The Principality Stadium roof will be open, Storm Hannah’s wet and windy weather won’t make for a classic, but Wales will nonetheless be backed by an entire nation in Cardiff this afternoon.

I have always believed that the announcement of the 2009 Lions squad to tour South Africa, eleven days before that epic Heineken Cup semi-final between Munster and Leinster in front of 82,000 people at Croke Park, played a key role in the southern province’s demise that day, writes Donal Lenihan.

Warren Gatland has put his British & Irish Lions hopefuls on notice that there will be more to selection for next summer’s showdown with the All Blacks than pure playing ability.

Warren Gatland was on the phone roughly 10 minutes trying to explain what it is that separates the All Blacks from rugby’s mere mortals when the British and Irish Lions coach finally reached for a cricketing analogy.

London Irish CEO Bob Casey admits his side could be opening the door to America for the Irish provinces after it was confirmed their Aviva Premiership game with Saracens in March will take place in New Jersey.

Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering knee ligament damage on Saturday.

Three of Welsh rugby’s biggest names — James Hook, Mike Phillips and Richard Hibbard — face uncertain international futures after seeing their World Cup hopes extinguished.

Wales 23, Ireland 16:

Warren Gatland has revealed that a glowing recommendation from one of world rugby’s outstanding coaches played its part in New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe making an unlikely journey from Super Rugby to potential Wales Test star.

RBS SIX NATIONS:

Pep Guardiola was likened, by The Guardian columnist Raphael Honigstein, to Spanish clothing retailer Zara this week — a comparison first made by ex-Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala-i-Martín.

Ireland 26 Wales 3

The need for improvement is undisputed following an opening victory over Scotland but there will be more to this week’s preparation for Saturday’s Wales game than simply going at training with hammer and tongs.

If I was asked to describe Ireland’s performance against Scotland in one word, it would be efficient.

Can you feel sorry for a man who is the best fly-half in the northern hemisphere, is about to move clubs for a salary that most of us can only dream of and is set to lead a charge for sporting immortality playing for the Lions this summer?

Head coach Warren Gatland has named nine Irish players in the British and Irish Lions squad for this summer’s tour of Hong Kong and Australia.

All-Lions front row helps Wales coach take mind off lengthy list of injuries

Joe Schmidt would be “flattered” if offered a coaching role for the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia but the Leinster chief doesn’t expect such a call from his Kiwi compatriot Warren Gatland.

Sam Warburton has recovered from injury and will captain Wales when they bid for the Triple Crown against RBS 6 Nations title rivals England at Twickenham on Saturday.

Wales have called veteran fly-half Stephen Jones into their RBS 6 Nations training squad.

WALES rugby boss Roger Lewis has warned off possible suitors of coach Warren Gatland following a stunning World Cup run that threatens to make the New Zealander a man in demand.

WHEN you have captained the British & Irish Lions, you know a leader when you see one. And in this Wales side, Paul O’Connell sees them in places most of us would not expect to look.

WARREN GATLAND accepts there will be “no second chances” for Wales if they fail in their World Cup victory mission against Samoa early tomorrow morning.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has named an unchanged team for Sunday’s World Cup clash with Samoa in Hamilton.

Wales star Martyn Williams was today facing up to the possible end of his illustrious international career.

Ryan Jones has kept his Wales place despite losing the captaincy for Saturday’s Millennium Stadium clash against New Zealand.

Warren Gatland sends his team into battle against world champions South Africa believing Welsh rugby could be on the verge of a golden era.

ADAM JONES knows more than most how important it is to have a dominant scrum in the modern era and had backed Wales to make that strength count in Saturday’s Six Nations clash at Croke Park.

WALES star Lee Byrne has been banned from the RBS Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham next week.

Wales will be without two British and Irish Lions scrum-halves for their opening autumn Test against New Zealand on November 7.

ACCURACY and precision will be top of Wales’ agenda when they look to revive their RBS 6 Nations title bid in Rome on Saturday.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL stressed the ‘public interest’ story involving the frosty relationship between former national coach Warren Gatland and his successor, Eddie O’Sullivan is having no effect on team preparation ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations match with Wales.

ONE MIGHT have thought the focus would be on the battle between Ronan O’Gara and Stephen Jones at out half or the alleged animosity between Brian O’Driscoll and Gavin Henson.

After a limited period in the country Gatland also realised that given the quality of backs available to him, he needed an out-and-out open side to complement the running game he was likely to pursue.

IF THE Welsh public are guilty of bouts of extremism when assessing the well being or otherwise of their national side, then we in Ireland suffer similar mood swings.

WALES coach Warren Gatland insists Italy deserve to be treated with more respect — and he has been drumming home that message to his players all week.

Wales coach Warren Gatland insists Italy deserve to be treated with more respect – and he has been drumming home that message to his players all week.

EXPERIENCED half-back pair Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel are in line to start against Italy a week on Saturday after coming off the bench to guide Wales to victory over Scotland.