A steady scrum on the Welsh 10-metre line gives Ireland a decent platform for Johnny Sexton to test Liam Williams with a towering kick, which the Wales full-back catches safely.

Prop Andrew Porter then does well over the ball to pin down Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright and earn Ireland a penalty for holding on.

A chance for Ireland to stretch their lead.

Richie Rees
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

Ireland are not hanging around, they've got their pace going already.

Wales have their first spell of possession, which doesn't last long as Louis Rees-Zammit fails to gather Dan Biggar's big up-and-under.

After a brief kicking exchange, Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan clears into touch.

Solid stuff from the home side.

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

All about the powerful carries from the forwards and subsequent quick ball there.

Wales had no time to set, Ireland didn't let them. Mack Hansen's nerves will be settled too. Dream start for the hosts.

An early first touch for Ireland debutant Mack Hansen on the left wing.

He eats up the ground and kicks ahead but the covering Welsh defence bundle the ball into touch.

Ireland line-out to come in the Welsh 22.

Johnny McNicholl soars high to reclaim the kick-off for Wales but he knocks on and Ireland have a scrum just outside their 22.

A first glimpse at that powerful Irish pack in action.

Referee Jaco Peyper blows his whistle and Wales captain Dan Biggar takes kick-off.

The 2022 Six Nations is up and running!

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

Six Nations anthems in front of a full house. Might be better than sliced bread.

It's been two years since we've seen stadiums full with fans for a Six Nations game. Those anthems sounded great.

Right, kick-off is just a few moments away. Game face on.

Image source, Getty Images

Jaco Peyper is today's referee. This is the South African's first Six Nations fixture since 2020.

He'll be hoping this match goes better than his most recent outing last weekend, when he only gave Ulster wing Craig Gilroy a yellow card for his head-high tackle on Tom Rogers, which forced the Scarlets player off injured.

Peyper will also be familiar as the man who sent off France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina for elbowing Aaron Wainwright during their 2019 World Cup quarter-final loss to Wales.

After the match, Peyper was pictured laughing with Wales fans while performing an elbow gesture. World Rugby didn't find it quite so funny as they opted not to select Peyper for the rest of the tournament following an investigation.

Today's assistant referees are Mathieu Raynal from France and Australian Angus Gardner, while England's Stuart Terheege is the TMO.

Richie Rees
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

My big worry is Ireland's front row. They have so much power. You can be under the pump against them for 30 or 40 minutes non-stop, it can be daunting.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

As we've already mentioned, Wales hooker Ken Owens and captain Alun Wyn Jones are missing today because of injury.

They're usually two of the loudest and most passionate singers of the Welsh anthem, and Owens says they get quite competitive about it too.

"We’ve played a lot of rugby together and we’re similar ages as well. Our paths have crossed a lot over the years before the international set-up," Owens told Carol Vorderman on BBC Radio Wales this afternoon.

"We’re really good mates off the field as well and it’s something that’s developed, standing next to each other competing to see who can sing the anthem loudest. It’s a bit of fun.

"I know I’m tone-deaf but I try to make up for it with effort but Al isn’t a bad singer to be fair to him. He gets a bit frustrated when I’m louder but completely out of tune."

BBC Sport looks at the players to watch at this year's 2022 Six Nations including last year's top try scorer Duhan van der Merwe of Scotland, Ireland forward Tadhg Beirne and French scrum-half Antoine Dupont.

The teams are out on the pitch at the Aviva Stadium.

The good news for Wales is wing Louis Rees-Zammit is there, with an ankle heavily strapped.

Anthems coming up.

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI at the Aviva Stadium

Last night Ulster beat Connacht in an enjoyable encounter up in Belfast with both sides playing some very nice stuff.

My main takeaway from that game was that if those were the guys that aren't getting picked, Irish men's rugby must be in a pretty good place.

Eight wins on the bounce and some fine rugby played along the way will have that kind of impact.

The last time Irish rugby felt this good about themselves was back when 2019 began.

You may remember, things turned sour quite quickly then.

The first Six Nations game is the year's tone-setter in so important in creating momentum in a five-game tournament. The last eight games really don't matter any more.

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking of Ryan Elias, the Wales hooker has provided one of the soundbites of the year and we're only in the first week of February.

"If you've got the clarity, you can bring the brutality."

It's the basis on which Elias hopes Wales can take on the challenge of learning their roles and doing their jobs in the cauldron of battle.

But it's unlikely the Scarlets player would be happy if one of his lineout throws was stolen in such a brazen manner with Elias admitting on the Scrum V Podcast: "I have heard it before, but let's just say it's mine. Someone else told me it, but it's mine now!"