The Wales interim head coach, Matt Sherratt, has promised grand-slam chasing Ireland a hostile Cardiff reception in the Six Nations on Saturday after making eight changes to the team for his first match in charge.
Sherratt took over for Wales’s three remaining tournament games after Warren Gatland’s departure last week, inheriting a side on a record run of 14 consecutive Test defeats, and said on Thursday he is determined to “do things my way” and ensure his players enjoy facing Ireland at a sold-out Principality Stadium.
“I respect Ireland,” Sherratt said. “But Cardiff is a hostile place to come on a Saturday afternoon. There’s going to be 15 players on the field desperate to represent their country well. That’s what we’re focused on, not any chat from outside.”
The 47-year-old Englishman had been asked about recent Irish media coverage suggesting Simon Easterby’s powerful side might be capable of defeating an under-performing Wales with 12 men. But he said cutting out external noise is key.
“I learned the first time I did this job,” said Sherratt, who worked as backs coach with Wales temporarily during the 2016-17 season. “I think I was referred to as an ‘unknown little Englishman’. I deleted my social media pretty quickly. I’ve not looked at anything like that: this week has been about what we can bring.”
Sherratt repeatedly said – seven times in 11 minutes, in fact – that enjoyment is the aim, after a miserable sequence of results.
Wales: B Murray (Scarlets); T Rogers (Scarlets), M Llewellyn (Gloucester), B Thomas (Cardiff), E Mee (Scarlets); G Anscombe (Gloucester), Tomos Williams (Gloucester); N Smith (Leicester), E Dee (Dragons), W John (Sale Sharks), W Rowlands (Racing 92), D Jenkins (Exeter), J Morgan (Ospreys, capt), T Reffell (Leicester), T Faletau (Cardiff). Replacements: E Lloyd (Cardiff), G Thomas (Ospreys), H Thomas (Scarlets), Teddy Williams (Cardiff), A Wainwright (Dragons), R Williams (Dragons), J Evans (Harlequins), J Roberts (Scarlets).
Ireland: J Osborne (Leinster); M Hansen (Connacht), G Ringrose (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster); S Prendergast (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster, captain), T Clarkson (Leinster), J McCarthy (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), P O'Mahony (Munster), J van der Flier (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster). Replacements: G McCarthy (Leinster), J Boyle (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), J Ryan (Leinster), C Prendergast (Connacht), C Murray (Munster), J Crowley (Munster), B Aki (Connacht).
“It’s very easy to get sucked into negativity,” he said. “There’s a young group of players here with a lot of heart, a lot of pride in playing for Wales. I want them to enjoy it and bring their personality to it. The thing for me is, be me, and try to enjoy the experience. Hopefully that rubs off on the people who count, the players.”
The 21-year old Nottingham-born Scarlets wing Ellis Mee will make his Wales debut on the wing – “Seeing his face on selection is part of the reason you coach,” Sherratt said – while Gareth Anscombe has been recalled at fly-half, with Tomos Williams at scrum-half.
Anscombe’s Gloucester teammate Max Llewellyn is also recalled and starts at outside-centre while Ben Thomas switches from fly-half to inside-centre. Sherratt also revealed the wing Josh Adams picked up a “slight hamstring injury” and dropped out of the squad.
In the Wales pack Leicester’s Tommy Reffell starts at openside flanker, while an all-new front row of Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee and WillGriff John will face Ireland’s formidable set-piece. Exeter’s Dafydd Jenkins returns to the second row after missing the defeat by Italy due to illness, while Jac Morgan captains the side from blindside flanker.
“I thought it was very important to pick a team that had some familiarity,” Sherratt said. “Obviously around nine, 10, 12, 13 in particular. I don’t feel playing Ireland is the time to experiment … let’s make sure we stand for something and have a clear identity. I want the players to be brave. If they see space, let’s not die wondering.”
Sherratt, who will have had just four training sessions to prepare, drew attention to Ireland’s famous “cohesion” although Easterby has made seven changes, adding a further layer of intrigue for Saturday’s match.
Three changes were enforced with Caelan Doris, Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong injured, but the selection of Leinster’s Jamie Osborne at full-back for his first Six Nations start will be a fascinating extra dimension.
The 23-year-old plays centre for his province but made a try-scoring international debut at No 15 against South Africa last summer. Jack Conan replaces Doris at No 8, Joe McCarthy returns from injury to partner Tadhg Beirne in the second row, while Thomas Clarkson starts for the first time in the front row. Fit-again Mack Hansen returns on the wing in place of Calvin Nash.
