Time for the anthems.

Ireland's Call is all very nice, but it stands no chance on the decibel meter.

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is so loud that the crowd effect microphones are fizzing.

Leigh Halfpenny is lucky to escape without a pulled vocal cord.

Andrew Priestley on Twitter:, external "An Irish win & a Grand Slam is almost complete, but a Welsh win & the Championship is wide-open. But the game won't be pretty."

Will Murday on Twitter:, external "Joe Schmidt seems a very good guy. Clearly an excellent coach too. Lions? Henshaw v Roberts is exciting."

Huw Campbell Davie on Twitter:, external "Strange reading all these english tweets supporting wales! Finally seen sense I see! Was only a matter of time"

Keith Wood
Former Ireland hooker on BBC One

"Ireland don't care what anyone thinks about the way they are playing. They don't take any unnecessary risks, they want to win games and they are winning games."

BBC Sport Wales' Dafydd Pritchard at the Millennium Stadium

Wales have a history of making Ireland feel at home in Cardiff. Since 1983, Wales have only twice won on their own turf against the Irish.

The hosts are in hospitable mood today as well, with the Welsh choir treating the Millennium Stadium crowd to a rendition of the Irish folk ballad 'Fields of Athenry'.

It's not long, however, before those dulcet tones make way for the heartier roars of home favourite 'Bread of Heaven'.

As Paul O'Connell leads out Ireland, you have just enough time to check out the comic performance of the tournament so far.

In this BBC Wales video, Mike Phillips nominates Colin Farrell to play him in a film and himself as the best-dressed player in the Wales dressing room. His pet hate? "Arrogant people."

All totally deadpan.

Ireland's Jamie Heaslip returns at number eight, four weeks after fracturing three vertebrae when kneed in the back by France lock Pascal Pape.

Paul O'Connell will win his 100th Ireland cap and will equal Mick Galwey's record as Ireland's oldest Test captain at 35 years and 145 days.

15-Rob Kearney, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Jared Payne, 12-Robbie Henshaw, 11-Simon Zebo, 10-Johnny Sexton, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Jack McGrath, 2-Rory Best, 3-Mike Ross, 4-Devin Toner, 5-Paul O'Connell, 6-Peter O'Mahony, 7-Sean O'Brien, 8-Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-Cian Healy, 18-Martin Moore, 19-Iain Henderson, 20-Jordi Murphy, 21-Eoin Reddan, 22-Ian Madigan, 23-Felix Jones.

Martyn Williams
Former Wales captain on BBC One

"Captaining wouldn't come naturally to Sam [Warburton] but more than anything else he is a fantastic player and that is the best way to lead."

Wales' team news is not going to take long...

Head coach Warren Gatland has named an unchanged XV in the Six Nations for the first time since 2013.

Sam Warburton leads his country for a record 34th time.

15 - Leigh Halfpenny, 14-George North, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-Liam Williams, 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Rhys Webb; 1-Gethin Jenkins, 2-Scott Baldwin, 3-Samson Lee, 4-Luke Charteris, 5-Alun Wyn Jones, 6-Dan Lydiate, 7-Sam Warburton (captain), 8-Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16-Richard Hibbard, 17-Rob Evans, 18-Aaron Jarvis, 19-Jake Ball, 20-Justin Tipuric, 21-Mike Phillips, 22-Rhys Priestland, 23-Scott Williams.

Image source, Reuters

Daffodil heads in the crowd? Check.

Male voice choir getting the girders ringing with "Bread of Heaven"? Check.

Time for some team news...

There is plenty of history to go at in the Six Nations, but you don't have to delve too far back in the books to find some fizz and feist to Wales v Ireland.

Warren Gatland admitted back in 2009 that that two sides don't get on and that was before Gatland dumped Brian O'Driscoll for the final Lions Test in Australia.

This could get tasty.

Wales have not been winning too many artistic merit marks either. There is plenty of bosh and not too many surprises in the way their hefty backline run the ball.

Forwards coach Robin McBryde is unapologetic.

"Are supporters likely to see open rugby? I am not too sure about that," he said.

"It's going to be an arm-wrestle for 80 minutes."

At least the kids are all right.

Savour this delicious score from Wales under-20s in their own meeting with Ireland last night. You are unlikely to see two successive back-of-the-hand offloads at any point in today's game.