Kevin Kilbane
Former Republic of Ireland winger on 5 live

You can see the position Gareth Bale takes up - you know he'll be direct. He beats Seamus Coleman and overhits the cross - but you can sense the anticipation when he's on the ball. It's almost fear from the Irish crowd because you know what he can produce.

A glimpse of the panic that Gareth Bale can inflict on a defence as a loose ball drops his way and he accelerates past Seamus Coleman with ease on the left. He only has Hal Robson-Kanu to aim for though and his cross floats harmlessly away behind the goal. 

Gareth Bale almost gets on the end of a sloppy backpass from Seamus Coleman as the game continues in a helter-skelter end to end mood. Neither side yet to really get a grip on the ball. 

Gareth Bale has the chance to get his engine going but he's unusually sluggish and James McClean takes the ball from him with a tigerish tackle in midfield. Chris Gunter, now the third most capped Welshman in history, can't keep a crossfield ball in play. 

Image source, Reuters

Stephen Ward is late on Chris Gunter and is perhaps a touch lucky not to be booked. Gareth Bale has the free-kick, near the halfway line and on the touchline. His cross is half cleared and Darren Randolph claims the second ball in.

We are hearing that David Meyler's call-up to the Republic starting line-up really was at the last possible moment. 

Glenn Whelan hammers a shot over the bar inside 20 seconds, to encourage that crowd even more. An accelerant on an already roaring flame.

Wales are playing the same XI which famously beat Belgium in the last eight of Euro 2016. 

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Aviva Stadium

The noise inside the Aviva Stadium is immense.

Two moving anthems following an absolutely monstrous roar of encouragement from the home fans.

Hold on to your ears, this is going to be loud.

Ireland get the ball rolling and we are away!

There is now a minute of applause to remember Ryan McBride, Ray Brady and Milo Corcoran inside the Aviva Stadium.

Image source, Reuters

As ever these two nations deliver on the anthems front. It's just a few weeks since I was covering a big win for Wales in the rugby in Cardiff.

Will the men in red be cheering again tonight?

A moment to remember Derry City captain Ryan McBride - who died this week at the age of 27. 

A very late change to the Republic of Ireland - James McCarthy, who was a doubt, is now OUT. Hull's David Meyler comes IN. 

Rep of Ireland : Randolph, Coleman, Keogh, O'Shea, Ward, Meyler, Walters, Whelan, Hendrick, McClean, Long. Subs: Westwood, McGeady, Kevin Doyle, Christie, Egan, Hourihane, Hayes, O'Dowda, Pearce, Colin Doyle.

Wales : Hennessey, Gunter, Chester, Williams, Davies, Taylor, Ledley, Ramsey, Allen, Bale, Robson-Kanu. Subs: Fon Williams, MacDonald, Edwards, Wilson, Richards, Vokes, Collins, Walsh, Bradshaw, Woodburn, Ward.

Referee : Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)

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Image source, .

You may have come across the BBC's State of Sport programming this week.

There's been a host of issues covered, including doping at amateur level, the global growth of esports and the welfare of athletes and players.

While from Kigali to Michigan, we’ve travelled to meet sportspeople for whom sport has saved their lives. 

Tonight there's a debate hosted by David Eades with a panel and audience in Manchester - and you can follow it here.

Teams in the tunnel in Dublin. 

Wales boss Chris Coleman on Sky Sports: "We're playing against a team that are top of the group. It's a big one. I know what people are saying - do or die - but they're all do or die. And it's just another one in a line of many.

"The team we have lined up is the same as faced Belgium - we've had injuries to key players since then but it's the same for every international team."

John Hartson
Ex-Wales striker on BBC Radio 5 live

From Roy Keane's point of view, to stop Gareth Bale you have got to try and condense that space, because that's what he needs to use his expertise. 

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Aviva Stadium

Dublin was bathed in glorious springtime sunshine earlier this afternoon but now, as darkness descends, the sense of anticipation tingles around the Aviva Stadium.

The players are on the pitch warming up and the fans are beginning to filter into the ground. This has the feeling of an enormous match .