Defending champions Wales travel to Ireland for the opening match of their 2022 Six Nations campaign today.
The physical hosts look a force to be reckoned with under former England defence guru Andy Farrell, seeing off New Zealand in a pulsating autumn encounter to go along with hammerings of Argentina and Japan.
Ireland along with England will perhaps be considered as the most likely challengers to fancied France, though they need a solid start here with tough trips to Paris and London to come.
Wales head to Dublin - where they have only won once on their last seven visits - nursing an injury crisis that is expected to prevent them from mounting a serious title defence, having seen their Grand Slam dreams cruelly ended by France in overtime of the final game last year.
Wayne Pivac is experimenting by fielding try-scoring wing Josh Adams in the centres against Ireland.
Ireland vs Wales date, kick-off time and venue
Ireland vs Wales is scheduled for a 2:15pm GMT kick-off on Saturday, February 5, 2022.
The match will take place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, not traditionally a happy hunting ground for Wales.
How to watch Ireland vs Wales
TV channel: Ireland vs Wales is being broadcast live on ITV, with coverage beginning at 1:30pm.
Live stream: Fans can also watch Saturday’s curtain-raiser online via the ITV Hub or ITV website.
Live coverage: You can also follow all of Saturday’s action with Standard Sport’s LIVE match blog.
Ireland vs Wales team news
Ireland will hand a debut to rising Connacht star Mack Hansen this weekend, with the Australian-born wing, 23, surprisingly fast-tracked by Farrell after some hugely impressive club form.
He replaces the injured James Lowe after that epic win over the All Blacks in November, with Tadhg Beirne in at lock over Iain Henderson, who doesn’t make the squad after just returning to training.
Centre Robbie Henshaw also misses out due to injury, with Ulster’s James Hume set to earn only his second senior international cap off the bench.
For Wales, Adams is following in George North’s footsteps by converting from wing to the centres - something he was supposed to do in the autumn against Fiji, only for a calf injury to scupper those plans.
Pivac is without a whole host of experienced campaigners including captain Alun Wyn Jones, North, Ken Owens, Josh Navidi, Leigh Halfpenny, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
Exeter lock Christ Tshiunza is the latest Welsh casualty, ruled out of the entire tournament due to a hamstring injury.
Ireland vs Wales lineups
Ireland XV: Keenan; Conway, Ringrose, Aki, Hansen; Sexton, Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong; Beirne, Ryan; Doris, van der Flier, Conan.
Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, Bealham, Baird, O'Mahony, Murray, Carbery, Hume.
Wales XV: L Williams; McNicholl, Adams, Tompkins, Rees-Zammit; Biggar, T Williams; W Jones, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, E Jenkins, Basham, Wainwright.
Replacements: Lake, G Thomas, D Lewis, S Davies, Moriarty, G Davies, Sheedy, Watkin.
Ireland vs Wales head to head history and results
Saturday’s meeting will be the 133rd between these two nations, with Wales boasting 70 wins to Ireland’s 55, along with seven draws.
Ireland have won four of the last five matches, though were defeated 21-16 in last year’s Six Nations opener in Cardiff after an early red card for Peter O’Mahony.
Wales’ last victory in Dublin came back in 2015, during a warm-up for the World Cup.
Ireland vs Wales prediction
Ireland were absolutely sensational against the All Blacks and have all the tools and the momentum to feel confident about a serious bid for a first Six Nations title since 2018.
Wales’ injury nightmare threatens to take the shine off what should be an entertaining curtain-raiser, while seemingly giving them very little hope of being able to defend their crown.
Ireland to win comfortably ahead of a crucial trip to the Stade de France next weekend.
Ireland vs Wales betting odds
Ireland to win: 1/7
Wales to win: 5/1
Draw: 25/1
