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As Welsh rugby comes to terms with the sudden departure of Warren Gatland, the search is on to replace the most successful coach in its history.

This will be the first appointment by Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Abi Tierney and the pressure is on to get it right.

Welsh rugby, she admits, is at a low ebb and while the problems run deeper than the head coach, the feel-good factor starts - or ends - with the national team.

Despite the side's lowly position, the WRU firmly believes the job remains appealing to one of the big-name coaches of world rugby.

And the belief that - surely - the only way is up, could prove tempting.

Cardiff's Matt Sherratt will steer Wales through the remainder of the Six Nations but has already ruled himself out of the job long term. Though his opinion could change over the coming weeks should things go well.

The WRU want the new boss to lead the tour to Japan in July and are also looking for a new director of rugby to replace Nigel Walker.

So read more about the contenders who could ultimately replace Gatland?

A lovely sight for Ireland... but bleak reading for Wales.

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Matt Sherratt's background is very different from his predecessor. Gatland was a former All Blacks hooker who has been one of world rugby's super-coaches of the 21st century, having been involved in the international game for more than 25 years.

The New Zealander even had those gates named after him after his first successful stint in charge of Wales.

Sherratt's route to his current role has been more modest. He was born in Gloucester with a Welsh mother but never played the game at the top level.

Nicknamed "Jockey" because of his short stature, Sherratt worked as a primary school teacher before becoming a development officer for the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

He worked in the Worcester Warriors academy before graduating to an attack coach for Bristol Bears, where he says he learned a lot from former England and Scotland boss Andy Robinson.

Stints at Cardiff and Ospreys followed before being appointed as a permanent head coach for the first time in his career at the Arms Park for the 2023-24 season.

Read more: The teacher whose specialist subject is rugby

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Wales against Ireland in the Six Nations has traditionally been a battle between red and green.

But Ireland will today swap emerald for white as they look to secure the Triple Crown.

It comes after World Rugby introduced a directive to assist supporters who are affected by colour vision deficiency (CVD) by limiting the amount of kit clashes in the sport.

It can be difficult for those who have CVD, also known as colour blindness, to differentiate between colours, including red and green.

One in 12 men and one in 200 women worldwide are colour blind.

The last time Ireland wore a white jersey was against Tonga, who played in their home red shirt, at the 2023 World Cup in France.

Sam Warburton
Former Wales captain on BBC One

I was upset for Warren. You know the effect it has on his family as well with all that criticism.

Warren should be remembered as one of Wales' greatest coaches, if not the greatest.

I would not be sat here if it wasn't for the faith he put in me as a young guy when nobody else did and I owe him a heck of a lot.

But 14 losses it is going to be difficult to defend any coach at this level because it is ultimately about wins.

But hopefully people will remember Warren for the right reasons.

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The thought of an Englishman coaching Wales would normally have been too much to bare for many a fan - but these are dark times for Welsh rugby.

Trapped in the grip of the worst losing run in its 144-year history, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has done the seemingly unthinkable by appointing its first English head coach.

Tony Gray, born in Stoke, led Wales between 1985 and 1988 but had twice worn the Three Feathers on his chest.

But Matt Sherratt is seen as the ideal motivational figure who, if nothing else, can lift spirits within the Wales camp for the remainder of the Six Nations.

Born in Gloucester within a drop-kick of Kingsholm, Sherratt grew up in a household that was fiercely divided on rugby days between an English father and his Tredegar-born mother.

So it was perhaps inevitable that his coaching career would straddle Offa's Dyke.

Read more about Wales' interim head coach who takes charge today for the first time.

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Well it only feels right to start with the news that stunned the Six Nations and the departure of Warren Gatland.

Gatland left his role last week following a 22-15 Six Nations defeat in Italy, a result which extended Wales' record losing streak to 14 Tests and saw them drop to an all-time low of 12th in rugby's world rankings.

The 61-year-old said he felt "weighed down" by criticism - including from his former players - and knew the game in Rome could prove decisive.

"It was always a must-win game," Gatland said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.

"The Friday or the Saturday before the game, I made sort of a decision without thinking too much about it.

"If we didn't win that game, then I'd have to seriously consider my position. It would be the best time and the best thing for everyone to walk away."

He also cited increasing negativity around his position as a major factor in his mid-Six Nations departure.

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Wales are not alone in ringing the changes as Simon Easterby calls up seven players to the starting team from the win over Scotland.

Dan Sheehan captains Ireland for the first time with regular skipper Caelan Doris ruled out because of a knee injury.

Sheehan, 26, came off the bench in Ireland's wins over England and Scotland but replaces the injured Ronan Kelleher.

Leinster tight-head prop Thomas Clarkson makes his first start after earning a debut in November,.

Jack Conan replaces Doris at number eight, while Joe McCarthy returns to the second row after recovering from the head injury that ruled him out of the first two games.

In the backline, Mack Hansen returns to the wing after missing Scotland while centre Robbie Henshaw starts ahead of Bundee Aki.

Jamie Osborne makes his Six Nations debut at full-back, replacing Hugo Keenan.

Prop Jack Boyle is set for his Test debut off the bench while replacements Gus McCarthy is set for his Six Nations debuts.

There has also been a late change to the Irish replacements, with Ryan Baird replacing Cian Prendergast.

Ireland: Osborne; Hansen, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan (capt), Clarkson; McCarthy, Beirne; O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Conan.

Replacements: McCarthy, Boyle, Bealham, Ryan, Baird, Murray, Crowley, Aki.

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Scarlets wing Ellis Mee makes his Wales debut as part of eight changes from the loss to Italy.

Mee, 21, has played just 10 competitive games for Scarlets since signing from Nottingham in the summer and qualifies for Wales through his Newport mother.

But he has been catapulted straight into the starting team following a knee injury to Josh Adams.

Gareth Anscombe, 33, makes his first Six Nations start since inspiring Wales to a Grand Slam victory against Ireland in Cardiff six years ago.

His Gloucester team-mate Max Llewellyn also comes straight back at centre while there is an entire new front-row in Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee and WillGriff John, who makes his Six Nations debut.

Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins returns from illness while Tommy Reffell follows Leicester team-mate Smith back into the Wales pack.

As well as eight new faces, Matt Sherratt has made two positional changes with Ben Thomas reverting to his usual centre position and captain Jac Morgan swapping flanks.

Wales: Murray; Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Mee; Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Smith, Dee, John, Rowlands, D Jenkins, Morgan (capt), Reffell, Faletau.

Replacements: E Lloyd, G Thomas, H Thomas, Teddy Williams, Wainwright, R Williams, J Evans, J Roberts.

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Welcome to the start of our live coverage on week three of the Six Nations - and could we see the first silverware of this year's championship lifted?

It is top versus bottom here at the Principality Stadium where Ireland are looking to clinch the Triple Crown after wins over England and Scotland.

Wales - bizarrely - are also still in the running for the Triple Crown despite defeats by France and Italy.

Those losses saw Warren Gatland end his second stint as Wales head coach last week - replaced for the rest of the tournament by Cardiff's Matt Sherratt.

And with Andy Farrell away on British & Irish Lions duty, we have the first meeting between two interim head coaches in Six Nations history.

So there is plenty to digest ahead of kick-off at 14:15 (GMT).

But first, let's take a look at the two teams.

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