So, who’s going to win today in Dublin? Our writers have their say

WALES travel to Dublin today to face Ireland in their final warm-up match before the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this month.

Warren Gatland’s side have had a fairly satisfactory build-up so far after sorting themselves out following a tough day against England first up and then finishing strong in Cardiff last weekend.

The importance of a Wales victory is up for debate with some prioritising a good performance and a clean bill of health.

Either way, it’s a good opportunity for a number of players to lay down a marker in their final hit out before they face Georgia in Toyota City on September 23.

Here’s what our rugby writers think will happen...

MATTHEW SOUTHCOMBE: A result has never been more irrelevant

It might not be the ideal way to begin a prediction but the little box in the top left-hand corner of your TV screens will never be more irrelevant than it’ll be on Saturday.

Above all else, if Wales leave Dublin with a clean bill of health then it will be a satisfactory afternoon.

Those who were there four years ago when Wales lost Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb in the final warm-up game against Italy will remember it vividly.

Ireland are maybe one or two players short of being fully-loaded, whereas Wales are three or four short. On paper, it should be Ireland’s day.

But key half-back duo Conor Murray and particularly Johnny Sexton are desperately short of game time.

Wales will be targeting Sexton and, in many ways, he holds the key to Ireland’s success. I expect them to get in his face, give him no time on the ball and really harass him.

I don’t expect there to be much in it and Wales’ scrum must be better, but I think Gatland’s men could edge it.

Ireland 15-21 Wales

Prediction: MARK ORDERS: Home advantage to swing it Ireland’s way

THERE’S unlikely to be much in this one. Both sides look strong on paper with the coaches evidently hoping for morale-boosting send-offs to the World Cup.

Much will depend on Wales’ set-piece performance, with their scrum having spluttered this summer and their line-out being less than reliable. Warren Gatland’s side will want to hit their targets in those areas. Failure to do so could prove costly.

There will also be an intriguing clash between the relatively inexperienced Tomos Williams and Rhys Patchell at half-back with Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton. The Welsh duo are talented and exciting, but there is no more intelligent half-back pairing in the world than the Irish duo.

Wales will make Ireland fight every inch of the way and Leigh Halfpenny will need to kick his goals. But maybe the Dublin factor might just edge the verdict to the home side.

Prediction: BEN JAMES: A problematic scrum could undermine Wales Prediction:

Ireland 24-22 Wales

HONESTLY, at this point, I’m more surprised than you are that I’m being asked back to do predictions.

On the brink of a clean sweep of incorrect efforts, you could argue I’m tipping Ireland purely in the knowledge that whatever jinx I seemingly possess will result in a Wales win.

And maybe I am doing that. Or perhaps, it’s because Ireland have gone full strength against a relatively mix-and-match Wales team.

Not that it’s that straightforward. I expect Warren Gatland’s men to be extremely competitive in what will be the most intense Test match of the lot so far.

But a problematic scrum and players short of Test minutes at half-back could count against them. Whatever the case, please, no injuries. Ireland 24-21 Wales