Ireland to test Wales

Ireland v Wales

Wales’ thrilling renaissance will be given its acid test in Dublin this afternoon as Steve Hansen’s fire-breathing red dragons take on Ireland.

Two mesmerising performances in defeat to New Zealand and England at the World Cup, plus a clinical dismissal of Scotland eight days ago have been interpreted as a signal that the Welsh game is about to emerge from two decades of mediocrity.

The return of captain and talisman Brian O’Driscoll to the home ranks was guaranteed to result in a less rigid structure to the Irish game-plan, with Donncha O’Callaghan’s first start in the second row giving the pack a more abrasive edge.

Hansen’s decision to draft Iestyn Thomas into the front row and Robert Sidoli at lock was an obvious attempt to beef up a front five that needed to gain at least a decent percentage of ball to provide the speedy Welsh backs with a solid platform to establish their own superiority.

For all their improvement, the pace of wing duo Shane and Rhys Williams, plus full-back Gareth Thomas, represented the best chance the visitors had of ending a four-match losing sequence against the men in green.

Ireland: Dempsey, S. Horgan, D’arcy, O’Driscoll, Howe, O’Gara, Stringer, Corrigan, Byrne, Hayes, O’Callaghan, O’Connell, S. Easterby, Gleeson, Foley.

Replacements: Sheahan, Best, O’Kelly, Costello, Humphreys, G. Easterby, Maggs.

Wales: G. Thomas, R. Williams, Parker, Harris, S. Williams, S. Jones, Cooper, I. Thomas, McBryde, A. Jones, Cockbain, Sidoli, J. Thomas, M. Williams, D. Jones.

Replacements: Davies, Jenkins, Owen, Popham, Peel, Sweeney, Shanklin.

Referee: Joel Jutge (France)