South East Wales

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Ireland scrum-half Jamison Gibson Park says his half-back partner Sam Prendergast has been "impressive" in his two Six Nations appearances so far.

Prendergast has been retained at fly-half for Saturday's game in Wales after starting in the wins over England and Scotland.

The 21-year-old scored 12 points against the Scots in his first away game for Ireland and Gibson-Park has praised his impact amid the intense scrutiny that comes with being a starting fly-half.

"He's been very good for someone of his age, he's been impressive, and he has taken everything in his stride," said Gibson-Park.

"It is the nature of the best, being an Irish 10 you come under huge pressure, but he's handled it unbelievably well and I'm happy for him."

Gibson-Park also reflected on what has aided his own good start to the tournament which has helped leaders Ireland register maximum points ahead of facing Wales.

"Over the autumn, things were tricky, we didn't perform to our level, so I was looking forward to getting back in and righting a few wrongs that way," added the 32-year-old.

"I think I'm really enjoying it here and my start to the season with Leinster. I'm happy to be part of two pretty successful teams.

"My drive to keep getting better is still there and long may it continue."

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Ireland interim boss Simon Easterby says he has had no contact from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) about replacing Warren Gatland as head coach.

Wales parted ways with Gatland last week, and while Matt Sherratt has taken interim charge, Easterby is thought to be one of the WRU's top targets.

However, Easterby - who lives in Wales and formerly captained and coached Scarlets - dismissed "speculation" around his future.

"I didn't really know that I had been linked, but of course there's been speculation and that's all it is: speculation," Easterby said after naming his team to face Wales in Saturday's Six Nations gam in Cardiff.

"I'm not in control of that. I love what I do here. I've been in this position with the team for a long time and I'm very fortunate with the people I get to work with, both management and players, and for me that's a dream job.

"Speculation is exactly that, it's speculation and it's not something I can control."

Former Ireland international Easterby began his coaching career with Scarlets before joining the Irish backroom team in 2014.

The Yorkshire-born 49-year-old has stepped up to lead the team this year while head coach Andy Farrell is seconded with the British and Irish Lions.

"Right now, this is my only focus and whatever happens in the future... in a year's time you could lose your job and we know in sport it's fairly fluid around people moving from thing to thing," added Easterby.

"Whatever's gone on, I've had no contact from the WRU, so for me it's all guns blazing towards Cardiff on Saturday and making sure me and the other coaches prepare the team in the right way. Whatever speculation goes on outside of that is outside of my control."

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Ireland's Jack Conan has predicted the team's back row will be under a "huge amount of pressure" to fill the void left by Caelan Doris' injury when they face Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday (14:15 GMT).

Simon Easterby's side have won their opening two games of the championship against England and Scotland, but they have been forced into changes for this weekend's trip to Cardiff with captain Doris and Ronan Kelleher both ruled out.

Doris, who has played in every one of Ireland's Test matches since the 2021 Six Nations, will miss out because of a knee injury sustained in training.

"How do you fill that role? It's very difficult," said Conan.

"He's played 42 in a row which is a testament to how professional he is, how durable he is, how consistent he's been as a player.

"There'll be a huge amount of pressure on the entirety of the back row, whoever is on the bench and the lads that are starting, to keep on pushing from where he left off because he's been unbelievable."

Conan, a 2021 British and Irish Lion, has performed well off the bench in the opening two games and will fill the jersey vacated by his Leinster team-mate Doris.

"We get on very well. We compete hard against each other and I think we've spurred each other on to be at a really good level," said the 32-year-old.

"He's someone who sets the standard for the rest of the back row and without him we're going to have to push on and make sure we're at that level."

Wales will be under the charge of interim head coach Matt Sherratt for the first time, having lost their past 14 Tests, a run dating back to the 2023 World Cup.

"I've no doubt it's been unbelievably tough for the Welsh lads," said Conan.

"They'll be galvanised by a new coach coming in, everything that's gone on the last few weeks.

"They're a nation that gets behind Welsh rugby incredibly well, and playing over there with the roof closed is going to be special."