The Ireland matchday squad, led by captain Peter O'Mahony, are pictured with IRFU President Greg Barrett at the Aviva Stadium ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony will achieve another career milestone with his 50th Guinness Men’s Six Nations appearance, as a young Wales team come to town looking to upset the odds.
Saturday, February 24 –
IRELAND (1st) v WALES (5th), Aviva Stadium, 2.15pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/ITV 1/S4C/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio Ulster/BBC Sounds/BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra/IRFU Live Blog)
Team News: Following opening bonus point wins over France and Italy and a down week, Ireland return to action in front of another sold-out Aviva Stadium crowd this afternoon.
O’Mahony slots back into the starting XV as one of seven personnel changes to the team that won 36-0 against Italy. He becomes the ninth Ireland player to reach 50 appearances in the Six Nations, following in the footsteps of Rory Best, Ronan O’Gara, Brian O’Driscoll, Cian Healy, Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray, John Hayes, and Paul O’Connell.
With Hugo Keenan ruled out with a knee injury, his Leinster colleague, Ciaran Frawley, comes in for his first senior international start at full-back. Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park also return to the back-line.
Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, O’Mahony, and Josh van der Flier start again up front, with Caelan Doris, Ireland’s captain against the Azzurri, switching back to the number 8 position.
O’Mahony, who made his Ireland debut against Italy in February 2012, and Furlong has both shaken off calf injuries to start. Aki has recovered sufficiently from a knee issue to combine again with Robbie Henshaw in midfield.
A six-two bench split has been deployed for the second time in this year’s Championship, with the most notable inclusion seeing Munster’s Oli Jager poised to make his Ireland debut as cover at tighthead.
Commenting on the team selection, head coach Andy Farrell said: “Obviously we had a few injuries the last time, and there’s a few injuries this time around as well. Those guys who were not fit to play against Italy have used their time well and are fit and raring to go.
“It freshens things up a little bit, but having said that, I think it’s a good side. It’s one that we’re excited to see take the field on Saturday.”
He added: “For Frawls, his first Six Nations start. Exciting for him. He’s always been in and around the squad and pushing.
“The versatility that he has got has always probably earmarked him for a bench spot, etc., but he’s been waiting for this chance. Hugo doesn’t get injured too much, does he?
“Frawls’ skillset is fantastic, and I’m sure that it’s a big week for him, so there’ll be a test of his temperament. He’s playing in a good side so I’m sure he’ll take his chance.
“It’s always a pleasure to give someone their debut. I think this is a special one because it’s a special story in Oli. He showed his ambition to come back to Ireland (from New Zealand) and make a claim for a spot playing for his country.
“We’ve had him earmarked for a while but watching him start his career in Ireland at Munster and how that’s gone, and then giving him the opportunity to come to Portugal with us and he’s had a few more weeks with the squad since then, we’ve been nothing but impressed.”
Meanwhile, Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made one change to the team that lost 16-14 away to England a fortnight ago. Scarlets out-half Sam Costelow returns to the starting line-up.
119 of the Welsh squad’s accumulated 662 caps are provided by George North alone, while 21-year-old Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins captains a young side that went close against both Scotland and England.
Cardiff back rower Mackenzie Martin could make his debut off the bench. He would become the 1200th Wales men’s international, and Harlequins prop Dillon Lewis is set for his first appearance of the 2024 Championship.
“We are excited to go out to Dublin and test ourselves against one of the leading sides in world rugby. It’s a challenge we are relishing,” admitted Gatland.
“We’ve made steps in the last couple of games and now it’s about building on that, learning from those experiences and taking that into this weekend.
“It’s about continuing to work hard, looking for accuracy in our performance across 80 minutes, and also keeping our discipline.”
Guinness Men’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures
Guinness Men’s Six Nations Table
IRELAND: Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster); Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) (capt), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster).
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Oli Jager (Munster), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Stuart McCloskey (Bangor/Ulster).
WALES: Cameron Winnett (Cardiff); Josh Adams (Cardiff), George North (Ospreys), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Rio Dyer (Dragons); Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff); Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs) (capt), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Alex Mann (Cardiff), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Replacements: Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Corey Domachowski (Cardiff), Dillon Lewis (Harlequins), Will Rowlands (Racing 92), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets), Mason Grady (Cardiff).
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Television Match Official: Eric Gauzins (France)
Pre-Match Quotes: Peter O’Mahony (Ireland) –
There is transition but it’s the Welsh XV coming on Saturday, it’s no one else, and I know from experience they’re an unbelievably proud nation and they play big and earn the jersey. That’s what we’ll 100% be expecting this weekend.
“We’ve a good record, we’re playing well. We have spoken about it and we have a target on us but that comes with the territory and you have to be cool with that and that you are going to get the best of every team.
“We know when we’re good that we’re going to put teams under pressure and other teams know that now as well.
“As a result, we expect to get the best of every team and we have no doubt but that we’re going to get the best of Wales on Saturday.”
Dafydd Jenkins (Wales) –
We can 100% cause an upset. If we didn’t think that there would be no point in going there in the first place. We have full confidence we can win and do a job, although it is going to be tough.
“Ireland pride themselves on the breakdown both on attack and in defence – it is massive for them, They have some class players for us to match up against.
“The breakdown has been a big focus this week. We talked about their pack and most of them are world class jacklers, so it’s going to be a challenge, but one we are looking forward to.
“If we give our back-line a chance, we feel we can cause them problems out wide, so it is down to the pack to get them the ball.”
Pre-Match Links –
‘Wales Play Big When They Pull On That Jersey’ – O’Mahony
Farrell: It’s Exciting For Frawls, He’s Been Waiting For This Chance
‘It’s A Great Appointment’ – Farrell On Murphy’s Move To Ulster
In Pics: Captain’s Run For Ireland v Wales
Recent Meetings –
2021: Guinness Six Nations: Wales 21 Ireland 16, Principality Stadium
2022: Guinness Six Nations: Ireland 29 Wales 7, Aviva Stadium
2023: Guinness Six Nations: Wales 10 Ireland 31, Principality Stadium
Support Ireland on www.facebook.com/irishrugby, or search #IREvWAL and #TeamOfUs on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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