Wales begin life after Warren Gatland as Six Nations favourites Ireland come to Cardiff looking to continue their grand slam charge.
The first fallow week brought an end to Gatland’s second stint in charge of a nation to which he has given so much, with a 14-match losing run ultimately making his position untenable. While the search for a successor is underway, Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt has been appointed on an interim basis until the end of this campaign and will hope to spark new life in a down-trodden squad looking to lift the gloom.
Any immediate uptick in fortunes feels, perhaps, unlikely with a formidable foe arriving at the Principality Stadium. Ireland may be missing skipper Caelan Doris among a clutch of injury absentees but this is a side that has thrived in adversity before, with their enviable depth displayed in a selection showing a number of changes but limited drop-off in strength.
Follow all of the latest from Cardiff in our live blog below:
Wales vs Ireland LIVE
- Wales host Ireland in round three of the Six Nations | Live on the BBC with kick off at 2.15pm GMT
- The hosts begin life under interim coach Matt Sherratt after Warren Gatland's departure
- Ireland are tournament favourites but without captain Caelan Doris due to injury
Team news - Wales
13:15
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Matt Sherratt rings the changes in his first Wales selection, recalling two of those excluded entirely by Warren Gatland at the start of this campaign. Gloucester duo Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn start at 10 and outside centre respectively having been left out of Gatland’s initial squad, the pair joining Ben Thomas in midfield with the Cardiff playmaker moved to his preferred position of 12.
A swap of props sees Nicky Smith and WillGriff John star, with Ellis Mee making a debut on the wing. Jac Morgan is joined by another scavenger in Tommy Reffell in the back row.
Wales XV: 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 WillGriff John; 4 Will Rowlands, 5 Dafydd Jenkins; 6 Jac Morgan (capt.), 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Taulupe Faletau; 9 Tomos Williams, 10 Gareth Anscombe; 11 Ellis Mee, 12 Ben Thomas, 13 Max Llewellyn, 14 Tom Rogers; 15 Blair Murray.
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Aaron Wainwright; 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Joe Roberts.
The @WelshRugbyUnion side to take on Ireland in Cardiff #GuinnessM6N pic.twitter.com/CgVFlc5cr9
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 20, 2025
Why are Ireland not wearing green shirts against Wales in the Six Nations?
13:00
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Ireland will be clad in white rather than green today as the sport attempts to make itself easier to view for colour blind viewers who struggle to differentiate between red and green:
Wales vs Ireland talking points: Visitors in a different league
12:45
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Harry Latham-Coyle
One glance at World Rugby’s latest rankings list confirms the gulf that currently exists between Ireland and Wales.
Second-placed Ireland are 17.61 ranking points clear of Wales, which is a bigger gap than their hosts on Saturday have between themselves and the likes of Brazil, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands.
While Wales have lost 14 successive Tests, Ireland’s defeats across the same number stand at four, with three of those being against New Zealand (twice) and world champions South Africa.
Ireland have also beaten Wales seven times from the last eight meetings, and even with home advantage, Wales are a 25-1 chance with some bookmakers to shred the form-book.
Wales vs Ireland talking points: Can hosts halt horror run?
12:30
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Wales can only wish that the phrase ‘lies, damned lies and statistics’ was accurate in their case. Unfortunately, facts and figures scream at them from every page.
Sherratt has inherited a squad at the lowest of ebbs, reeling from a record run of Test defeats that began with a 2023 World Cup quarter-final loss against Argentina in Marseille 16 months ago.
That shattering sequence has seen Wales drop to a new world ranking low of 12th, while an Ireland victory would see them suffer a ninth Six Nations reversal on the bounce. Wales have also lost seven successive Tests in Cardiff.
Wales vs Ireland talking points: Matt Sherratt takes (interim charge)
12:15
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Still dressed in his Cardiff tracksuit and arriving straight off the training pitch, there was a surreal air to Matt Sherratt’s introductory press conference as Wales’ interim head coach.
He went from a United Rugby Championship game against Connacht to Welsh rugby’s biggest job, albeit for three Tests only as the search begins for Gatland’s long-term successor.
Sherratt is an affable, engaging and popular figure who wants his teams to entertain, and while he can only do so much in the next few weeks, there is nothing realistically for him to lose.
Wales surely cannot be any worse than they were at Stadio Olimpico, and it could be a fascinating ride with the man nicknamed Jockey.
The seven minutes that showed why ‘master of control’ Sam Prendergast is Ireland’s fly-half answer
12:00
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Another start for Sam Prendergast today gives the young Ireland fly half an opportunity to build on a really composed showing in Scotland, which began with an excellent opening seven minutes:
Warren Gatland explains why Wales exit was ‘the right decision for everybody’
11:45
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Warren Gatland has admitted that he is “hurting” after his second stint in charge of Walesw was brought to an end, but stressed that his exit was the “best decision for everybody”.
Gatland’s tenure as head coach ended by mutual consent last week just two rounds into the Six Nations after the veteran presided over a run of 14 consecutive defeats.
Warren Gatland blames Margaret Thatcher and teachers’ strikes for Welsh rugby’s decline
11:30
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Warren Gatland has apportioned some of the blame for the decline of Welsh rugby on Margaret Thatcher after claiming that the teacher strikes in the 1980s helped “kill off” the sport in schools.
Gatland’s second stint in charge of Wales came to an end by mutual consent last week after presiding over a record losing run of 14 consecutive matches.
The New Zealander’s first spell was rather more successful, with the coach taking Wales to three Six Nations grand slams and two World Cup semi-finals between 2008 and 2019.
But even that success pales in comparison to the dominance the nation enjoyed in the 1970s when a side including greats like Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett and JPR Williams romped regularly to Five Nations titles.
Aaron Wainwright says Wales at ‘low point’ but urges team to prove people wrong
11:15
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Aaron Wainwright accepts that Wales’ long run of Test match defeats has generated “a pretty low point” in the nation’s proud rugby history.
But the back-row forward is also on a mission to prove people wrong, starting with today’s Six Nations clash against title favourites Ireland in Cardiff.
Simon Easterby focused on Ireland amid Wales speculation
11:00
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Simon Easterby insists he is committed to Ireland in response to reports he is a contender to take over from departed Wales boss Warren Gatland.
Gatland stepped down last week after a 22-15 defeat by Italy condemned Wales to a 14th successive loss, with Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt placed in charge on an interim basis.
Easterby is overseeing Ireland while Andy Farrell prepares for the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour and has so far impressed by masterminding emphatic victories over England and Scotland.
Wales in Cardiff is the next assignment and Easterby, who lives in Swansea and played for and coached the Scarlets, heads to the Principality Stadium amid speculation that he is an option to succeed Gatland.
However, the 49-year-old says he has yet to be approached by the Welsh Rugby Union.
Warren Gatland was a symptom and not the cause of Wales’s perma-crisis – but his axing is still the right call
10:40
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Warren Gatland’s mid-tournament departure felt a shock only in terms of timing, with the head coach’s position made untenable by a wretched run. The problems within Welsh rugby are far greater than that which the head coach had responsibility for, but that doesn’t mean his exit was a wrong call:
Warren Gatland’s daughter hits out at former Wales players over criticism
10:20
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Warren Gatland’s daughter has hit out at his former players after several notable names directed criticism at the former Wales coach.
Gatland left his role by mutual consent last week after a difficult second spell in charge which ended with 14 consecutive defeats.
Matt Sherratt urges Wales not to ‘die wondering’ against Ireland
10:00
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Matt Sherratt wants his Wales team to be brave and not “die wondering” against Guinness Six Nations title favourites Ireland.
Wales begin life after Warren Gatland with Cardiff boss Sherratt taking the reins for three games only – Ireland, Scotland at Murrayfield and then England in Cardiff.
A run of 14 successive Test defeats has contributed heavily to Wales being written off as 25-1 no-hopers by some bookmakers when Triple Crown-chasing Ireland arrive at the Principality Stadium.
New Wales boss Matt Sherratt reveals bold team to face Ireland in selection shake-up
09:40
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Harry Latham-Coyle
The recalled Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn are installed straight into the Wales starting side to face Ireland in a selection shake-up from interim boss Matt Sherratt.
Cardiff coach Sherratt will oversee the team until the end of the Six Nations having been appointed after Warren Gatland’s departure by mutual consent after the defeat to Italy extended a long losing run.
Ireland make sweeping changes for Wales clash as Dan Sheehan named captain
09:20
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Hooker Dan Sheehan will captain a much-changed Ireland side as the Six Nations favourites bid to continue their grand slam charge against Wales.
Sheehan’s elevation from the bench is one of seven alterations made by Simon Easterby for the round three encounter, with the front-rower skippering in the stead of injured No 8 Caelan Doris.
Wales ready to see their next head coach in Cardiff – and it’s not Matt Sherratt
09:00
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Luke Baker
Come Saturday afternoon, Wales fans will be focused on whether new interim coach Matt Sherratt can provide them with the spark that has been so sorely lacking during Warren Gatland’s second tenure and potentially salvage something from the wreckage of another Six Nations.
Whatever moment they thought represented rock bottom – the first-ever home defeat to Fiji in November perhaps or the 52-20 humiliation against an unproven Australia side seven days later – there is definitely a new feel to things heading into this weekend.
Not exactly optimism, given that the visitors are a well-drilled Ireland side who are on track to become the first team in Five or Six Nations history to win three back-to-back outright titles, but at least hope that something, anything, may be different in Cardiff. And, at this point, different can hardly be worse. Can it?
Wales vs Ireland LIVE
Friday 21 February 2025 16:48
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Harry Latham-Coyle
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the opening clash of the Six Nations weekend between Wales and Ireland. It’s the start of a new era for the hosts after the departure of Warren Gatland - can Matt Sherratt spark them into life against the tournament favourites?