Whichever way you viewed Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations opening-round win over Scotland seven days ago, there is little arguing with the verdict that Andy Farrell’s players simply have to do better this afternoon against Wales.

Andy Farrell warned his Ireland players they will need to sharpen up if they are going to keep “cock-a-hoop” Wales at bay in Dublin on Saturday.

The veteran Leinster lock had been one of the cornerstones of Ireland’s successes during Schmidt’s six-year reign as Ireland boss

The prospect of Munster being without Joey Carbery for several weeks has underlined Johann van Graan’s assertion that to win trophies the province will need a squad deep in quality.

Ireland supporters are about to discover whether their team’s trials and tribulations of the past few months will have been worth it when the World Cup squad gets put through its final paces before Japan at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow.

So now the real work begins. The debates over squad selection are over, at least inside the Irish camp, and now comes the business end of Joe Schmidt’s preparations for Japan and the 2019 World Cup.

Ireland supporters will have breathed a little easier on Saturday night following this victory at the Principality Stadium.

Joe Schmidt begins preparations for Saturday’s final summer Test against Wales and his last home game as Ireland head coach.

These are the hours Joe Schmidt has been dreading.

Peter O’Mahony said his team had put some pride back in the Ireland jersey after he captained the side to a much-needed 22-15 victory over Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

Ireland supporters will be hoping their heroes in green have been channelling that showtune this week as they attempt to pick themselves off the floor following their Twickenham horror show and get World Cup preparations back on track today in Cardiff.

Simon Lewis looks at how Wales and Ireland shape up ahead of their World Cup warm-up.

Joe Schmidt has urged his players not to go into their shells when Ireland get their chance to atone for their Twickenham nightmare against Wales tomorrow.

The 2018 Grand Slam champions suffered a humiliating 57-15 defeat to England in London less than two weeks ago

How do you stand out by fitting in? This is the quandary that faces players across all sports when they are looking to make a name for themselves.

Ireland lock James Ryan says they must match Wales' intensity in Saturday's World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff.

Ireland rugby head coach, Joe Schmidt, has put his front-line stars under pressure ahead of the Test against Wales, in Cardiff, this Saturday. He says his World Cup selection process is still wide-open.

England have beaten Ireland 57-15 in their World Cup warm-up Test at Twickenham.

Anthony Joshua wants to get his “passion” for boxing back ahead of his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr later this year.

Tommy Bowe believes Ireland’s players will have been “rattled” by their Six Nations defeat to Wales last March.

The tweets relate to lyrics of the band's songs, as well as Welsh rugby star Alun-Wyn Jones.

Champions Cup spots were up for grabs today.

It is a recurring theme in a coach’s lexicon when discussing the loss of players to both injury or poor form that one player’s misfortune is another’s opportunity.

There is a huge difference between the aggressive nativism shown by Trump, Putin, Orban, and Brextremism and an expression of a calm, non-confrontational pride in your country. One can, and often does, lead to aggression.

Cardiff Victory will taste very sweet for Warren Gatland when he gathers his coaching staff together for a “long afternoon” of celebration tomorrow.

In Wales, the party will continue for some time.

Joe Schmidt urged Ireland supporters not to lose faith in their team after they were blown away in Cardiff on Saturday by a Wales team that secured the Grand Slam.

Wales have completed the Grand Slam after beating Ireland 25-7 in their Guinness Six Nations match in Cardiff.

Rory Best has demanded an 80-minute performance from Ireland as they bid to stop Wales winning the Grand Slam in Cardiff today after the Irish camp insisted on keeping the Principality Stadium roof open for the Guinness Six Nations final-round game.

Such has been Ireland’s rise in prominence on the world rugby stage these past six years under Joe Schmidt that their days as party poopers are long gone. The one-off big performance to spoil a rival’s ambitions have given way to a higher standard and more positive motivations.

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.

Three key factors will define today’s titanic Cardiff clash

Tommy Bowe expects Ireland to deliver their best display of the year in Cardiff this weekend.

An injury doubt over Iain Henderson could open the door for Munster lock Tadhg Beirne to make a surprise Guinness Six Nations debut on Saturday when Ireland play Wales in Cardiff.

There was no doubting the satisfaction Joe Schmidt took from the heights Ireland scaled against France last Sunday, and yet the Kiwi coach wasn’t slow in pointing out how the collective performance fell off a cliff towards the end.

Robin McBryde believes Wales will face “arguably the best side in world rugby” when they go for Six Nations title and Grand Slam glory on Saturday.

Finally, the pieces are falling into place for Ireland, just as their Guinness Six Nations campaign draws to a close.

As a man who won three Grand Slam titles on home soil, Adam Jones expects Wales to repeat the trick in Cardiff on Saturday.

As first-half performances go, Ireland’s 40-minute demolition of France in Dublin on Sunday was among the best Joe Schmidt had seen in his six seasons as a Six Nations head coach.

Ireland’s bright start and bristling intent from the kick-off was gave an early indication that there was only going to be a home win in Dublin on Sunday.

As we wait expectantly on the cusp of the 2019 Guinness Six Nations, the final round of the self-styled Rugby’s Greatest Championship seems an awfully long way down the track.

Wales boss Ryan Giggs says Gareth Bale is “50-50” to face Ireland at Aviva Stadium in their Nations League clash next Tuesday.

The IRFU has announced Ireland’s schedule of warm-up games in the run up to next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Wales secured runners-up spot in this season's NatWest 6 Nations Championship after edging out France at the Principality Stadium.