Six Nations 2024: Ireland vs Wales match preview, team news, kick-off time & BBC coverage

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is expecting a "scrap" against Wales

Ireland continue their bid to become the first team in the Six Nations era to win back-to-back Grand Slams when they host Wales in Dublin on Saturday.

Ireland are aiming to replicate their clean sweep last year and face a Wales side they have beaten in six of the last seven meetings.

Wales' title ambitions are over after two defeats, although head coach Warren Gatland says they are improving.

The losses against England and Scotland were by margins of two points or less.

Ireland have been in impressive form following their disappointing World Cup campaign, emphatically defeating France and Italy so far in this tournament.

Andy Farrell's men are on a national record run of 17 successive wins in home Test matches, while they could become only the second nation, after England, to win 11 successive games in the history of the Home, Five or Six Nations.

Wales, conversely, are on a wretched run of form in this championship, losing nine of their last 10 matches - although five of those defeats have been by four points or fewer.

Gatland's side have not won a Six Nations fixture in Dublin in 12 years.

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Team news

Ireland: The hosts make seven changes, having used their formidable strength in depth to rest several key men for the rout of Italy in round two.

Leinster's Ciaran Frawley makes a first Test start in the place of injured full-back Hugo Keenan - his two previous caps have come as a replacement, including the final four minutes versus France.

Captain Peter O'Mahony, prop Tadhg Furlong and centre Bundee Aki return following injuries, while lock Tadhg Beirne, scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and flanker Josh van der Flier are also recalled.

Uncapped Munster prop Oli Jager is among the replacements, while Garry Ringrose remains out.

Wales: The visitors have made just one change to the starting XV who lost at Twickenham, with fly-half Sam Costelow replacing Scarlets team-mate Ioan Lloyd.

There are two further changes among the replacements: uncapped Cardiff number eight Mackenzie Mann is preferred to Taine Basham, while Harlequins prop Dillon Lewis comes in for the injured Archie Griffin.

Twelve of the visiting 23, including seven starters, will be playing their first Six Nations match in Dublin.

Commentator's notes

Gareth Rhys Owen: "It's difficult to make the case for anything other than a comfortable afternoon for the Irish.

"Ireland have won their last 10 matches in the competition and and have tasted victory in 38 of their last 40 home Tests.

"Despite the absence of the impressive Keenan, their side is settled and balanced. Jack Crowley has slotted in beautifully at 10 following Johnny Sexton's retirement, the line-out has been faultless and it's a team seemingly without weakness.

"Despite two defeats from two the mood music from the Wales camp is bright and sprightly.

"Gatland says he's excited about the prospect of challenging one of the best sides in the world, but pulling off a victory in Dublin would be right up there with the finest achievements in his illustrious coaching career."

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View from both camps

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell: "'Frawley has trained with us a lot and started the training camp in Portugal at full-back so it is very natural for him to fill that position and he deserves his chance.

"It will be a test of his temperament. It is always going to be a scrap. It means a little bit more to them to play us, we are aware of that."

Wales head coach Warren Gatland: "We've had two defeats but we could have had two close wins as well. That's where we are as a team. We're aware we've got a huge amount of growth in us.

"Ireland are a settled team, they are world class and it's a big challenge for us. We're excited for it.

"They are comfortable when they have got the ball and they have got the ability to keep it for multiple phases. That really stresses you. That is when they are incredibly dangerous. They have got some key individuals and we have got to unsettle them."

Line-ups

Ireland: 15-Frawley, 14-Nash, 13-Henshaw, 12-Aki, 11-Lowe, 10- Crowley, 9-Gibson-Park; 1-Porter, 2-Sheehan, 3-Furlong, 4-McCarthy, 5-Beirne, 6-O'Mahony (capt), 7-Van der Flier, 8-Doris.

Replacements: 16-Kelleher, 17-Healy, 18-Jager, 19-Ryan, 20-Baird, 21-Conan, 22-Murray, 23-McCloskey

Wales: 15-Winnett, 14-Adams, 13-North, 12-Tompkins, 11-Dyer, 10-Costelow, 9-T. Williams; 1-G. Thomas, 2-Dee, 3-Assiratti, 4-Jenkins (capt), 5-Beard, 6-Mann, 7-Reffell, 8-Wainwright

Replacements: 16-Elias, 17-Domachowski, 18-Lewis, 19-Rowlands, 20-Martin, 21-Hardy, 22-Lloyd, 23-Grady

Match facts

Head-to-head

• Ireland have won four and drawn one of their last five Six Nations home games against Wales. They could go six home matches unbeaten in this fixture for the first time in Five/Six Nations history.

• Their last three victories against Wales have come by 20 or more points.

Ireland

• Ireland have won a national record 17 successive Test matches on home soil and they have scored four or more tries in 13 of those games.

• They have won 38 of their last 40 home Test matches on home soil, with only England (2019) and France (2021) winning in Dublin during this spell.

• Their 36-0 win against Italy was the first time that Ireland have kept a team scoreless in this championship since beating England 17-0 at Lansdowne Road in 1987.

Wales

• Wales have lost nine of their last 10 Six Nations games, last winning versus Italy last March.

• However, five of those defeats have been by four points or fewer, including both in this campaign.

• George North is set to become the third Welsh player to win 120 caps in this match, after Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins.

Match officials

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Touch judges: Karl Dickson (England) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)

TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)