Ireland vs Wales preview: What time does it start, what channel is it on and where can I watch it?
A look ahead to the Six Nations fixture at the Aviva Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.The wounded Six Nations champions Ireland take on Wales as both teams look to get over their World Cup disappointments against Argentina and South Africa respectively.
It’s a big game for…
Gareth Anscombe: The New Zealand-born utility back qualified as a Welsh player through his grandmother and was brought into the Wales training camp for the World Cup. Following a series of injuries to players like Hallam Amos, Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny, he eventually joined the World Cup squad in time to play the full match against South Africa. With such big names missing, he will need to show all his skills to combat the Irish back three.
Teams...
Ireland: S Zebo (Munster); A Trimble (Ulster), J Payne (Ulster), R Henshaw (Connacht), K Earls (Munster); J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster); J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster, capt), N White (Connacht), D Toner (Leinster), M McCarthy (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster), T O'Donnell (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: S Cronin (Leinster), J Cronin (Munster), T Furlong (Leinster), D Ryan (Munster), R Ruddock (Leinster), K Marmion (Connacht), I Madigan (Leinster), D Kearney (Leinster).
Wales: G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues); G North (Northampton), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Harlequins), T James (Cardiff Blues); D Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), S Baldwin (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets), L Charteris (Racing 92), A-W Jones (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), T Francis (Exeter), B Davies (Wasps), D Lydiate (Ospreys), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Priestland (Bath), A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues).
Captain Comparison
Name Rory Best Sam Warburton
Position Hooker Flanker
Club Ulster Cardiff Blues
Caps (As captain) 89 (4) 60 (20)
Points scored 40 20
Remember when…
Mike Phillips scored with the wrong ball? In 2011, touch judge Peter Alllan missed that a quick lineout was taken with the wrong ball and Phillips ran in for the crucial try. This helped the Welsh on their way to the Grand Slam.
Weird /best stat…
96: The aggregate point’s difference in Ireland's favour between these two sides over the 123 fixtures played between them. Ireland have won 67, Wales 50 with six draws in their 133 year competitive history.
Up and coming...
Tomas Francis. The Exeter tighthead prop was very nearly brought into the squad a year ago, but Warren Gatland worried over his back injuries. He was invited to train in March 2015, and then officially included to the squad before the final round against Italy. He didn’t get his debut until August where he squared up against Ireland in a World Cup warm up and was a heavily relied on player during the World Cup.
Past three-meetings…
Ireland 10 (Henderson) – Wales 16 (Tipuric) World Cup warm-up, August 2015
Wales 21 (Hibbard, Tipuric, Cuthbert) – Ireland 35 (Heaslip, Cave, Earls, Zebo, Jones) World Cup warm-up, August 2015
Wales 23 (Williams) – Ireland 16 (Pen Try) Six Nations, March 2015
Form guide…
Ireland: LWWWWL
Wales: LLWWWW
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