ROOF WILL STAY OPEN

THE Principality Stadium roof will be left open for Wales’s Six Nations Grand Slam game in Cardiff against Ireland, despite severe wind warnings. The Irish request for the roof to be left open was made on Thursday afternoon, despite Joe Schmidt (right) dancing around the topic during his press conference on that day. Wales made no formal request to the Six Nations that it should be closed — as Schmidt claimed — but did have informal conversations with tournament bosses. ‘We made a decision to play rugby outdoors,’ said Ireland captain Rory Best. ‘Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, it’s the same for both teams.’ Today’s referee Angus Gardner can intervene and ask for the roof to be closed if he thinks the match could be in doubt due to inclement conditions, but that is highly unlikely. Wales trained yesterday under a closed roof, but it was opened to replicate match conditions for Ireland’s captain’s run. It will remain closed until around two hours before kick-off to keep the rain off the field, but with a deluge set for 3pm the Grand Slam game is set to be buffeted by the gale-force wind and rain of Storm Hannah. Alun Wyn Jones was diplomatic, saying: ‘I don’t wear a shirt and tie long enough to make those decisions! You’d have to ask the Irish guys what their mentality is.’ Jonathan Davies added: ‘We like having the roof closed but the way we managed the game against England showed we are pretty confident with it open.’