Warren Gatland: 'I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't think there was a chance of beating Ireland.'

The newly reinstalled Wales boss is gunning for a big Six Nations win in their campaign opener.

FAMILIAR FACE: Wales head coach Warren Gatland. Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire.

The old guard will be out in force when Warren Gatland selects the Wales side for his second coming in Cardiff when the Six Nations kicks-off on 4 February.

As well as picking 36-year-old Ken Owens to captain the side for the first time, he has included 11 other thirty-somethings, including the indefatigable Aun Wyn Jones, a spring chicken at 37 who has 155 caps for his country. Those 12 players alone account for 1018 caps, while the other 25 players in the squad have 428 between them For Gatland, there is nothing like experience and caps and it looks likely Andy Farrell’s men will face a team with the same old faces – Liam Williams or Ligh Halfpenny, George North, Dan Biggar, the recalled Rhys Webb, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faeltau, AWJ, Wyn Jones and the new skipper, Owens.