'No chance of complacency' as Ireland eye new Wales challenge

Matt Sherratt is preparing the hosts for the Six Nations showdown after Warren Gatland's exit.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT; Assistant coach Andrew Goodman during an Ireland Rugby media conference at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Wales may be down but they are far from out in the eyes of an Ireland management adjusting to a Guinness Six Nations opponent expected to benefit from a new-coach bounce in Cardiff this Saturday.

When the Irish broke camp for a few days off following their second bonus-point victory of the 2025 campaign in Edinburgh 10 days ago, the management led by interim head coach Simon Easterby began preparations for a reunion at Principality Stadium with old foe Warren Gatland with the Welsh licking their wounds from a thoroughly dispiriting 14th consecutive Test defeat and looking ahead with trepidation to their first home appearance of championship against the back-to-back defending champions.