The Wales team has just been announced to the crowd and the biggest cheer was for... Alun Wyn Jones.

Even after a world record 155 caps, the Welsh public still love him.

Would he have started had Will Rowlands been fit?

It's hard to argue with his selection after the Ospreys' results in the Champions Cup... even at 37 years old!

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

For those boffins out there who love a good statistic, here are a few to get your teeth into - though you may not want to read if you are of a Welsh persuasion.

• Ireland have won five out of the last six meetings in all competitions.

• Wales scored the fewest (12) and conceded the most points (40) of any side in the first 20 minutes of games in last year's Championship.
• Across all Tests in 2022, Wales won the fewest turnovers (4.3) and stole the fewest opposition lineouts (0.3) of any Tier One nation.

• Ireland have lost just one of their last eight Six Nations games and have won their last three by margins of 17 or more points, scoring four or more tries in each of those fixtures and conceding just one in total.
• The 24 tries they scored in last year's Six Nations was seven more than any other side and 16 more than Wales, while the four they conceded was also the fewest of any team.
• Ireland have not beaten Wales in Cardiff since 2013 when they won the opening game 30-22 - however Wales went on to win the tournament.

Richie Rees
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales

There's 900 caps in total in this Wales side which is a huge amount.

Warren Gatland's probably picked some players that aren't probably the form players in Wales, but he's very much a man who knows what he wants.

He's gone back to his strength, he trusts these guys, they'll probably implement a game plan that he wants them to implement and he trusts them to implement.

It's an interesting selection but I think regardless of what goes on early doors ,we have to start big and stay within one score.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton says he has no animosity towards Warren Gatland over the Wales boss leaving him out of the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour.

Gatland has admitted he probably got it wrong in not selecting the fly-half while in charge of the Lions.

Speaking ahead of today's match, Sexton also dismissed Gatland's claim that the match is a "free hit" for the hosts.

"If he was looking at a free hit, he would pick all the young lads and give it a lash, see who can get through to the World Cup. We are certainly not preparing like that," Sexton said.

"We are preparing for a full-on Test match in the Principality Stadium which is a very tough place to go and win, but that is what we have been preparing for."

Read more: 'No animosity' towards Gatland over Lions snub - Sexton

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

It seems fitting Warren Gatland's first game back as Wales head coach is against old foes and friends Ireland.

The Six Nations match in Cardiff on Saturday will see Gatland pit his wits once more against the country where he cut his coaching teeth.

Ireland are there to be toppled with Wales having the first opportunity this weekend.

"I suppose the free hit for us is the expectation and pressure is on them to win as favourites," added Gatland.

"It hasn't always been the easiest tag for Irish and Welsh teams in the past to carry going in as the favourites."

Read more: Old Ireland rivalries await Warren Gatland's Wales

This is the first Six Nations since the death of BBC Sport's main rugby commentator Eddie Butler.

Here Gabby Logan, Jonathan Davies, Sam Warburton and Martin Johnson share their memories of working with the former Wales international, who became a fixture of the BBC's coverage.

Matt Lloyd
BBC Wales at the Principality Stadium

Chatting to the travelling Irish press pack, there's definitely a hint of concern.

They certainly don't carry the swagger of journalists reporting on the world's number one side.

Injuries seem to have dented their confidence, especially the loss of Gibson-Park.

And it's been 10 years since they last won in Cardiff.

However Gatland is also a massive factor. He guided Wales to eight victories over Ireland during his previous spell in charge of Wales.

Not excited enough?

Well let's look back at 10 of the best tries from the 2022 tournament, which featured fantastic scores from the likes of Garry Ringrose, Gabin Villiere and Chris Harris

Warren Gatland says he faces a bigger challenge ahead of this year’s Six Nations than he did at the start of his first stint as Wales head coach because of the regional game’s struggles.

Gatland dramatically turned Wales’ fortunes around in 2008 when he led them to a famous Grand Slam in his first campaign, with the backbone of his side made up of players from Ospreys, who were one of the best sides in Europe at the time.

Image source, Getty Images

Ah the Six Nations!

It's impossible not to get butterflies while walking through the centre of Cardiff on the way to the Principality Stadium.

What a great city to start the tournament. It just comes alive on international day.

The pubs are overflowing, children are having their faces painted and touts are charging a small fortune for tickets.

Image source, Getty Images

I even met a stag do from Lausanne who picked Cardiff especially for the rugby atmosphere.

Who knows what state they'll be in by the final whistle.

Who knows what state any of us will be in!

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

New captain Ken Owens says his side are aiming to put pride back into Welsh rugby against Ireland in the Six Nations opener.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has been embroiled in a crisis over the last couple of weeks following accusations of sexism and misogyny.

"We want to pride back into the shirt and Welsh rugby," said Owens.

"The only way we can do that as players is by delivering a performance worthy of the red shirt."

Read more: Owens hopes Wales players put pride back into Welsh rugby

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

It has been an ugly few weeks off the pitch for Welsh rugby.

A BBC Wales Investigates programme raised allegations of misogyny, sexism and racism in the Welsh Rugby Union.

Despite initially vowing to continue in his role, former chief executive Steve Phillips resigned and performance director Nigel Walker took over as acting CEO.

Walker has admitted Welsh rugby is facing an "existential crisis" and the WRU need to do "much better".

Read more: Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Phillips resigns

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has been speaking about Jamison Gibson-Park's injury and his late withdrawal from today's game.

"It's good for us, you know, as a group," he tells BBC Sport.

"We pride ourselves on being the best squad that we possibly can be.

"We're disappointed for Jamison obviously, but it's a good opportunity for Conor and Craig."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Liam Williams will start at full-back for Wales this afternoon after injury ruled out Leigh Halfpenny.

Scarlets' Halfpenny was due to make his first Wales start in 19 months but suffered a back spasm in training.

There is a lot of continuity with Warren Gatland picking 12 of the starting side that former coach Wayne Pivac selected in his last game, a 38-34 defeat by Australia.

There is also a lot of experience, with Wales' oldest captain Ken Owens leading the side at 36 and world-record cap holder Alun Wyn Jones, 37, in the second row.

In all, there are eight players in the starting side aged 30 or over with a further four among the replacements.

Wales: L Williams; Adams, North, Hawkins, Dyer; Biggar, T Williams; G Thomas, Owens (capt), Francis, Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Morgan, Tipuric, Faletau.

Replacements: Baldwin, Carre, Lewis, Jenkins, Reffell, Webb, O Williams, Cuthbert.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Principality Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Losing Tadhg Furlong to injury on Thursday was bad enough, but confirmation of Jamison Gibson-Park's late withdrawal is a huge blow for Ireland.

The Leinster scrum-half has been a pivotal part of Andy Farrell's set up since making his debut against Italy in this competition in 2020.

Gibson-Park has been invariably key to Ireland's tempo in matches over the last couple of years and many will feel his injury would have been a great opportunity to give Craig Casey a third Six Nations appearance.

However, Farrell has opted for the experience of Casey's Munster team-mate Conor Murray, with Casey on the bench.

It means Ireland's half-back duo have a combined age of 70 (Murray, 33, and Johnny Sexton, 37).

Murray is an Irish centurion and a Grand Slam winner, but the loss of Gibson-Park will undoubtedly have given the hosts a matchday lift just hours before taking on the favourites under the Principality Stadium roof.

Image source, Getty Images

Before we go any further, we have some important team news to bring you.

Ireland have suffered a series of injury blows this week - the latest is the loss of Jamison Gibson-Park.

The scrum-half tweaked a hamstring in the warm-up and is replaced by Conor Murray, with Craig Casey joining the replacements.

It's the latest disappointment after the loss of key tight-head prop Tadhg Furlong, who has been suffering with ankle and calf injuries and is replaced by Finlay Bealham (below).

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland have also been forced into a late change on their bench, with veteran loose-head prop Cian Healy dropping out and Dave Kilcoyne replacing him.

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey retains his place in Andy Farrell's side, with Bundee Aki named on the bench.

Farrell's two other changes see captain Johnny Sexton coming in at fly-half and James Lowe starting on the wing.

Jack Crowley and Jimmy O'Brien drop out of the team that beat Australia in November.

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, McCloskey, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Murray; Porter, Sheehan, Bealham; Beirne, Ryan; O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements:Herring, Kilcoyne, O'Toole, Henderson, Conan, Murray, Byrne, Aki.

Image source, BBC Sport

The 2023 Six Nations is arguably set to be the tournament's most exciting edition since the last World Cup almost four years ago.

The top two sides in the world - Ireland and France - are involved.

Two teams - Wales and England - made late coaching changes just before the tournament began.

Scotland came close to a historic win against New Zealand in November and even fresh-faced Italy might cause some trouble.

Read more: How each team is shaping up for the 2023 Six Nations

Image source, Getty Images

It's that time of year again!

There's a chill and a faint whiff of ale in the air, the banter is flying and rugby fans across Europe are giddy with excitement again.

The Six Nations is back.

Hello and welcome to Cardiff for the start of seven weeks of surely the greatest rugby tournament in the world.

First up... the world's number one ranked team against the most successful coach the tournament has known over the last 15 years.

Warren Gatland is back and once again Welsh fans are filled with optimism he can turn their fortunes around.

Of course he is no stranger to Irish rugby fans either, having coached the men in green between 1998 and 2001.

He will be certainly be glad all the talk is now about what happens on the pitch after a fortnight of turmoil in Welsh rugby.

We will discuss all that and more in the build up to what should be a fascinating opening contest at the Principality Stadium.