tom Foley (England)

Pre-Match Quotes: Andy Farrell (Ireland) –

Our boys are very familiar with everyone that’s in the Welsh squad. They play against them all the time. Some of them are good friends and we know what top performers they can be when they’re under pressure.

“This is the start of a new competition and they’ll want to right some wrongs. They’re an experienced side that have been in good positions before and difficult positions before.

“I suppose the slate is going to be wiped clean at the start of the competition and this is a huge game for both teams. It doesn’t really matter what goes on in the papers or on the news in the coming days, the game will still be the same.

“Both teams will kick off and both teams will try to get into the ascendancy and gain a foothold in the game through the areas of the game that does that for them – physicality, set piece, line speed, intent, etc.

“Once that whistle goes, the game is just the same. It means a lot to both sides and we expect it to be a tough old battle.”

Wayne Pivac (Wales) –

We are looking forward to kicking off our campaign this weekend and putting into action two really good training weeks.

“We made strides forward through the autumn and we’re looking to take that into Sunday. The Six Nations is a fantastic tournament and is important for us rugby-wise but it is important for so much more this year.

“It’s important for communities across the country and we want to play our part and give everyone something to look forward to and to get excited about on the weekend.”

Pre-Match Links –

Head-To-Head: Ireland v Wales

Farrell Expecting ‘A Tough Old Battle’ In Cardiff

Herring Intent On Showing ‘More Progression And Improvement’ As A Squad

In Pics: Ireland Tune Up For Guinness Six Nations Opener In Cardiff

‘A Strong Start Is Key For Us’ – Easterby

Recent Meetings –

2018: NatWest 6 Nations: Ireland 37 Wales 27, Aviva Stadium

2019: Guinness Six Nations: Wales 25 Ireland 7, Principality Stadium; Rugby World Cup Warm-Up: Wales 17 Ireland 22, Principality Stadium; Guinness Summer Series: Ireland 19 Wales 10, Aviva Stadium

2020: Guinness Six Nations: Ireland 24 Wales 14, Aviva Stadium; Guinness Series/Autumn Nations Cup: Ireland 32 Wales 9, Aviva Stadium

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